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JANE FROMAN
Jane Froman publicity photo.
Jane's
unique, dramatic voice seemed to mirror the courage with which she overcame
multiple life adversities. One of these was the February, 1943 USO plane
crash in which she suffered severe injuries. Her courageous return to
Europe on crutches to inspire wounded servicemen was a focus of the
1952 award winning 20th-Century Fox movie, With a Song in My Heart.
While Susan Hayward was Oscar-nominated for her portrayal of Jane, Jane's
own singing on the soundtrack became a best-selling record album.
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 the '50s, Jane had helped redirect fan adoration into creative projects and gala benefits for the financial support of the children's program at the Menninger Institute. She was born in 1907 and passed in 1980. Ilene Stone has
recently written a wonderful new book about Froman titled Jane Froman:
Missouri's First Lady of Song. The book is available in our gift shop. The
Boone County Historical Museum in Columbia, Missouri, serves as a repository
for Jane Froman memorabilia and is the primary site for annual reunions
of admirers, friends, and family from all over the world. Other
institutions in Columbia with collections include Western
Historical Manuscripts on the Missouri University campus which holds
papers, photos and recordings, and others which hold awards, gowns and
miscellaneous items. We also recommend the Froman Centennial web site for wonderful information about Froman's life and the November 2007 celebration to be held in Columbia. Other questions about Jane Froman, her life, recordings, videos and annual events may be e-mailed to fromanfans@hotmail.com.
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Jane Froman's three-decade career included radio
and television, recordings on major labels, nightclub performances,
and appearances in Broadway shows and Hollywood movies. 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."