Jane Froman
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Jane Froman (born November 10, 1907, in University City, Missouri — died April 22, 1980, in Columbia, Missouri) was an American actress and singer.
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[edit] Background
Froman was born to Anna T Barcafer and Elmer Ellsworth Froman in 1907. She spent her childhood in the small Missouri town of Clinton, and her adolescence in the city of Columbia, which she considered her hometown. Her parents separated when she was five. Jane began stuttering shortly after that, and it plagued her all of her life, except when she sang.
Although she had classical voice training, early in her career she was drawn to the songs of the era’s brilliant young songwriters, George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin, who were inspiring a resurgence in popular music. In 1934, at age 27, she became the top-polled ‘girl singer’. The famous composer and producer, Billy Rose, when asked to name the top ten female singers, is reported to have replied, “Jane Froman and nine others”.
[edit] Plane Crash
She was severely injured by an aircraft crash on February 22, 1943, when a USO plane carrying Jane and thirty-eight others crashed into the Tagus River in Lisbon, Portugal. One of fifteen survivors, Jane sustained horrible injuries: a cut below the left knee nearly severing her leg, multiple fractures of her right arm, and a compound fracture of her right leg that doctors threatened to amputate.
Jane underwent thirty-nine operations over the years. She stubbornly fought amputation, but wore a leg brace the remainder of her life. However, she returned and entertained the troops in World War II, despite having to walk with crutches, giving ninety-five shows throughout Europe.
[edit] Movie and Show Credits
She is credited with acting in at least three movies, “Kissing Time” (1933), “Stars over broadway” (1935) and “Radio City Revels” (1938). In 1952 (some records say 1950) she hosted her own show, “The Jane Froman Show” (initially called “USA Canteen”) on black-and-white television on the CBS network in the USA for three seasons. “I Believe”, the very first hit song to be introduced on television, was written for Jane by the show’s musicians, Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl and Al Stillman in 1953 and earned her a gold record.
[edit] "With a Song in My Heart"
Jane Froman's life story was the subject of the hit 1952 film "With a Song in My Heart", starring Susan Hayward as Miss Froman. Froman herself supplied Hayward’s singing voice.
[edit] Retirement and death
Jane retired to her home town of Columbia, Missouri in 1961, but continued the volunteer work for which she was known throughout her career. In 1980 she died of cardiac arrest due to chronic heart and lung disease.
