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WHEREAS, Shirley Jones was born in Charleroi, PA on March 31, 1934, the only child of Paul and Marjorie Jones, and raised in Smithton, PA, she began singing at the age of six; and,
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WHEREAS, she was named Miss Pittsburgh in 1952 thereby winning a scholarship to the Pittsburgh Playhouse, she made her Pittsburgh CLO debut during its 1953 summer season at the age of 19. She was soon after discovered by musical theatre legends Rodgers and Hammerstein while on a trip to NYC the following year which led to her being cast as Laurey in the 1955 film version of their Broadway musical, Oklahoma! ; and,
WHEREAS, she would go on to star in two other classic movie musicals, Carousel and The Music Man, she won an Academy Award in 1960 for her dramatic performance in the movie Elmer Gantry; and,
WHEREAS, she would become a beloved mother figure to many across America through her portrayal as the musical matriarch, Shirley Partridge, on the hit television series, The Partridge Family, from 1970 - 1974 for which she was twice nominated for a Golden Globe Award; and,
WHEREAS, she would sing for nine U.S. Presidents and her performances led President Ronald Reagan to dub her “the First Lady of American song; and,
WHEREAS, she is the mother of three accomplished sons and grandmother of ten; and,
WHEREAS Pittsburgh CLO is celebrating Ms. Jones’ life, career and legacy on Saturday, September, 21, 2024 at the Byham Theatre in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District with her sons Shaun, Patrick and Ryan hosting along with Broadway stars Sierra Boggess, Norm Lewis, Kelli O’Hara, Adam Pascal and students of the CLO Academy of Musical Theatre performing songs from Ms. Jones career and sharing personal stories of her impact on their lives as a mother, performer, and colleague; and,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize and congratulate Shirley Jones on her impact on Pittsburgh and the world through her incredible talents as a performer in the year in which she turned 90; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare, Saturday, September 21, 2024 to be “Shirley Jones Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.