Jeanette MacDonald

Jeanette Anna MacDonald was an American singer and actress best remembered for her musical films of the 1930s with Maurice Chevalier and Nelson Eddy . During the 1930s and 1940s she starred infeature films, four nominated for Best Picture Oscars , and recorded extensively, earning three gold records. She later appeared in opera, concerts, radio, and television. MacDonald was one of the most influential sopranos of the 20th century, introducing opera to moviegoing audiences and inspiring a generation of singers.

MacDonald was born June 18, 1903, at her familys Philadelphia home at 5123 Arch Street. She was the youngest of the three daughters of Anna Mae and Daniel MacDonald. She had Scottish, English, and Dutch ancestry. Starting at an early age, she took dancing lessons with Al White, imitated her mothers opera records and took singing lessons with Wassil Leps. She performed at church and school functions and began touring in kiddie shows, heading Al Whites Six Little Song Birds in Philadelphia at the age of nine. She was the younger sister of character actress Blossom Rock who is most famous as Grandmama on the TV show Addams Family.

Source: Wikipedia