Promise me anything annette funicello biography

The film was a success at the box-office. They were released by Disney's Buena Vista label. In an episode of the Disney anthology television series titled " Disneyland After Dark ", Funicello can be seen singing live at Disneyland. Walt Disney was reportedly a fan of s pop star Teresa Brewer and tried to pattern Funicello's singing on the same style.

However, Funicello credits "the Annette sound" to her record producer, Tutti Camaratawho worked for Disney in that era. Camarata had her double-track her vocals, matching her first track as closely as possible on the second recording to achieve a fuller sound than her voice would otherwise produce. In DecemberFunicello attempted to have her contract with Disney set aside, claiming that it was unequitable and that she was without an agent or legal counsel when she signed it.

The court refused. InFunicello returned to Zorro playing a different role. Funicello moved on from Disney to become a " teen idol ", starring in a series of " Beach Party " movies with Frankie Avalon for American International Pictures. These started with Beach Party when Funicello was 21 years old.

Promise me anything annette funicello biography: Annette Joanne Funicello (October 22,

The movie was so successful American International Pictures signed Funicello to a seven-year contract and starred her in a series of beach party movies. This was released to cinemas in the US and became a surprise box office hit. When she was cast in her first beach movie, Walt Disney requested that she wear only modest bathing suits and keep her navel covered.

However, she wore a pink two-piece in Beach Partya white two-piece fishnet suit in the second film Muscle Beach Partyand a blue and white bikini in the third Bikini Beach.

Promise me anything annette funicello biography: In , she starred in her

All three swimsuits bared her navel, particularly in Bikini Beachwhere it is visible extensively during close up shots in a sequence early in the film when she meets Frankie Avalon's "Potato Bug" character outside his tent. Box office receipts for the series were in decline, and neither Avalon nor Funicello appeared in the final installment, The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini The movie was popular enough for them to try another stock car movie, Thunder Alley with Funicello and Fabian.

It would be her last lead in a feature film for two decades. Funicello guest starred on Hondo and had a short role in Headopposite The Monkees.

Promise me anything annette funicello biography: Annette Joanne Funicello (October 22, –

During the s, Funicello focused on raising her family. InFunicello began starring in a series of television commercials for Skippy peanut butter. The two also performed together live. The title was taken from a song from the Disney movie Cinderella. In the final scene, the actress portraying Funicello Eva LaRueusing a wheelchair, turns away from the camera and when turning back, Funicello herself appears to deliver a message to a group of children.

She also had her own fragrance called "Cello, by Annette". Everyone says, 'God bless you and I'm praying for you. Funicello's best friend was actress and singer Shelley Fabareswhom she had met in a catechism class when they were teens. Fabares was a bridesmaid at Funicello's first wedding. Funicello was married to Jack L. Gilardi — from until They had three children: Gina Portman bornJack Jr.

Holt — In MarchFunicello's longtime Encino, Californiahome caught fire. She suffered smoke inhalation, but was otherwise unharmed. In earlyat around 45 years old, Funicello reunited with Frankie Avalon for a series of promotional concerts to promote their film Back to the Beach. She began to experience dizziness, headaches, and balance issues and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

For the next five years, she hid her condition from her family and friends until when she finally publicly disclosed her diagnosis [ 33 ] to combat rumors that her impaired ability to walk was the result of alcoholism. The Canadian program W5 profiled Funicello in after 15 years out of the public eye, revealing that her disease had severely damaged her nervous system.

She had lost the ability to walk inhad lost the ability to speak half a decade later in and required a feeding tubeneeding round-the-clock care in order to survive. By continuing past this page, and by your continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the Terms of Use. Loaded in 0. Ultimate Collection Studio Album.

Oh Dio Mio. Luau Cha Cha Cha. It's Really Love. The Rock-A-Cha. Walkin' and Talkin'.

Promise me anything annette funicello biography: Actress | Singer Born

Blame It on the Bossa Nova. Jamaica Ska. How About That. Dreamin' About You. Like a Baby. Surfin' Luau Cha Cha Cha. Muscle Beach Party. She quickly became a household name, receiving up to 6, fan letters per day. Her popularity led to appearances in television shows and films produced by Disney, including "Zorro," "Elfego Baca," and "The Horsemasters.

In the late s and early s, Funicello's singing career took off. She recorded several hit songs, including covers of other artists' works and her own original compositions. Funicello married Jack Gilardi in and had three children with him before divorcing in Disney to be somewhat of a shy person, a kid at heart. InFunicello again teamed up with Frankie Avalon to co-produce and star as parents of a pair of troublesome teenagers in Paramount's Back to the Beach.

Then, in andAvalon and Funicello staged a nostalgic concert tour, performing the beach party music and hit singles they made famous in the s. InFunicello announced that she had been battling multiple sclerosis, a degenerative neurological disease, since To assist in fundraising to fight neurological disorders, the actress founded the Annette Funicello Teddy Bear Company, which markets a line of collectible bears.

She also developed her own perfume line, Cello by Annette. A portion of the proceeds from these products goes to the Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Disorders, an organization founded by the actress in She was survived by second husband Glen Holt, whom she married inand three children from her earlier marriage to Jack Gilardi