I had the great pleasure to play this wonderful show, when it came to Dayton Ohio as part of the Kenley Players Summer Series. The 4 Girls 4 for my run were Helen O'Connell, Rosemary Clooney, Katie Starr and Martha Raye. I remember the great conductor/piano player was Frankie Ortega. Remember him and his trio on 77 Sunset Strip. I have worked with a few comedians, and Martha Raye was just too much. She really never did the same comic routines for the entire week's run. She often picked on the musicians in the band, playing the show. It was one of the best show I had ever played. All the girls were so easy to talk to, especially Helen O'Connell. She grew up in Lima, Ohio. When I was in high school in Findlay, Ohio, I played in the Lima Symphony. We frequently talked about Lima during breaks.
This footage is just incredible. Will never be with parallel 😢 Can you imagine a show where 4 of todays singers agree to sing together ? Its Taylor, Adele, Rihanna & J.Lo ? No, me neither 😂
I think she was wearing pearlescent lipstick. I think that's what it's called. My grandmother who was about the same age used to wear something similar.
ICK! Rosemary Clooney must have still been in her depression funk cuz that was a VERY depressing song.. didn't like it at all.. ALTHOUGH I have to say, her voice was just as smooth and velvety as ever, what a shame cigarettes ruined it in her later life...
I LOVE this song -“Have I Stayed Too Long at The Fair;-“. It’s so packed full of meaning… And Rosemary Clooney, especially later in her life, actually gives it even MORE poignance. GORGEOUS tune. Thanks tons, Lady Rosemary - always! ❤
PS. This song is by the great Billy Barnes - it also was recorded by Patti Page and Barbra Streisand - both absolutely beautiful renditions, also, imho. 😊
After the Kenley Show, over the years I had the wonderful experience to play for Rosemary Clooney many times whenever she did her solo show around the Dayton, Ohio area. It was always such a pleasure to back her up with a 17 piece big band. She always had the same, great, conductor/piano/arranger/ accompanist, John Oddo. Sadly, John is no longer with us. John began to accompany Rosemary when he was the piano player on the Woody Herman Band. Woody and Rosemary were trying to do an album, together. The arrangements done for this session were just not working for the Herman Band and Rosemary. John Oddo rescored all of the vocal arrangements, and it worked! The rest is history. John stayed with Rosemary until she passed.
