Betty Jane Rhodes, a talented singer and actress, was born on April 14, 1921, in Rockford, Illinois, to non-professional parents. With her striking blue eyes, blonde hair, and natural vocal talent, she was destined for stardom.
Rhodes was discovered on radio at a young age and began recording by the time she was 8 years old. Her promising contralto voice earned her a contract with Paramount at 15, and she made her film debut in "Forgotten Faces" (1936) under the name Jane Rhodes.
Throughout her teenage years, Rhodes appeared in several films, including "The Arizona Raiders" (1936),"Jungle Jim" (1937),"The Life of the Party" (193),7 "Having Wonderful Time" (1938),"Oh, Johnny, How You Can Love!" (1940),and "Along the Rio Grande" (1941). Her singing talents were showcased in films such as "The Life of the Party" and "Having Wonderful Time".
In the early 1940s, Rhodes was loaned to other studios, but Paramount eventually gave her the lead role in the wartime musical "Sweater Girl" (1942),where she introduced the classic song "I Don't Want to Walk Without You". She also starred in "Salute for Three" (1943) and "You Can't Ration Love" (1944).
After her film career began to fade, Rhodes continued to record music for RCA and Decca Records, producing hits like "Rumors Are Flying" and "Buttons and Bows". She was married to Willet H. Brown, a broadcasting pioneer and co-founder of the Mutual Broadcasting System, and was dubbed the "First Lady of Television".
In the 1960s, Rhodes continued to perform in clubs and cabarets, eventually retiring. Her husband passed away in 1993, leaving her a significant inheritance. Rhodes had one child, Kimberly, with Willet, and also had three stepchildren, Michael, Peter, and Patricia. Her son, Michael J. Brown, followed in his father's footsteps and worked in broadcasting.
Rhodes passed away on December 26, 2011, at the age of 90, in Los Angeles.
