Rosalie Allen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rosalie Allen
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Julie Marlene Bedra |
| Born | June 27, 1924 Old Forge, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | September 23, 2003 (aged 79) Van Nuys, California, U.S. |
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Rosalie Allen (born Julie Marlene Bedra; June 27, 1924 – September 23, 2003) was an American country singer. She was also a songwriter, guitarist, and a host on radio and TV. Rosalie Allen was famous for her amazing yodeling skills. People called her the "Queen of Yodeling." She was also the first woman to join the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame.
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Early Life and Yodeling
Rosalie Allen was born in Old Forge, Pennsylvania. She grew up in a big family with 12 children. Her father was a Polish immigrant who worked as a miner.
During the Great Depression, when she was only nine, Rosalie worked as a dishwasher. She helped her family earn money during this tough time.
Rosalie loved the singing cowboys of the 1930s. She taught herself to sing and play her brother's guitar. In 1939, she won a yodeling contest. This earned her the title "Queen of Yodeling," which she used throughout her career. Her prize was to sing on WBRE radio in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. This was her very first time on the radio!
Her Music Career
After her first radio show, Rosalie Allen worked in York, Pennsylvania. She sang on a radio show called Prairie Pals.
In 1943, she moved to New York City. There, she performed on another radio show, Swing Billies.
Radio and TV Star
In 1944, Rosalie joined the Hill Country Jamboree show. This led to her getting her own radio show that same year. Her show was called Prairie Stars on WOV radio in New York. It was on six nights a week and became very popular. Country Music magazine even called her the most famous country music person in Manhattan!
In the 1940s, Rosalie Allen also opened her own record shop. It was called Rosalie Allen's Hillbilly Music Center. This store was special because it only sold country music. It was one of the first stores like it in the United States.
From the late 1940s to the 1950s, Rosalie wrote for country music magazines. These included National Jamboree and Country Sound Roundup.
Hit Songs and Albums
Rosalie's first big hit song came in 1946. It was a yodeling version of "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart." She then released another popular song called "Guitar Polka."
From 1946 to 1951, she released many songs with a group called The Black River Riders.
In 1949, Rosalie appeared on a TV show called Village Barn. From 1949 to 1953, she also hosted her own TV show. This was the first country music TV show in New York City.
She performed live shows nightly at the Village Barn. She also hosted a show for the Armed Forces Radio Network. Rosalie stayed with the WOV radio show until 1956. Around this time, rock music became very popular. This caused country music to become less popular for a while.
Later, Rosalie teamed up with another yodeler named Elton Britt. Their first song together, "Beyond the Sunset," was a big hit in 1950. They also recorded "The Yodel Blues" and "Quicksilver." In 1958, they released a joint album called Elton Britt & Rosalie Allen.
Rosalie released several albums on her own. One was Rodeo in 1959. Her last album was The Queen Of The Yodelers, released in 1983.
Later Life and Legacy
In the 1950s, Rosalie Allen moved to Alabama to start a family. She had one daughter. Later in her life, she faced health problems like diabetes.
Rosalie Allen passed away on September 23, 2003, in Van Nuys, California. She died after a short illness.
In 1999, Rosalie's important work in radio was recognized. She became the first woman to be inducted into the Country Music D J Hall of Fame.
