Biography
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With late husband, jazz impresario and pianist, TV and motion picture composer, broadway conductor and longtime collaborator, Mitch Kerper, Ann co-wrote and performed "America" for the Statue of Liberty Centennial Celebration, which was covered by ABC-TV on Liberty Weekend, July 1986. Released on SPI Discs in 1986, “America” was written as a piece that reflects her deep feelings for her country from the perspective of a world traveler.
As a songwriter, Ann, at the age of 14 years old, was asked to write for Bobby Darin's music company in the famous Brill Building in New York City. During this period, the writing skills that were first noted by Bobby Darin began to develop as it gave her something to do between performances and helped increase her ability to communicate with audiences on a more personal level. As time went on, Ann became in demand for broadcasts across television and has written theme songs and background music for CBS's Guiding Light, ABC's One Life to Live, NBC's Another World and the CBS world premier movie “Indefensible" (The Truth About Edward Brannigan) starring Brian Dennehy and Lynn Redgrave. She also wrote and performed “Connie” at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for the legendary Connie Francis in recognition of her “Lifetime Achievement Award” in December of 2010. She also wrote “Thank You, Mr. Sedaka”, for the prestigious Neil Sedaka, who was also the recipient of the ”Connie Francis Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2015.
Major show business names have been impressed with Ann's extraordinary talent. The list of celebrities she has performed with reads like a Who' s Who of American entertainment and include Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Hope, Andy Garcia, Sammy Cahn, Aidan Quinn, Neil Sedaka, Dion, Carly Simon, Cary Grant, Frankie Valli, Lloyd Price, and Oscar Peterson, among many others.
As a singer, performer and songwriter, Ann Anello is a phenomenon. Major publications including The New York Times, have praised Ann as "A major talent; bright, positive and with a voice that is merely this side of marvelous." But perhaps this quote taken from famed critic Rex Reed (New York Observer) best sums up the masterful artistry of this versatile singing diva extraordinaire - "A bombshell who sings in Cinemascope, her voice can rise, soar and quiver with thrilling versatility. THIS GIRL IS GOING PLACES!"