Rosa Rio - Organist Dies Aged 107

2nd June 1902 - 13th may 2010

Born Elizabeth Raub on June 2, 1902, Rosa Rio began her musical career in her hometown of New Orleans when she was only 10 years old playing piano accompaniment for silent films. As a child, she began playing the piano at age 4 and took formal lessons when was 8. She later went on to study music and silent film accompaniment at Oberlin College and The Eastman School of Music respectively. Her death on May 13, 2010 just weeks before her 108th birthday, ended her almost century long career in film, radio and television entertainment.

Rosa Rio's storied career spanned the years that saw the development of screen and radio entertainment throughout the twentieth century. In addition to her start as an accompanist for silent films in New Orleans, Ms Rio also accompanied for films throughout the eastern United States, including Syracuse, New York, New York City, Scranton, Pennsylvania and most recently in Tampa, Florida where she played a 1,400 pipe Wurlitzer organ for the Tampa Theatre. With the eventual decline of silent films, Ms. Rio turned towards other mediums of entertainment such as radio shows and soap operas where she played organ accompaniment.

During the 1930's and 40's the decline of silent films led Ms. Rio's talent to New York City where she eventually became known as the "Queen of Soaps" for her musical contributions to popular radio shows and soap operas such as When A Girl Marries and Lorenzo Jones. She played her organ in a variety of programs including Ethel & Albert, The Bob and Ray Show, My True Story, Cavalcade of America, The Goldbergs and The Shadow with Orson Welles. In addition, Ms. Rio's career in radio includes a 22-year tenure on NBC where she originally began work as a temporary musician. Ms. Rio was supposed to be a placeholder in the all-male NBC studio orchestra until a male replacement was found. Instead, Rosa Rio ended up with her own national radio show called Rosa Rio Rhythms that was also broadcast to troops stationed abroad during World War II.

Happy listening my friends,