The Fontane Sisters

The Fontane Sisters
The Fontane Sisters Geri (left), Marge (center), Bea (right)
Background information
Origin	New Milford, New Jersey, United States
Years active	1941–1961
Associated acts	The Ross Trio
Past members	Bea Rosse –born December 12, 1915 Marge Rosse – born October 19, 1917 Geri Rosse - born October 15, 1921 Frank Rosse

The Fontane Sisters were a trio (Bea, Geri and Marge Rosse) from New Milford, New Jersey.

Their mother, Louise Rosse, was both a soloist and the leader of the St. Joseph's Church choir in New Milford. Bea and Marge started out singing for local functions, doing so well that they were urged to audition in New York City. Originally they performed as a trio with their guitarist brother Frank, under the name the Ross Trio (Rosse with the "e" omitted). The group auditioned for NBC and was soon sent off to work in Cleveland. When they returned to New York in 1944, Frank was drafted into the Army; he was killed in action in World War II. Geri, who had just finished school, took her brother's place, making it an all-girl trio.

The sisters first recorded together as The Three Sisters. Sheet music was published in the late 1940s/early 1950s with at least two of their songs with a full photograph of the three: "I'm Gonna See My Baby," and "Pretty Kitty Blue Eyes."

The now all-female group chose the name of Fontaine from a great-grandmother; they decided to drop the "i", making themselves the Fontane Sisters. The sisters worked on sustaining (non-sponsored) programs for NBC, meeting and working with Perry Como soon after he came to the network. Word reached the sisters, then in Chicago for NBC, that "Supper Club" would be making cast changes; they were eager for a chance to join Como's show, which also meant being closer to their home. Beginning in the summer of 1948, they were featured on his radio show and television show known as The Chesterfield Supper Club and later (1950–1954) as The Perry Como Show. The trio also did appearances on Chesterfield Sound Off Time when the program originated from New York; however, the television show lasted only one season. The street Fontane Dr in Cornwall, NY was named after the Fontane sisters.

In 1949 they were signed by RCA Victor, and appeared on several recordings as backup to Como. In 1951 they had a minor hit with "The Tennessee Waltz", of which bigger selling recordings were made by Patti Page and Les Paul and Mary Ford.