Betty Peterson Blasco, wrote "My Happiness", first song Elvis ever recorded

[deb...@comcast.net]

Betty Peterson Blasco, 87 of Leawood, KS, passed away peacefully in her
sleep during the early morning hours, Friday, March 3, 2006. She was
born Betty Peterson, on June 15, 1918, in Spurgeon, MO, spending her
childhood years there and in White Bear Lake, MN. She eventually came
to Kansas City, MO, where she graduated from Northeast High School in
1938. After attending Central Business College, she was employed by
Jenkins Music from 1938-1944. While there, she met and married Louis O.
Blasco, head of Jenkins publishing division, on April 30, 1943. Mr.
Blasco was, in addition to being a music executive, also a fine
musician, and played in Coon-Sanders Nighthawks, an early KC Jazz band.
Known as "Mr. Music of the Midwest", Lou Blasco had already published
such songs as "Twelfth Street Rag", "Trouble in Mind", and "Just
Because". When Mr. and Mrs. Blasco left Jenkins to go into business for
themselves, Mr. Blasco had with him the melody to a song written by
local bandleader, Borney Bergentine. In 1947, he persuaded his wife, a
talented lyric writer and vocalist, to write words for the song
entitled "My Happiness"- using her maiden name of Betty Peterson. The
subsequent 1948 recording by Jon and Sondra Steele, became a
multimillion seller, also having hit versions that same year by Ella
Fitzgerald and The Pied Pipers. Cashbox Magazine, a music industry
publication, gave "My Happiness" its coveted Song Of The Year Award for
1948. Five years later, a Memphis truck driver named Elvis Presley paid
$2.75 to make a demo-recording of "My Happiness". This first-ever
recording started Elvis on his stellar career, and he thanked Mrs.
Blasco in person when she met him back stage at a KC performance on his
first major national tour in 1956. "My Happiness" has been recorded by
hundreds of artists over the years, including Fats Domino, Pat Boone,
Connie Francis, Frank Sinatra, Jim Reeves, Marty Robbins and Freddie
Fender. Betty Peterson Blasco was a member of the American Society of
Composers Authors and Publisher's (A.S.C.A.P.) and was for a time
active in The Sweet Adelines, a barbershop harmony organization. A
devoute Roman Catholic, she sponsored the First Saturday Devotions Of
Our Lady Fatima for many years. Preceding her in death were a son,
Byron Joseph Blasco and her husband, Louis O. Blasco. She leaves two
sons, L. Allen Blasco and his wife Kathy, of Blue Springs, MO and Tom
Blasco and his wife Megan, of Merriam, KS. She also leaves a twin
sister, Jean Peterson, of Leawood, KS; nephew, Dan Peterson, of Mt.
Carroll, IL; two nieces, Kris Smith and Peg McGaughy, both of Overland
Park, KS; and three granddaughters, Annie, Amber and Carrie Blasco. She
will be loved and missed by all who knew her. Mass of Christian Burial
will be 1:30 p.m., Monday, March 6, at Cure' of Ars Catholic Church,
9401 Mission Road. Burial in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Kansas City, MO.
Visitation will be from 121:30 P.M. Monday at the church prior to the
service. The family suggests in lieu of flowers that contributions be
made to the American Cancer Society, 6700 Antioch Road, Suite 100,
Merriam, KS 66204 or to the Alzheimer's Association, Heartland Chapter,
3846 W. 75th Street, Prairie Village, KS 66208. (Arr. D.W. Newcomer's
Sons Overland Park Chapel, 8201 Metcalf, (913)6486224. Online
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.dwnecomers.com)
Published in the Kansas City Star from 3/4/2006 - 3/5/2006.