2002 Inductee

Pop, Jazz, Blues Singer of film and radio. Began her career at age 13, singing with her sister Betty on Cincinnati radio. Later became a band vocalist and rose to instant fame with her recording of Come-On-A-My- House. She starred in a number of films, most notably White Christmas, co-starring with Bing Crosby in 1954, in which she was lauded for her performance of the ballad Love You Didn’t Do Right By Me.

In the 1950’s, she was signed to co-host, with Bing Crosby, a songfest radio show, which aired on CBS radio. She became the star of her own television series in 1956 “The Rosemary Clooney Show” which ran through 1957. In 1976, Bing Crosby asked her to join him on his 50th Anniversary tour; it would be Crosby’s final tour and Clooney’s comeback event. The highlight of the show was their duet On a Slow Boat to China.

The next year, Clooney signed a recording contract with Concord Jazz, one that would produce a string of more than a dozen successful recordings including Everything’s Coming Up Rosie. She was recently inducted
into the National Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame, and in 1995, ASCAP awarded her the “Pied Piper Award,” describing her as “an American Musical Treasure” and one of the best friends a song ever had.”