Stage Name: Lina Romay
Birth Name: Maria Elena Romay
Occupation: Big Band Lead Singer, Radio Singer / 1940s Nightclub Entertainer / Pinup Girl / Stage, Film, TV Actress
Years Active: 1942-1957
Notable Works: Some of Lina Romays' best works were during the war years as a YANK magazine vintage pinup girl helping win WWII, also as a nightclub singer during the early 1940's appearing as lead singer for Xavier Cugat Orchestra who she also appeared with some noteable films You Were Never Lovelier (1942), The Heat's On and Stage Door Canteen (1943), Two Girls and a Sailor (1944); she continued a good living after the wars end and even appeared with longside famed silver-screen legends Clark Gable, Mickey Rooney, and TV great Red Skeleton: Adventure (1945), Love Laughs at Andy Hardy (1946), The Red Skeleton Shows (1957). She came to Hollywood under contract to Columbia in 1942, then worked briefly at MGM and RKO. Working on about 20 good feature films over her lifetime including not yet mentioned The Man Behind the Gun with Randolph Scott (1953) and in 1949 Joe Palooka in the Big Fight. In 1949, she began a three-year run as featured vocalist on the TV series Paul Whiteman's Goodyear Revue.
Date/Place Birth: 16 January 1922, New York, NY, U.S.A. (daughter of Porfirio A. Romay, attaché of the Mexican Consulate of Los Angeles)
Date/Death/Cause: As of May 20, 2009: Lina Romay just celebrated her 90th birthday--yes her professional birthdate is a bit off. She had friends and family at a lovely yacht party in San Diego given by her son and daughter; the yacht is that same one that was owned by Lina with her husband Jay many years ago. Lina still resides in LA county and is doing well.
Spouse(s) & Children:November 25, 1943 Lina Romay marries John Lawrence Adams, a Los Angeles investment broker, he's 25, she's 21, they divorced 1945; In 1947 Lina Romay marries Johnny Wilson, restaurant owner and former University of Southern California track star(divorced ?); (both Linas' Jays' third marriage) July 13, 1953 married Professional Tennis Player Jay Gould II, (1888-1935) Grandson of Jay Gould (1836-1892) the Banker, Financial Speculator and Railroad Magnate; they have 2 children born in Los Angeles, Gloria D. Gould 15 April 1961, Jay Gould IV April 15, 1970.
Short Biography: From the PlayBill for the Winter's Gardens dated July 20, 1950; (Lina appeared and sang in Michael Todd's Peep Shop, on Broadway):
Lina Romay, born in New York, the daughter of Mexico's Consul to this city, has carried on the tradition of awakening American interest in our friendly neighbor below the border. The young lady who made South American music popular with her renditions of "Chiu Chiu" and "Tico Tico", was educated in a Brooklyn Catholic Convent. While her father was stationed in Detroit, the turned down her first big-time opportunity - to sing with Xavier Cugat - because she was too young and wanted to remain with her family. A few years later, in New York, she signed with the same Mr. Cugat and skyrocketed to fame. Appearing with the Cugat orchestra inYou Were Never Lovelier and Bathing Beauty , she caught the eye of Hollywood's moguls and was given a contract, subsequently playing in Weekend at the Waldorf , Mexican Honeymoon, and Love Laughs at Andy Hardy. Although this is Miss Romay's first appearance on the legitimate stage, she has played in theatres with the Cugat Orchestra and on personal appearance tours. A familiar entertainer in the country's leading night clubs, she also has been a featured entertainer on the air waves.