Rosie Hamlin

Rosie Hamlin
Hamlin c. early 1960s
Background information
Birth nameRosalie Hamlin
Born(1945-07-21)July 21, 1945
Klamath Falls, Oregon, U.S.
DiedMarch 30, 2017(2017-03-30) (aged 71)
Belen, New Mexico, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active
  • 1960–1977
  • 2002
Formerly ofRosie and the Originals

Rosalie "Rosie" Hamlin (July 21, 1945 – March 30, 2017) was an American singer and songwriter who was the frontwoman of Rosie and the Originals. The group is best known for the 1960 song "Angel Baby", which became a Top 40 hit in 1961 when Hamlin was only 15 years old. She married guitarist Noah Tafolla, and they had two children (Joseph and Deborah) before they divorced. Hamlin had a third child (John) several years later. Hamlin continued to perform including performing at several revival concerts until 2002, before retiring from live performances due to advanced fibromyalgia.

Hamlin's "Angel Baby" was covered by several artists, including Linda Ronstadt and John Lennon, who cited Hamlin as one of his favorite singers. She was the first Latina to be honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well as the first Latina to appear on Dick Clark's American Bandstand in 1961.