~~~~~ back to top Jane Froman ~ Songstress & USO Heroine New! Jane Froman Centennial Site! Born Ellen Jane Froman, she would be 100 years old, November 10, 2007, and the honors and events will be lovely. This site is comprehensive one, sure to please all Jane Froman fans, and win some new ones! Don't miss these!Go to YouTube.com or to RealPlayer Audio/video, and ask "Jane Froman" in the site Search Engines. There are audio and video clips of Jane, herself; Susan Hayward's famous performance in Janes BioPic; and Jane's present famous songstress, Valerie Lemon. All are very nice! Remembered by my generation from the film of her life, Starring Susan Hayward, who won the Academy Award for her performance in the role of Ms.Froman. (Jane Froman's voice was dubbed in for the songs,and the album from it a very big hit)! Oscars.org > 1952- (25th Academy Awards- bestACTRESS-Susan Hayward -- With a Song in My Heart {"Jane Froman"} " A top female vocalist, previously a major star in nightclubs and later in early television, she was injured in a USO plane , in 1943, route to entertain military overseas during World War II. Her life was a portrait in beauty, talent, and courage, enduring longterm suffering from leg injuries, requiring surgery after surgery, and painful therapies. Throughout the ordeal, she performed beautifully, and as successfully as ever, courageously, and inspired injured military overseas by continuing her USO committments, over 90 concerts! On crutches herself, she sang on battlefields, to wounded soldiers and "With a Song in Her Heart". At one point, under the elegant gowns she wore so beautifully, were hidden props and struts, like a doll stand, to help her achieve a normal, morale-boosting, glamorous appearance. It was 39 surgeries before she was ok. And she herself with horrible moments of despair along the way. Her wartime song :"I'll Walk Alone" still inspires, as do "With A Song In My Heart", the famous "Blue Moon", and "I Believe" which marked the first time a song was performed, for the firs time, on TV . Such a real-life romantic figure truly inspired my friends and myself as girls. We would wonder: "Do you think we could ever be so brave and stay so beautiful, too?" Ellen May Smith was my maiden name, and Ellen Jane Froman Smith's married name, I learned later...she didn't have to be so nice, I would have loved her, anyway! The film of her story also marked an early appearance of later major heart-throb Robert Wagner. His role as one of the young wounded soldiers Ms.Froman entertained in the scene, inspired the line I always remember from the film, for its ultimate in compassionate delivery: "What's the matter soldier?" she called to him, in the audience at her feet, like a big-sister. In the scene, he was new to crutches and bashful, too, but Jane insisted, with her presence, more than her words, from her "barbie-doll" support stand: "I am brave , you can be brave, too! And I am going to love you with all my heart all through it!"........WOW! Just a few of theJane Froman linksfound online: Valerie Lemon - Sings - "The Jane Froman Songbook: A Song in My Heart". This is just a clip of samples from the wonderful DVD, made from her long-running appearance in New York City NY/USA. Valerie's site! Valerie is devoted to Jane's music, and styles the songs very well. The Jane experts like her, Marvin Hamlisch likes her, so you might, too! Boone County Historical Society ~ Jane Froman site with links and clips Jane Froman, Missouri's First Lady of Song ~ Author, Ilene Stone's new book Jane Froman Papers ~ neat factoids...we share a name! Very Fine Collection, technically very good I can't post sales links, but her albums are available online, for listening/purchase; copies of "Jane Froman Show" TV videos Thank you, Jane Froman. -elle I'll Walk Alone Lyrics by Sammy Cahn Music by Jule Styne I'll walk alone, Because, to tell you the truth, I'll be lonely, I don't mind being lonely, When my heart tells me you are lonely, too! I'll walk alone, They'll ask me why, and I'll tell them, I 'd rather, There are dreams I must gather, Dreams we fashioned the night you held me tight! I'll always be near you, wherever you are, Each night in ev'ry prayer, If you call, I'll hear you, no matter how far, Just close your eyes and I'll be there! Please walk alone, And send your love and your kisses to guide me, Till you're waling beside me, I'll walk alone ! With A Song In My Heart With A Song In My Heart I behold your adorable face. Just a song at the start, But it soon is a hymn to your grace . . . When the music swells, I'm touching your hand, It tells that you're standing near, And . . . At the sound of your voice, Heaven opens its portals to me. Can I help but rejoice, That a song such as ours came to be? But I always knew , I would live life through, With A Song In My Heart, For you ! ~ from the 1948 M-G-M film "Words and Music" Music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart I Believe I believe, for ev'ry drop of rain that falls, A flower grows ! I believe that somewhere in the darkest night, A candle glows ! I believe for ev'ryone who goes astray, Someone will come, to show the way ! I believe! I believe! I believe that, in the dark, the smallest prayer, Will still be heard. I believe that someone, in "the Great Somewhere", Hears ev'ry word ! Ev'ry time I hear a newborn baby cry, Or touch a leaf, or see the sky, Then I know why I believe!