She became a child star, nicknamed Scotland’s Shirley Temple, and later became a jazz singer performing with Count Basie and Duke Ellington.
Now friends have rallied round in a bid to pay much-needed medical bills for Annie Ross, the 89-year-old sister of comedian Jimmy Logan.
Those closest to the singer and actress, who turns 90 in a fortnight, say she’s too frail to leave her New York home.
Scott Merrell, who has set up a GoFundMe page to help provide her with hospice care, said: “Annie requires 24-hour supervision.
“Should Annie need to be transferred to a nursing facility during this time, she likely would not make it.
“Since we began this fundraiser, she continues to deteriorate and has been under hospice care in her apartment. Unfortunately, the cost of
healthcare is astronomical and we are running out of funds, and have exhausted our options for more financial assistance.”
He added: “We may have only a week or two to keep her at home with her current level of care.
“All funds donated are going directly to Annie’s account to pay for her home caregiver.” After a career stretching back to age seven, Annie was inducted into the ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame in 2009 and continued to perform in New York until recently.
A film about her life and career, No One But Me, premiered at the Glasgow Film Festival in 2012.
The GoFundMe page has raised almost £24,000 so far.
Donate at uk.gofundme.com/f/annie-ross-health-care
