Carmela ponselle biography of rory

From Connecticut to Vaudeville

As a young girl, Rosa Ponzillo became fascinated with the piano when her sister Carmela, eight years her senior, began taking lessons in their home in Meriden, Connecticut.

Carmela ponselle biography of rory

Rosa soon had aspirations of becoming a concert pianist, singing only for fun with recordings. When her piano teacher heard her sing, however, she immediately began to work with Rosa on her vocal technique. Carmela, who went to New York to start a vaudeville career, began to introduce Rosa to jobs in the local music industry, including demonstrating sheet music in stores, singing in movie theaters, and later performing in local theaters like the Poli Theatre with a small orchestra. 

Carmela soon convinced Rosa to come to New York to join her on the stage, and as their act took off, they sent money home to pay off debts incurred by the family.

Because there was a strong Italian-American presence in the vaudeville audience, akin t