Fresh off her victory in a Cincinnati, Ohio dance contest, Doris Mary Anne von Kapelhoff took off across the country with a dream and a smile, ready to make it big in California as a dancer and stage performer. But before Doris and her family made it all the way to the Golden State, her aspirations were nearly shattered across the pavement. Doris survived a horrific car accident, but her right leg would never be the same. Dancing as a means of income, fame and fortune was out of the question. Soon after the accident Doris took up singing, received voice lessons and began performing for big band orchestras.

One of her first stints in the music industry was with Barney Rapp's band, a job she initiated by singing the song "Day After Day." After the performance Rapp thought that the name Doris Day, rather than Doris Doris von Kapelhoff, made a better fit on marquees. It was changed to Doris Day shortly thereafter, and from that point on, the name Doris Day would be one of the biggest names in the entertainment industry.

Doris Day went on to sing for several famous big band orchestras, including those belonging to Bing Crosby's brother, Bob, and Les Brown. During her early 20s Doris Day shot to superstardom status in the music industry, making hit records both as a solo recording artist, and as part of several big bands. With looks to match her voice, Doris transitioned naturally from the radio to the screen. She began acting in a wide range of movie genres, from Alfred Hitchcock horror films to romantic comedies. She excelled as an actress, and her most successful parts tended to emphasize her packaged and processed "good girl" image in addition to her effortless singing voice. Musicals were Doris Day's bread and butter. Famous songs like "It's Magic," "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)," and "Secret Love" would go down as a few of her most famous recordings associated with feature films.