Rosemary Clooney was born in Maysville, Kentucky, to Marie Frances was assassinated in the hotel kitchen after she had participated in his campaign rally. Her top hits include "Hey There" in 1954, "Tenderly", "This Ole House" and "Half As Much" in 1952.
When Rosemary married Dante DiPaolo in 1997, her nephew George Clooney , according to rumor, did not attend, as he "did not wish to steal away the spotlight" on his aunts special day.
Singer
The Maysville, Kentucky street where her parents lived when she was born was renamed in her honor.
Older sister of actor and AMC host Nick Clooney and Betty Clooney.
She is George Clooney s aunt.
Rosemary started out with her sister, Betty Clooney (1931-1976), as a singing duo on radio and in bands before going solo. When Betty died of a brain aneurysm at age 45, Rosmary spearheaded a living memorial to her sister with the Betty Clooney Center in Long Beach, California, for brain-injured young adults. She performed annually to raise funds for this foundation.
Mother-in-law of singer Debby Boone.
Winner of the MAC Award.
Performed annually at "Rosemary Clooney Music Festival" in her hometown of Maysville, Kentucky.
Performing once on the same bill with singer/pianist Michael Feinstein at the Hollywood Bowl, they both appeared highly nervous before setting foot on stage. Expecting Rosie to give him words of strength and encouragement, she instead told him, "Dont think this ever gets any easier."
Rosemary hated the derivative Armenian folk song "Come On-a My House" and originally resisted recording the song she considered "dumb" with lyrics that "sounded more like a drunken chant than an historic folk art form." Within weeks of her finally relenting, she found herself with one of the biggest-selling hits in the country, selling more than a million copies. It still did not endear her to the song, however, and she usually tried to squirm out of singing it at her concerts and nightclub appearances when requested.
Buried at St. Patricks Cemetery near her mother and grandmother in Maysville, Ky.
Her brother, veteran television newscaster Nick Clooney , gave a eulogy at the end of the hour-long traditional Catholic funeral mass. Actor George Clooney , Nicks son, sat with more than three dozen family members and was one of 10 pallbearers. Also in the crowd were singer Debby Boone , Clooneys daughter-in-law; actors Al Pacino and Beverly DAngelo ; and Maysville native and former Miss America Heather Renee French , the wife of Kentucky Lt. Gov. Steve Henry.
Had five children with Jos Ferrer. Their first child, Miguel Jos Ferrer (aka Miguel Ferrer ) was born on February 7, 1955. He was followed by Maria Providencia Ferrer on August 9, 1956, Gabriel Vicente Ferrer (aka Gabriel Ferrer ) on August 1, 1957, Monsita Teresa Ferrer (aka Monsita Ferrer ) on October 13, 1958, and Rafael Francisco Ferrer (aka Rafael Ferrer ) on March 23, 1960.
On October 1st, 2005, her Augusta, Kentucky home was partially transformed into the Rosemary Clooney Museum. Current owner/part-time resident Heather Renee French Henry (Miss America 2000) spearheaded the creation of the museum which amasses a large amount of memorabilia from Clooneys film, television and recording career. A re-creation of her red and white gown from White Christmas was painstakingly assembled by Henry and her mother by watching the film frame by frame (the original dress is M.I.A.). Some of her other original costumes are on display at the museum. The opening ceremony was attended by Nick Clooney , Rick Dees and Dante DiPaolo , among others, while her recording of "Bless This House" was played.
Former mother-in-law of actress Leilani Sarelle.
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6325 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
A frequent escort in 1952 was CBS star Robert Q. Lewis. In later years, he would joke that his greatest regret was that he introduced Rosie to Jos Ferrer.
Frequently performed; in both music and film; with members of her extended family. She started her career as a double act with sister Betty Clooney. She also recorded duets with husband Jos Ferrer , including a guest appearance on her television show in which they sang "Love and Marriage." During her concert tours in the 1970s, her son Miguel Ferrer played drums. In the 1980s, she gave performances with daughter-in-law Debby Boone , wife of her middle son Gabriel Ferrer. She and Miguel also both made guest appearances on "ER" , though never opposite each other or George Clooney. In her final screen appearance, she and Miguel played a mother-and-son when she made a guest appearance on "LateLine" .
Was a liberal to progressive Democrat.
Inducted into the Cincinnati Jazz Hall of Fame in 2015 (inaugural class).
I think acting is the most thankless profession in the world.
That casual delivery combined with an unexpectedly wide vocabulary. It,was a great device for comedy -- and also an effective way of,communicating with an audience or with a person.
