Actress, Singer. A coloratura soprano who performed mainly on Broadway, she is best remembered as actress and singer Mary Martin’s replacement in “South Pacific” and “The Sound of Music.” Born Martha Lucile Wiederrecht into a musical family, she was raised on a farm in Duvall Washington. After graduating from Franklin High School in Seattle, Washington, she attended the University of Washington and began her singing career on the radio and joined a touring company. In 1947 she relocated to New York City, New York where she began singing on RKO-WOR Radio and appeared in the Broadway shows “Music in My Heart” (1947 to 1948) and “Great to Be Alive!” (1950). While singing at supper clubs, she was discovered by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II who cast her as Martin’s in the role of ‘Nellie Forbush’ in “South Pacific” (1951 to 1954), and she gave over 1,000 performances until it closed.  In October 1961 she again replaced Mary Martin on Broadway in the role of ‘Maria’ in “The Sound of Music” until July 1962.  She retired from singing in the late 1960s to raise her children but performed on occasion in the 1970s and 1980s.  Her television appearances include “The Saturday Night Revue with Jack Carter,” “The Paul Whiteman’s Goodyear Revue,” “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “The Jack Paar Tonight Show,” and “The Bell Telephone Hour.”  She died at the age of 92. (bio by: William Bjornstad)  Family links:  Spouse:  George Joseph Manuche (1921 – 2013)