I work for a newspaper in a retirement community and I set the type and layout the obits. I came across an obit for next Wednesday that I found moving in terms of the accomplishments of this self-taught woman musician. I didn’t know this lady but I am so impressed with her life…even the suggested charity is for the cause of music. this seems like a fair place to post it.
“Professional musician, arranger, composer and lyrist, Roberta Como, died on Feb. 11 surrounded by her family after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.
She was born in Derby, Vt., on March 21, 1921, and was the youngest of seven children. She started playing piano at an early age, was self-taught, and had her own radio show during her high school days. After she turned 18, she traveled all over the U.S. bringing her music to all. She was multi-talented playing jazz piano, accordion, and vibes.
She met Frank Como in New York City. After their traveling days together performing in small groups, they settled in New York City and both continued arranging and performing with many famous artists including Lionel Hampton for 20 years. They worked with many singers and entertainers, arranged for the “Tonight Show” band under Skitch Henderson, made recordings with the Philadelphia Symphony, Boston Pops under Arthur Fiedler, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
They worked on the Broadway show “A Chorus Line,” “They’re Playing Our Song” and Leonard Bernstein “On 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,” among many others. One of the highlights of their career together was accompanying Lionel Hampton to Toronto for a concert in 1971. Roberta played the piano with the band featuring famous jazz names like Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Johnny Mercer, Mel Torme, and Gerry Mulligan. She and Frank also worked with Neil Sedaka.
Roberta also recorded an album in the 1960s with Jeannie Cheatham, another noted jazz pianist, featuring two pianos. She arranged the music and Frank produced it. Through Lionel Hampton, Roberta and Frank met Olivia Tucker Ward, a New York City school principal with whom they collaborated in putting together the ABC’s of Black History, an early childhood black history recognition program. Their efforts earned them an ASCAP award.
After retiring in 1988, Frank and Roberta moved to Walnut Creek. She continued to share her music by playing at Nordstrom’s, performing with Frank in small groups for private parties, various events at Rossmoor, Hillcrest Congregational Church at the early service, and with Oz Ramsey’s Bay Area Big Band.
She is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Frank, a daughter, Susan Smiley of Phoenix, AZ, two grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial and celebration of her life will be held Saturday, March 4, 2006 at Hillcrest Congregational Church, 404 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Roberta’s memory to Generations in Jazz Foundation, 3650 Mount Diablo Blvd No. 230, Lafayette, CA 94549. The foundation is a no-profit public benefit corporation dedicated to supporting, creating, and sponsoring youth and adult bands. It also supplements and complements existing local school music programs.”
RIP.