Background
Jackie grew up in the neighboring town of Catasauqua, Pennsylvania.
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Jackie McKeever
Edit ProfileEducation
She developed a love for music at an early age and attended Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Susquehanna in 1953.
Career
Born Jacquelyn L. McKeever in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to Rollin McKeever and Arlene (Missmer) McKeever (1902–1983). McKeever was a Music major at Susquehanna and while there was involved in Sigma Alpha Iota, a music fraternity for women. She was also involved in piano, chapel choir, Susquehanna Singers and the Symphony Orchestra.
McKeever started teaching music after college, including a stint teaching Music Appreciation at a grade school in Livingston, New Jersey.
She later said she only took the teaching job to get her closer to New York City so she could study piano there. The director asked her to do a summer vocal workshop.
She wasn"t sure if she was interested in a singing career but she decided to do the workshop and subsequently was invited to perform in a series of operatic roles at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey. She then decided to leave her teaching career and pursue a full-time career on Broadway.
Her boyfriend around this time proposed to her, but she turned him down to focus on her career.
The show opened at the Neil Simon in February 1958 and played 192 performances. Jackie McKeever died on June 27, 2007 at the age of 76 of natural causes. She had retired from show business and was a resident of Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania and her hometown of Catasauqua, Pennsylvania.
Achievements
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Born
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Died
June 27, 2007 (aged 76) -
Nationality
United States