REMEMBERING ANNETTE

ANNETTE FUNICELLO

DIED

TODAY 

Annette Joanne Funicello  

was born October 22, 1942 in Utica, New York.  

 Her family relocated to Southern California when she was four years old. 

In 1955, the then 12 year old Annette was discovered by Walt Disney while performing at a dance recital in Burbank California. 

  
He cast her as one of the original 'Mouseketeers' on The Mickey Mouse Club.  

The world would come to know her simply as Annette.

* * * * *

 HOW DO YOU REMEMBER ANNETTE?

As a Mouseketeer? 

 Do you remember reading about her?

 I've written extensively about Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars tours.

Did you know that Annette was a part of Clark's first tour in 1959.

 

ANNETTE WITH DICK CLARK

Along with Frankie Avalon, Anita Bryant, Dody Stevens, Skip & Flip, Duane Eddy, Freddie Cannon, Jan and Dean, Jack Scott and Bobby Rydell . .

ANNETTE & BOBBY RYDELL

Do you remember her hit records?

 

"Tall Paul" reached #7 on the Billboard Charts in 1959

To listen to "Tall Paul" click here:

http://youtu.be/pnNPqoDVc6E 

Here's a great clip of Annette performing "Tall Paul" on Dick Clark's Beech-nut Show in 1959

http://youtu.be/Uq6fMLzIfKU

 

"First Name Initial" rose to #20 in 1959

To listen to "First Name Initial" click here:

http://youtu.be/klJL-ibqO0E 

In 1960, "O Dio Mio" (#10) put Annette back in the Top 10

To listen to "O Dio Mio" click here:

http://youtu.be/jxCSfLXG5BA 

1960 found Annette back on  Dick Clark's Beech-nut Show singing "O Dio Mio"  

Watch it here:

http://youtu.be/2f01-Oy0C6E

"Pineapple Princess" just missed the Top 10 when it 

stalled at #11 in 1960

Listen to "Pineapple Princess" click here:

http://youtu.be/h02oh5Ri4Y0

Were you heartbroken when she fell in love with Paul Anka?

The story goes, he wrote his hit song, "Puppy Love" for her . .

 She certainly brought him luck; "Puppy Love" rose to #2 on the Billboard Charts in 1960

Watch Anka perform "Puppy Love" on The Beech-nut Show - it begins with Clark counting down the current Top 10 (not to be missed!)

http://youtu.be/RR89JVJqBYg 

 Also in 1960, Annette collaborated with Anka on an album.  Entitled, "Annette Sings Anka," you can hear the entire album on Youtube if you'd like (click here):

http://youtu.be/e07w0uBW_Yc 

Here's some random shots from around the same time

ANNETTE'S INTERVIEWED BY DICK CLARK

ENJOYING THE FRUITS OF HER LABOR

IN THE STUDIO

QUEEN OF SOMETHING . . BICYCLES MAYBE?

WITH BOBBY DARIN

CLOWNING WITH BOBBY DARIN

WITH MR. DISNEY 

AT DISNEYLAND WITH PRINCESS SOPHIA OF GREECE (middle)

 Speaking of Disneyland . .

Do you remember Annette on Disneyland After Dark 

 back in 1962?

  

 She appears with Bobby Rydell, and video is available 

on Youtube with a great introduction by Mr. Walt Disney himself:

Watch it here:

http://youtu.be/elULpPFppFU 

ANNETTE & BOBBY RYDELL

MORE DISNEYLAND MOMENTS . .

DISNEYLAND (JULY 1955)

 

AT DISNEYLAND PROMOTING A RECORD

DISNEYLAND 'DATE NIGHT' 1959

AGAIN PROMOTING A RECORD A DISNEYLAND (1958)

AGAIN WITH PRINCESS SOPHIA (1958)

MEETING FANS AT DISNEYLAND

AT DISNEYLAND (1961) AS PETER PAN

1968 MOUSEKETEER REUNION AT DISNEYLAND

AT DISNEYLAND WITH HER FAMILY SOMETIME IN THE 1970'S

 Do you remember Annette at Christmas?

 America watched her grow up right before our eyes . .

 And then came the movies . . 

 You would've thought she was married to Frankie Avalon

Remember when she got married?

ANNETTE & HUSBAND JACK GILARDI (1965)

Here's an incredible video clip of her wedding day taken by the 1965 version of the paparazzi, Hollywood Backstage

 Watch it here:

 http://youtu.be/s2n6UnHxzSU

Here's something you shouldn't miss 

Annette, accompanied by her agent (and soon-to-be husband), Jack Gilardi; joins her cast mates from Beach Party (Frankie Avalon, Harvey Lembeck and Buddy Hackett) to attend the 
1964 New York World's Fair.

Watch this Hollywood Backstage clip here:
http://youtu.be/wKGapV8yuEc 

REMEMBER THAT BIG 'OL HAIR?

 

For a time it seemed she'd faded away - 

guess she was busy . .

 

Remember when she came back?

ANNETTE WITH DICK CLARK

and sold us peanut butter!

In time people began to ask Annette to

And in 1987, she did!

Seemed like old times . .

ANNETTE WITH FRANKIE AVALON

And then this . .

Old friends surrounded her . . .

supported her . .

and loved her . . .

WITH 2ND HUSBAND GLEN HOLT

she was not forgotten . .

And never will be . . .

ANNETTE FUNICELLO
October 22, 1942 – April 8, 2013 

U  P  D  A  T  E  !



Last October 22, 2012 Annette Funicello turned 70 years old.

Several of her old friends (four former Mouseketeers and life-long friend, Shelley Fabares) recorded birthday greetings for Annette.


I've posted the links for each birthday message below 



Bobby Burgess

TO HEAR BOBBY'S BIRTHDAY MESSAGE TO ANNETTE, CLICK HERE:
http://youtu.be/M-p6W1DgZMo





Doreen Tracey

TO HEAR DOREEN'S BIRTHDAY MESSAGE TO ANNETTE, CLICK HERE:
http://youtu.be/56BmCwzqQkA 


 

Sherry Alberoni

TO HEAR SHERRY'S BIRTHDAY MESSAGE TO ANNETTE, CLICK HERE:
http://youtu.be/leg596HCR4Y





Tommy Cole

TO HEAR TOMMY'S BIRTHDAY MESSAGE TO ANNETTE, CLICK HERE:
http://youtu.be/JdmE41hkfyM






Shelley Fabares

SHELLEY FABARES

SHELLEY FABARES & ANNETTE FUNICELLO

TO HEAR SHELLEY'S BIRTHDAY MESSAGE TO ANNETTE, CLICK HERE:
http://youtu.be/3KKElrHk8t8





As most of you probably know, Annette Funicello's seemingly charmed life changed dramatically in 1987 when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

I do remember hearing about Annette's disease on news broadcasts back in 1992 when she went public; but have heard very little about her and her condition in the twenty years since.

When I heard last Monday that she had died, I decided that
 a tribute on my 45 rpm blog would be fitting; as she'd had 
hit records (a couple of which I'd owned back when I 
was collecting 'oldies' records) and she'd been a part 
of the first Dick Clark Caravan of Stars tour.

As I immersed myself into researching Annette
Funicello's life I was struck by the fact that
I found nothing, absolutely nothing negative
written about this woman.


 I was also profoundly moved by 
the fact that her second husband,
Glen Holt, never gave up on his wife.

Glen Holt

    
They were married in 1986, and he loved, supported and cared 
for her right up to the end.

ANNETTE & GLEN (2012)

God bless you Glen - you are a good man
 



Here's a link to Annette's official website:
annetteconnection.com