Monday, 3 November 2025

Rosemary June born 3 November 1928

Rosemary June (November 3, 1928 - November 4, 2016) was an American studio pop music singer and actress. 

Born Rose Marie Jun in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she studied Classical Voice at Coe College and University of Michigan, and opera in Rome on Fulbright for one year. She played the leading roles in the productions of “Cosi Fan Tutti” and the “Magic Flute” while on campus and in 1952 made her television debut as soloist on the coast-to-coast Fred Waring show. 

She began her recording career at MGM on April 6, 1954 as featured vocalist with Leroy Holmes. She was a member of the Ray Charles Singers in 1956 and the Cricketones, a group that specialized in Christmas music for children on the Pickwick label. 

She appeared on the 45 “Twas the Night Before Christmas”, backed with “Mixie Pixie”, in the mid-50s, and the LP Christmas is For Children, released on CD in 2007. 

The Ray Charles Singers were a mixed group used on the Perry Como TV Show. One Saturday night after completing a number with the singers, Como stepped back, took Rosemary by the hand and led her out to the front of the cameras. He introduced her to the millions of viewers across the nation and just left her there, all by herself to sing her latest hit record. It was the biggest thrill of her life.   

                                    

Working as a solo singer she released at least 12 singles in the 1950s and ’60s, under various names including Roseanne June and Rosemary June as wella s Rose Marie Jun, with ttles that include “Break Away”, “Love Me Again” and “I’ll Be With You in Apple Blossom Time”, which reached No. 14 on the UK chart in 1959.She was also a hugely successful studio pop singer, working with America's legendary popular composers, such as Bert Bacharach as well as singing in many Broadway and off-Broadway shows. 

In 1959, she dubbed the singing voice for Judy Harriet in the film, Say One For Me. She sang on many TV commercial jingles including: Chiquita Banana ('don't put bananas in the refrigerator. No, no, no, no') and Clairol ('Is it true blondes have more fun?'). As an actress and composer she was known for Diary of a Nudist (1961) and Music of Williamsburg (1960) and Zelig (1983).  She also provided backing vocals for Frank Sinatra's boxed set, Trilogy, in the 1980s. 

There is not much detailed information regarding Rosemary June's work as a solo artist and session singer, but she has left a lasting impact on the music industry, particularly in the genres of pop and traditional music with her ability to adapt to various musical styles. She died November 4, 2016 in New York City, New York, USA. 

(Very scant information was edited from Discogs, IMDb, Legacy, Second Hand Songs & album liner notes)

 

2 comments:

boppinbob said...

Well music lovers, I could not find a compilation of her singles but found quite a few scattered over the internet. I’ve placed them in some sort of chronological order. All are @192 and most are from vinyl transfers so quality will vary (including a few scratchy ones). A CD of hers was released in 2010 “Make The Man Love Me” but I cannot find it at the time of this post.

For “Rosemary June - Singles and More” (2025 FromTheVaults) go here:

https://pixeldrain.com/u/dgfFEWL7

01) Roseanne June - Teach Me Tonight.mp3"
02) Rosemary Jun and Paul DeWitt - Hi Lili Hi Lo.mp3"
03) Rose Marie Jun – Grant Avenue (demo).mp3"
04) Rose Marie Jun – I Enjoy Being a Girl.mp3"
05) Rose Marie Jun – Love, Look Away.mp3"
06) Rose Marie Jun – Sunday.mp3"
07) Rosemary June - Always a Bridesmaid.mp3"
08) Rosemary June - Apple Blossom Time.mp3"
09) Rosemary June - If Your Heart Doesn't Dance.mp3"
10) Rosemary June - I’ll Always Be In Love With You.mp3"
11) Rosemary June - Peak-a-Booin'.mp3"
12) Rosemary June - Person To Person.mp3"
13) The Four Squires with Rosemary June - Repeat After Me.mp3"
14) Rosemary June The Village Of St Bernadette.mp3"
15) Rosemary June - The Sound Of Music.mp3"
16) Rosemary June - Your Lips Are Warmer Than Your Heart.mp3"
17) Rose Marie Jun and Jack Carroll – I've Got the Nerve to Be in Love.mp3"
18) Rosemary June - Bad Girl Blues.mp3"
19) Rosemary June - All Of Me.mp3"
20) Rose Marie Jun – Ribbons Down My Back.mp3"
21) Rose Marie Jun – That Faraway Look.mp3"
22) Rose Marie Jun and Bernie Knee – Better All the Time.mp3"
23) Rose Marie Jun with Burt Bacharach (piano) – What Am I Doing Here_.mp3"
24) Rosemary June -I've Got Eighteen Cents.mp3"
25) Rose Marie Jun – Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm.mp3"
26) Rose Marie Jun – Paris Original.mp3"
27) Rose Marie Jun – Say a Prayer for Me Tonight.mp3"

Buster said...

Thanks, Bob - I'm amazed you found this much information (and material)! She is elusive.