"[4] At the start of her career in her early 20s, Richards won a Bob Hope talent contest,[3] moved to Hollywood and appeared on numerous TV shows including I Love Lucy,[4] Name That Tune, The Saturday Night Revue,[5] and variety shows hosted by Dennis Day, Edgar Bergen, and Ezio Pinza.

[9] She also was the voice double for Vera Ellen in Call Me Madam (1953),[10] for Cyd Charisse in Silk Stockings,[11] Brigadoon (1954),[12] Deep in My Heart (1954),[13] and It's Always Fair Weather, and for Betta St. John in The Robe.

A review in the trade publication Billboard commented, "New Decca thrush makes a satisfactory debut with an infectious little rhythm ditty.

[19] Richards worked frequently with Danny Kaye, Jerry Lewis,[3] and Bob Hope, and sang with the Russ Morgan and Desi Arnaz Bands.

In December 1951, Richards accompanied ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and accordionist Domenick Frontiere on a 10-day tour of 14 military hospitals in the United States.

Dubbed "Operation Santa Claus," the tour also distributed 10,000 pounds of gifts that people across the country had donated to patients in the hospitals.

[20] A 1955 newspaper article about Richards reported, "She's drawn a big hand as featured attraction at Ciro's, The Shamrock Hotel, and other swank night spots.

Following her performing career, Richards continued her work as an artist, completing numerous sculptures, pastels, and oil paintings as well as publishing a book Letters from the Cosmos with her husband.

[3] On March 16, 2007, Richards died of kidney failure at the Indian River Memorial Hospital in Vero Beach, Florida at the age of 84.