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Early Life and Career
Betty Clooney, born Elizabeth Ann Clooney, was an American singer and TV presenter who briefly rose to fame in the 1950s. She was born on April 12, 1931, in Maysville, Kentucky. She was the second of three children, her older sister was Rosemary Clooney, her younger brother was Nicholas Joseph Clooney and her nephew was actor George Clooney. Her father was a house painter with a drinking problem, and had a troubled marriage with his wife. Frances divorced Andrew Clooney in the late 1930s, and Frances remarried William Stone in 1939 and they had one daughter, Gail, in 1945. The family lived in Oakland, California, and resided in the John Brett Richeson House in the late 1940s. Clooney’s paternal grandfather sang in his mayoral election campaigns, which he won three times. The two sisters were close.
The Rise of Betty Clooney
Betty Clooney and her sister Rosemary were a close sister act, and sang together. The family lived in Cincinnati in the early 1940s, where the girls continued to vocalize. In 1945, the sisters won a spot on Cincinnati’s WLW Radio Station as singers. One day they were heard by Tony Pastor (bandleader). The bandleader originally hesitated on hiring both sisters, but soon relented and so The Clooney Sisters hit the road with the Pastor band. They appeared in a movie short with the Pastor Orchestra in 1947. The Clooney Sisters recorded a number of songs for Columbia with the Tony Pastor Band like “The Secretary Song”, “I’m My Own Grandpa”, and “If I Had a Million Dollars”. In 1948, Rosemary was called to New York City to record “Come On-a My House” and Betty returned home to Cincinnati. She became a television pioneer on the city’s first station, WLWT.
Betty Clooney’s Solo Career
Betty also pursued a brief solo career, far from the huge success of sister Rosemary. Betty signed to the local legendary R&B label King Records, releasing several singles including “Sisters” and “Kiki”. In the early 1950s, she was featured on the 15-minute weekday radio program The Three Suns With Betty Clooney on the Mutual Broadcasting System. A nightclub career followed, including appearing at the Starlight Roof at the Waldorf Astoria New York.
Betty Clooney’s Cause of Death
Betty Clooney died on August 5, 1976, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The cause of her death was a brain aneurysm, according to multiple sources. Her untimely death at the age of 45 was a great loss to the entertainment industry and left a void that could never be filled. Her life and career remain a testament to her talent and determination, and she continues to be remembered for her contributions to music and television.
