Lung cancer kills multimedia performer Rosemary Clooney

Singer Rosemary Clooney, who began performing on the radio 57 years ago and received a lifetime Grammy this year, died on Saturday night in ...

Singer Rosemary Clooney, who began performing on the radio 57 years ago and received a lifetime Grammy this year, died on Saturday night in her Beverly Hills home due to complications from lung cancer, according to a statement from her publicist. She was 74.

In February, Rosemary was awarded a lifetime Grammy. At the time she was hospitalised following lung cancer surgery and unable to appear at the ceremony. She died surrounded by her five children, husband and grandchildren, the announcement said.

At the height of her career, in 1956-57, she had a TV show on CBS and was married to Academy Award winning actor Jose Ferrer.

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Clooney, aunt of actor George Clooney, began her professional career singing duets with her sister, Betty, at Cincinnati’s WLW Radio in 1945. Four years later, she signed a recording contract with Columbia Records. Always a multimedia performer, her first hit recording, ‘‘Come On-a-My House’’ in 1951 was followed by her appearance in the motion picture White Christmas, three years later.

In 1996, she made three of the top 10 independent jazz albums of the year. They were called, ‘‘Rosemary Clooney’s White Christmas’’, ‘‘Dedicated to Nelson’’; and ‘‘Demi-Centennial.’’ She produced successful compact discs in 1998, including one marking her 70th birthday. Three years ago, she opened ‘‘Feinstein’s at the Regency’’ for friend, Michael Feinstein.