BETTY CLOONEY

Betty Clooney was born April 12, 1931 in Maysville, Kentucky. She and her older sister Rosemary, loved to sing as kids and became an important part of their grandfather's political campaigns for mayor of their hometown. The Clooney family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where the girls continued to vocalize. MORE
The Clooney Sisters went on the road as featured vocalists with band-leader Tony Pastor and his orchestra. When Rosemary was offered a solo record deal with Columbia, Betty conceded to break up the act. Still just a teenager, Betty went back to her hometown in Cincinnati where she became a television pioneer on the city's first station, WLWT. Not only was she a featured singer on the stations main program (called The 50-50 simulcast on radio), she also hosted her own shows called Teen Canteen and Boy Meets Girl. She was the first Pop artist signed to local legendary R&B label, King Records, releasing several singles. After a move to New York and the start of a nightclub career, she appeared on countless variety shows in the 1950's where she sang, danced and acted in skits. Then, subbing for her sister on "Songs For Sale" with Steve Allen, and then the "Morning Show" with Jack Paar for CBS. Betty Clooney performed at the Starlight Roof of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in the earky fifties and had a regular spot on the Garry Moore television show for CBS. She met and later married Pupi Campo, bandleader on CBS television in the early fifties. MORE Betty Clooney passed away from a cerebral hemorrhage in July of 1976. She was only 45 years old. In her memory Rosemary and Nick Clooney established the Betty Clooney Foundation in 1983 and the Betty Clooney Center in Long Beach, California, which opened in 1988. Both are dedicated to treatment for traumatic brain injuries. MORE

Search Amazon.com for Betty Clooney