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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZFROMAN, Jane(b 10 November 1907, St Louis MO; d 22 April 1980) Broadway singer. Had formal training; sang on WLW radio Cincinnati, with Paul Whiteman in Chicago; to NYC and success on radio, on stage (Ziegfeld Follies Of 1934 etc), musical films (Stars Over Broadway '35, Radio City Revels '38). Hit record '34 with 'I Only Have Eyes For You' (song by Al Dubin and Harry Warren from film Dames). She was badly injured early '43 in plane crash in Portugal while on tour entertaining troops; and never fully recovered, suffering dozens of operations and addiction to painkillers including alcohol. She opened in Artists And Models late '43 (folded after 28 performances). Her injuries gave trouble and her career waned; she sang on the Armed Forces Radio Network '48 with the Percy Faith orchestra and her comeback gained speed early '50s with TV show USA Canteen, later called The Jane Froman Show, and a few more hits including 'I'll Walk Alone', by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne from '44 film Follow The Boys. That song was revived in the Froman biopic With A Song In My Heart '52: Susan Hayward played Froman, who sang on the soundtrack; the soundtrack album was one of the biggest sellers of the year. 'I Believe', an inspirational song introduced on her TV show, was written for her by the show's musical staff, but her hit single was beaten in the charts by Frankie Laine's. |