Role

:

Performer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

May 23, 1928 in Maysville, KY

Death

:

June 29, 2002 in Beverly Hills, CA

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Rosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress who was born on May 23, 1928, in Maysville, Kentucky. She was the daughter of Andrew Joseph Clooney and Frances Marie Guilfoyle. Her father was a former tobacco farmer and her mother was a homemaker. Rosemary was the youngest of five children and grew up in a Catholic family. Rosemary's interest in music began at a young age. She started singing in the church choir and later performed at local events. In 1945, when she was 17 years old, she and her sister Betty Clooney formed a duo called The Clooney Sisters. They performed on local radio stations and eventually landed a spot on a Cincinnati radio show called "The Bob Hope Show." In 1946, Rosemary and Betty moved to New York City to pursue their music career. They were signed by Columbia Records and released their first single, "Come On-a My House," which became a hit. The song was written by William Saroyan and had a Middle Eastern flavor. It was a departure from the traditional pop songs of the time and helped establish Rosemary as a unique and versatile artist. Rosemary's solo career took off in the 1950s. She had a string of hits, including "Hey There," "This Ole House," and "Mambo Italiano." She also appeared in several films, including "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. In 1954, Rosemary married actor Jose Ferrer. They had five children together but divorced in 1961. Rosemary struggled with depression and addiction during this time but eventually sought treatment and made a comeback in the 1970s. In 1977, Rosemary starred in a concert at London's Royal Albert Hall. The performance was recorded and released as an album called "Rosemary Clooney: Everything's Coming Up Rosie." The album was a critical and commercial success and earned Rosemary a Grammy nomination. Rosemary continued to perform and record throughout the 1980s and 1990s. She collaborated with artists such as Michael Feinstein and Tony Bennett and released several albums, including "Rosemary Clooney Sings the Music of Irving Berlin" and "Rosemary Clooney Sings the Lyrics of Johnny Mercer." In 1995, Rosemary was inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. She also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Singers in 1999. Rosemary's health began to decline in the early 2000s. She suffered a brain aneurysm in 2001 and underwent surgery. She continued to perform but had to cancel several shows due to health issues. She passed away on June 29, 2002, at the age of 74. Rosemary Clooney was a talented and versatile artist who had a successful career in both music and film. She was known for her distinctive voice and her ability to interpret a wide range of songs. She received numerous awards and accolades throughout her career and remains a beloved figure in the world of music.

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