The Fontane Sisters were a singing trio with Bea, Geri and Marge Rosse - from New Milford, New Jersey.
Born to an Italian family, their mother, Louise Rosse, was both a soloist and the leader of the St. Joseph's Church choir in New Milford.
Bea and Marge started out singing for local functions, doing so well that they were urged to audition in New York City.
Originally they performed as a trio with their guitarist brother Frank, under the name the Ross Trio (Rosse with the "e" omitted).
The group auditioned for NBC and was soon sent off to work in Cleveland.
When they returned to New York in 1944, Frank was drafted into the Army; he went to France and was mortally wounded by a German sniper.
Geri, who had just finished school, took her brother's place, making it an all-girl trio.
After a long career, The Fontane Sisters remained mostly out of the public's eye.
In 2001, RCA Records released a CD compilation of recordings made by the Fontane Sisters and Perry Como, "Perry Como With The Fontane Sisters", containing many of the songs featured on the Como radio and television shows.
In 2004 an article in the New York Daily News reported that Geri Fontane Latchford had received royalties due to her mother and two aunts.
It was revealed in this same article that all three of The Fontane Sisters had died: Geri, on September 13, 1993 - Bea, on March 25, 2002 - and Marge, on December 3, 2003.
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como (May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was an American singer, actor, and television personality.
During a career spanning more than half a century, he recorded exclusively for RCA Victor for 44 years, from 1943 until 1987.
Como was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Pittsburgh.
He was the seventh of 13 children and the first American-born child of Pietro Como (1877–1945) and Lucia Travaglini (1883–1961), who both emigrated to the US in 1910 from the Abruzzese town of Palena, Italy.
He did not begin speaking English until he entered school, since the Comos spoke Italian at home.
The family had a second-hand organ his father had bought for $3.
As soon as Como was able to crawl, he would head to the instrument, pump the bellows, and play music he had heard.
Pietro, a mill hand and an amateur baritone, had all his children take music lessons even if he could barely afford them.
In a rare 1957 interview, Como's mother, Lucia, described how her young son also took on other jobs to pay for more music lessons.
Perry learned to play many different instruments, but never had a voice lesson.
He showed more musical talent in his teenaged years as a trombone player in the town's brass band, playing guitar, singing at weddings, and as an organist at church.
Como was a member of the Canonsburg Italian Band along with bandleader Stan Vinton, father of singer Bobby Vinton and often a customer at Como's barber shop.
Perry started helping his family at age 10, working before and after school in Steve Fragapane's barber shop for 50¢ a week.
By age 13, he had graduated to having his own chair in the Fragapane barber shop, although he stood on a box to tend to his customers.
Also around this time, Como lost his week's wages in a dice game.
Filled with shame, he locked himself in his room and did not come out until hunger got the better of him.
He managed to tell his father what had happened to the money his family depended on.
His father told him he was entitled to make a mistake and that he hoped his son would never do anything worse than this.
When Como was 14, his father became unable to work because of a severe heart condition.
Como and his brothers became the breadwinners of the household.
Despite his musical ability, Como's primary ambition was to become the best barber in Canonsburg.
Practicing on his father, he mastered the skills well enough to have his own shop at age 14.
One of Como's regular customers at the barber shop owned a Greek coffeehouse that included a barber shop area, and asked Como whether he would like to take over that portion of his shop.
Perry had so much work after moving to the coffeehouse, he had to hire two barbers to help.
His customers worked mainly at the nearby steel mills.
They were well-paid, did not mind spending money on themselves, and enjoyed Como's song renditions.
He did especially well when one of his customers would marry.
The groom and his men would avail themselves of every treatment Como and his assistants had to offer.
He sang romantic songs while busying himself with the groom as the other two barbers worked with the rest of the groom's party.
During the wedding preparation, the groom's friends and relatives would come into the shop with gifts of money for Como.
He became so popular as a "wedding barber" in the Greek community that he was asked to provide his services in Pittsburgh and throughout Ohio.
In 1929, the 17-year-old Como met Roselle Belline at a picnic on Chartiers Creek that attracted many young people from the Canonsburg area.
Como, who attended the cookout with another girl, did not spot Roselle until everyone was around the campfire singing and the gathering was coming to a close.
When it came Como's turn to sing, he chose "More Than You Know", with his eyes on Roselle for the entire song.
They were married July 31, 1933. The couple would later have three children, Ronnie, David, and Terri.
In 1932, Como left Canonsburg, moving about 100 miles away to Meadville, Pennsylvania, where his uncle had a barber shop in the Hotel Conneaut.
About 80 miles from Cleveland, it was a popular stop on the itinerary for dance bands who worked up and down the Ohio Valley.
Como, his girlfriend Roselle, and their friends had gone to nearby Cleveland; their good times took them to the Silver Slipper Ballroom, where Freddy Carlone and his orchestra were playing.
Carlone invited anyone who thought he might have talent to come up and sing with his band.
Como was terrified, but his friends urged him and pushed him onto the stage.
Carlone was so impressed with Como's performance that he immediately offered him a job.
Como was not certain if he should accept Carlone's offer, so he returned to Canonsburg to talk the matter over with his father.
Perry expected his father would tell him to stay in the barber business, but to his surprise, his father said if he did not take the opportunity, he might never know whether or not he could be a professional singer.
The decision was also made with an eye on finances; at this time, Como was earning around $125 per week from his barber shop, while the job with Carlone paid $28 per week.
Roselle was willing to travel with her fiancé and the band, but the salary was not enough to support two people on the road.
Perry and Roselle were married in Meadville on July 31, 1933; four days later, Como joined Carlone's band and began working with them.
Roselle returned home to Canonsburg and Perry would be on the road for the next 18 months.
Because Como believed his professional life and his personal life should be kept separate, he declined repeated interview requests from Edward R. Murrow's Person to Person.
After 65 years of marriage, Roselle died August 12, 1998, at age 84.
He was devastated by her death.
Three years later Perry Como died in his sleep on May 12, 2001, at his home in Jupiter Inlet Colony, Florida, six days before his 89th birthday.
He was reported to have suffered from symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
in the year before his death, Como's older son, Ronnie, and his daughter, Terri, could not agree on their interpretations of Como's 1999 living will and it became a matter for the courts.
Perry Como and his wife, Roselle, are buried at Riverside Memorial Park, Tequesta, Palm Beach County, Florida.
“America is not just a country, it’s a spirit that animates the world.”
– Woodrow Wilson
MADA ~ Make America Democratic Again…
The smartest political & historical analysis at Letters From An American 🏆 🌱 Today's Edition Newsletter 🏆 🌱
Rejoice, recharge and dispell the political blues at Chop Wood, Carry Water 🏆 🌱
Share this post