Dolores Hope, DC*SG (May 27, 1909 – September 19, 2011) was an American singer, entertainer, philanthropist and wife of English-born American actor and comedian Bob Hope.
Early life and career
She was born Dolores L. DeFina on May 27, 1909 in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood of Italian and Irish descent, and was raised in The Bronx. After the death of her bartender father, Jack DeFina, in 1925, she and her younger sister, Mildred, were raised in the Bronx by their mother, Theresa DeFina (1890–1977), who worked as a saleslady in a drygoods store.
During the 1930s, after working as a model, DeFina began her professional singing career, adopting the name Dolores Reade on the advice of her agent. On October 26, 1933, she appeared as vocalist on two Joe Venuti & his Orchestra recordings of 'Heat Wave" and "Easter Parade". (It was issued on Banner 32879, Melotone M-12828, Canadian Melotone 91649, Oriole 2783, Perfect 15838, Romeo 2156, and "Heat Wave" was also issued on British Decca F-5202.) In 1933, after appearing at the Vogue Club, a Manhattan nightclub, Reade was introduced to Bob Hope. The couple reportedly were married on February 19, 1934, in Erie, Pennsylvania. They later adopted four children from The Cradle in Evanston, Illinois: Eleanora, Linda, William (Kelly), and Anthony (d. 2004). "She was a woman of her words and a fine singer. Bob and Dolores were the talk of many people back in those holy days," says a friend, Malory Thorn. She and Bob celebrated their birthdays on 28 May every year – splitting the difference between their respective real birthdays.
Podcasts:
Dolores Hope
ALBUMS
- Swing Alive! at the Hollywood Palladium released: 1996
Swing Alive! at the Hollywood Palladium
Released 1996- I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
- Let's Dance / Stompin' at the Savoy / Don't Be That Way
- I've Heard That Song Before
- Chattanooga Choo Choo
- Zip Gun Bop
- Hey Pachuco
- I Know That You Know
- Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
- Our Love Is Here to Stay
- Wild Women Don't Get the Blues
- Sing Sing Sing (feat. Royal Crown Revue and John Pizzarelli)
- Sentimental Journey
- I'm Available
- Why Can't You Behave
- My Male Curiosity
- The Boys Are Back in Town (From 48 Hours) / Cleaning Up the Town
- Hoodoo Voodoo Doll
- Stray Cat Strut
- Leap Frog