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Dagmar Nordstrom (December 12, 1903 – April 9, 1976) was an American composer, pianist, singer, known with her sister Siggie as The Nordstrom Sisters.^[1][2]

Born in Chicago, the second daughter of Anna and Alexander Nordstrom. She was married briefly to a society playboy, but lived most of her life with her older sister after the death of Siggie's husband, Samuel Ferebee Williams, in 1931.^[3]

Career

During the 1920s she cut piano rolls for Steinway and Duo-Art. These included:

• "I Still Love You" (by Milton Ager)
• "If You Don't Love Me" (by Yellen-Ager)
• "Happy Days and Lonely Nights"
• "Sweet Dreams" (Ager)
• "Are You Happy?" (Ager)
• "Blue River"
• "Glad Rag Doll" (by Yellen-Ager-Dougherty)
• "That's the Good Old Sunny South"

They sublet a flat in London for a year in 1939 when they were the resident performers at The Ritz. Shortly after their return to the United States her song "Remembering You" was published both as sheet music and the full orchestration.

With the exception of their October in Bad Gastein for the baths, they regularly performed either in clubs in New York City or on board transatlantic ocean liners. Dagmar loved to drive and their automobile. First out of the hold of the ship, her car would be packed with everything they needed on the continent. During the Second World War they took provisions in their car to Norway and Sweden. During the 1940s they were often on the radio and through the 1960s when they were not otherwise engaged as a team, Dagmar would at times take an assignment alone playing in a club.^[4]

They maintained an active social life and were the toast of many private parties^[5] in New York City until her death in 1976 when she suffered a massive stroke. Several good friends, including the photographer Edgar de Evia, arrived for dinner and she was reclined in their living room, her mind still clear, saying "Oh, my dear boys, I believe that I've had a stroke."

Death

She died that night, aged 72. Following services at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home,^[6] she was cremated and interred with her mother in the mausoleum at Ferncliff Cemetery, Westchester County, New York.

References