Val Rosing
Encyclopedia
Val Rosing was the British "Dance Hall" singer best known as the vocalist with the BBC
Henry Hall
Orchestra. Born as Valerian Rosing, he was the son of Russian tenor and opera director, Vladimir Rosing
and English singer Marie Falle. From 1938 he was also known as Gilbert Russell.
Rosing sang on the original BBC recording of Teddy Bear's Picnic
as well as In a Little Gypsy Tea Room. Another of his notable records was the Ray Noble
Orchestra's recording of Try a Little Tenderness
, the first recording of this well-covered song. Rosing recorded more than one hundred sides with various English bands, including Spike Hughes
and His Decca-Dents, the Jack Payne Orchestra, Jack Hylton
's Orchestra and Rosing's own Radio Rhythm Rascals, before moving to the United States of America in the later 1930s.
Rosing married the English actress Meriel Carrington in 1932. They had a daughter, the artist Anna Edouard.
In 1938, Rosing moved to America at the urging of Louis B. Mayer
, who renamed him Gilbert Russell, with hopes of making Russell the "English Bing Crosby
." His years at MGM were uneventful, and after his stint with the studio, Russell sang and acted in musicals and light operas around the country. Making the transition from pop to "legitimate" singer, Rosing legally changed his name to Gilbert Russell and sang in the Chicago Theater of the Air, the NY Opera Company, and the San Francisco Opera. In 1953, Rosing married secondly Marilyn Pendry, a dancer in movies such as "White Christmas" and "An American in Paris." The couple had one daughter, Claudia Russell, before divorcing. In 1961 Russell married June Baum, a singer and actress.
In the 1960s, Russell worked as one of Hollywood's top vocal coaches, with students that included Natalie Wood
, George Chakiris
, June Lockhart
and Tina Louise
.
Russell died of cancer in 1969 at the age of 59 and is buried at Eden Cemetery in Los Angeles.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Henry Hall
Henry Hall (bandleader)
Henry Hall was a British bandleader. He played from the 1920s to the 1950s.-Biography:Henry Hall was born in Peckham, South London and served in both the Salvation Army and the British Army...
Orchestra. Born as Valerian Rosing, he was the son of Russian tenor and opera director, Vladimir Rosing
Vladimir Rosing
Vladimir Sergeyevich Rosing , aka Val Rosing, was a Russian-born operatic tenor and stage director who spent most of his professional career in England and the United States...
and English singer Marie Falle. From 1938 he was also known as Gilbert Russell.
Rosing sang on the original BBC recording of Teddy Bear's Picnic
Teddy bears' picnic
"Teddy Bears' Picnic" is a song consisting of a melody by American composer John Walter Bratton, written in 1907, and lyrics added by Irish songwriter Jimmy Kennedy in 1932. It remains popular as a children's song, having been recorded by numerous artists over the decades. Kennedy lived at...
as well as In a Little Gypsy Tea Room. Another of his notable records was the Ray Noble
Ray Noble (musician)
Ray Noble was an English bandleader, composer, arranger and actor. Noble studied music at the Royal Academy of Music and became leader of the HMV Records studio band in 1929. The band, known as the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, featured members of many of the top hotel orchestras of the day...
Orchestra's recording of Try a Little Tenderness
Try a Little Tenderness
"Try a Little Tenderness" is a love song written by Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly and Harry M. Woods, and recorded initially on December 8, 1932 by the Ray Noble Orchestra followed by both Ruth Etting and Bing Crosby in 1933...
, the first recording of this well-covered song. Rosing recorded more than one hundred sides with various English bands, including Spike Hughes
Spike Hughes
Patrick "Spike" Cairns Hughes was a British jazz musician, composer and music journalist. He was the son of Irish composer, writer and song collector Herbert Hughes...
and His Decca-Dents, the Jack Payne Orchestra, Jack Hylton
Jack Hylton
Jack Hylton was a British band leader and impresario.He was born John Greenhalgh Hilton in the Great Lever area of Bolton, Lancashire, the son of George Hilton, a cotton yarn twister. His father was an amateur singer at the local Labour Club and Jack learned piano to accompany him on the stage...
's Orchestra and Rosing's own Radio Rhythm Rascals, before moving to the United States of America in the later 1930s.
Rosing married the English actress Meriel Carrington in 1932. They had a daughter, the artist Anna Edouard.
In 1938, Rosing moved to America at the urging of Louis B. Mayer
Louis B. Mayer
Louis Burt Mayer born Lazar Meir was an American film producer. He is generally cited as the creator of the "star system" within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in its golden years. Known always as Louis B...
, who renamed him Gilbert Russell, with hopes of making Russell the "English Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
." His years at MGM were uneventful, and after his stint with the studio, Russell sang and acted in musicals and light operas around the country. Making the transition from pop to "legitimate" singer, Rosing legally changed his name to Gilbert Russell and sang in the Chicago Theater of the Air, the NY Opera Company, and the San Francisco Opera. In 1953, Rosing married secondly Marilyn Pendry, a dancer in movies such as "White Christmas" and "An American in Paris." The couple had one daughter, Claudia Russell, before divorcing. In 1961 Russell married June Baum, a singer and actress.
In the 1960s, Russell worked as one of Hollywood's top vocal coaches, with students that included Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood, born Natalia Nikolaevna Zacharenko was an American film and television actress. After first working in films as a child, Wood became a successful Hollywood star as a young adult, receiving three Academy Award nominations before she was 25 years old.Wood began acting in movies at the...
, George Chakiris
George Chakiris
George Chakiris is an American-Greek dancer, singer and actor.-Early life:Chakiris was born in Norwood, Ohio, to Steven and Zoe Chakiris, immigrants from Greece. Chakiris studied at the American School of Dance....
, June Lockhart
June Lockhart
June Lockhart is an American actress, primarily in 1950s and 1960s television, but with memorable performances on stage and in film too. She is remembered as the mother in two TV series, Lassie and Lost in Space. She also portrayed Dr...
and Tina Louise
Tina Louise
Tina Louise is an American actress, singer, and author. She is best known for her role as the "movie star" Ginger Grant on the television situation comedy Gilligan's Island .-Early life:...
.
Russell died of cancer in 1969 at the age of 59 and is buried at Eden Cemetery in Los Angeles.