R.I.P. Rosa Rio at 107: Organist for NBC & ABC Radio soap operas

[CrankyYankee]

Ms Rio would accompany upwards of two dozen NBC soaps within a weeks time.
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/o...07_organist_from_silent_films_to_soap_operas/

 

[FreddyE1977]

Wow, 107? Music must do great things for you! That and hard work (two dozen gigs per week you say?)

 

[ercjncpr]

Wonder how long it took her to memorize all those themes and play them without the sheet music (if she ever did)?

 

[uncamark]

Wonder how long it took her to memorize all those themes and play them without the sheet music (if she ever did)?

She said that she worked without sheet music and that in her radio career she only played the wrong theme once--and then corrected herself after a couple of bars and she claimed no one noticed.

Because she did so many shows back-to-back, she would run from one studio to another at NBC during station breaks, wtih the pages clearing the halls and elevators waiting for her. (Since it takes 30 seconds for a Hammond to get to full power, the organs were turned on for her--I don't know if the drawbars were pre-set for her.)

When TV came along, Rosa tried to make the switch, but she said that she didn't like being stuck in a booth--in radio, she could watch the actors' expressions and play off of them in the studio. That's when she retired from soaps.

 

[MikefromDelaware]

What an interesting career for an organist. I wonder if she played in a church or two on Sunday mornings? She must have been quite a gifted organist as there were plenty of organists available back then for the radio networks to hire for soap operas, etc, (all churches back then used an organist as they all did hymns with organ and choir vs today many churches use praise bands and no organist or choir). Sounds like she had a sense of humor.