Ann Anello

Guest Artist, Musical Theatre

Born in Brooklyn, NY of Italian descent, Ann Anello was also known as Ann [Anne] Marie from the 1960s through 1976 and had many chart singles. With her parents’ encouragement, she was exposed to the very best in career training at a young age, studying with the legendary vocal coach, Carlo Menotti and world renowned acting teacher, Lee Strasberg. Ann is an honors graduate of Marymount Manhattan College/Mannes College of Music. At the age of five she became part of the “Golden Age” of live television, as a soloist on the weekly “The Children’s Hour”. Her appearances brought her to the attention of legendary composer Harry Ravel, who accompanied her and shaped her early career developing her stage talent.

A series of eagerly awaited live appearances led to her finding a manager, Tony Veltri, and a contract with Frank Sinatra’s newly formed Reprise Records.  During this period she recorded several chart singles and recorded for the prestigious MGM, Jubilee, Kama Sutra, and ABC Paramount records.  One day, while having a lesson with Carlo Menotti, Ann was discovered by Academy Award Winner Red Buttons who introduced her on the Merv Griffin Show.

At 12 years of age, Ann Anello made her theatrical debut in “Stop The World I Want To Get Off.” Ann also co-starred with Jackie Mason in John G Avildsen’s “The Stoolie”; and made her first trip overseas to Australia for TV and Theatre appearances in a show created for her by Tony Award winning writer, Martin Charnin (ANNIE). Returning from Australia, she was discovered by Broadway producer Leonard Silman, who signed her for his “Best of New Faces”, where she became his final Broadway theatrical discovery.

Ann won critical acclaim when she appeared on Broadway at the Shubert Theater in “An Evening of Music and Songs”, with musical theatre luminaries Strouse & Adams, Kander and Ebb, and Sheldon Harnick. She also won critical acclaim in NYC in Leonard Sillman’s “The Best of New Faces”, the famed “Lyrics and Lyricists” series at the 92nd St. Y Kaufmann Concert Hall, the St. Regis, and Alice Tully Hall. According to John S Wilson with The New York Times, “Anello has a brilliant comedic sense and her voice could turn a low, breathy murmur into a full throated climax or a soaring howl. She energizes everything around her”.

Ann has graced the stage at a number of regional theaters and concert halls across the nation. She also performed in concert for a number of years with legendary composer Charles Strouse in venues ranging from the Broadway stage, Kleinman’s Music Hall with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, to The Dome Arena with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. She also performed in concert throughout Japan, Australia, and Europe.

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. As time went on, Ann became in demand for broadcasts across television and has written theme songs and source music for CBS’s Guiding Light, ABC’s One Life to Live, and NBC’s Another World, among others. She also co-wrote with late husband and collaborator, Mitch Kerper, music for the CBS world premier movie “Indefensible: The Truth About Edward Brannigan”. They co-wrote and Ann performed “America” for the Statue of Liberty Centennial Celebration, which was covered by ABC-TV on Liberty Weekend, July 1986. They also co-wrote and Ann 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, as well as “Thank You, Mr. Sedaka”, for the prestigious Neil Sedaka, who was also the recipient of the award in 2015. 

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.” According to the famed critic Rex Reed (New York Observer)- “A bombshell who sings in Cinemascope, her voice can rise, soar and quiver with thrilling versatility. THIS GIRL IS GOING PLACES!”