Dee Libbey
- Music Department
Stetson University graduate Dolores Rohde "Dee" Libbey originally wrote her 1957 hit "Mangos" for Stetson's Glee Club with the title "Two Lovers and One Orange Moon", and changed it with Sid Wayne's suggestion to make it more commercial with its then-topical calypso cha-cha rhythm. It was recorded and introduced by Rosemary Clooney in 1957 and eventually on ten albums and in the number-one spot at WNEW radio in New York for eight consecutive weeks. Dee credited her high-school music teacher Prof. John Heney and Dr. William Duckwitz, under whom she studied at Stetson, with her success in her chosen field. She won several medals and the Arts Award during her high-school senior year for the xylophone as well as for being an honor student. Her other works included "Silver Bird", recorded by Nat King Cole, and the humorous tone poem "Impression of Leaking Faucet",praised by the Amarillo, TX symphony orchestra for her ability to express a joke through music. Dee Libbey's serious music was performed by many orchestras throughout the country. The Amarillo Symphony premiered her tone poem "The Lost Forest". In October, 1961 she won ASCAP's cash award; included on that list of winners are Carl Sandburg, Fritz Kreisler, Leonard Bernstein and Gian-Carlo Menotti. Dee also studied with Leo Sowerby and with a composition scholarship with Nadia Boulanger at Fontainebleau, France.