Norma Zoné (aka Zonay), the daughter of Frank and Edith (Jones) Zoné, was born in Los Angeles. She became interested in music, especially the accordion, at an early age. With her parents’ encouragement, by the time she graduated high school, she was a budding professional accordionist and vocalist.
Soon she was playing with small ensembles, often accompanied by bass and guitar, and singing. It didn’t take long for her trio to be noticed by an agent who suggested the name The Hollywood Rangerettes and encouraged them to travel. The name popularized them; soon they were enthusiastically received at venues across the U.S. During the decade of Norma’s twenties, at a time when female musical groups were quite rare, the Rangerettes enjoyed considerable fame, frequently sharing their personable, attractive style with recovering military service veterans at hospitals.
After her long tour with the Rangerettes, Norma kept busy with music opportunities in Salt Lake City. For several years Norma performed in a violin/accordion duo with Eugene Jelesnik, well known Salt Lake City impresario, playing light classical and gypsy music. She also performed on a weekly TV variety show, in local venues, and many times as a soloist with the Salt Lake Philharmonic Pops orchestra. Norma always considered her work in Salt Lake City to be a highlight of her career.
Norma settled down after her work in Salt Lake to marry Robert Parsons in 1960. Their happy marriage lasted until Bob’s death in 2015.
During that long period, Norma taught both accordion and organ while participating enthusiastically in Silicon Valley musical events. In 2003 Norma was a founder, vice president and program director of the Silicon Valley Accordion Society, still a popular group for accordion enthusiasts in San Jose. She was a 15 year member of AbsolutAccord, a small accordion ensemble. In 1990 Norma, with violinist, Tyane Boye. formed a duet, “Bellows and Bow”, played various venues, and made recordings.
Norma will be remembered for the calm, pleasing aura and smile which unfailingly radiated from her, creating many lasting friendships over the years. This was especially true at San Jose’s Merrill Gardens, a senior living facility, where everyone knew and admired Norma.
After her passing, a Celebration of Life was held for her in September 2021. She is buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery, next to the graves of her parents, Frank and Edith Zoné.
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