Florraine Panza MacDowell, who died March 8 at the age of 84, seemed to live life as a happy farmer and homemaker, tending to her family farm in Harmar and looking after her children and grandchildren as only a matriarch can.
But back in the 1960s, she was someone quite different — a songstress who called herself “Florraine Darlin” and who had a single that made it onto the Billboard Top 100 chart.
Ms. MacDowell grew up in Springdale and graduated from its high school.
Afterward, she began spending much more time as a vocalist. In 1962, she recorded “Long as the Rose is Red” in response to the big hit by Canonsburg’s Bobby Vinton, “Roses are Red (My Love).”
Her song made it up to No. 64 in the Billboard Top 100 and launched the career of Florraine Darlin’.
She made the most out of it, touring and making appearances around the world, including in Vietnam, where she performed for soldiers.
Ms. MacDowell always stoked her passion for singing and in the 1990s formed a band, the Buzz Poets, with her son Phil MacDowell.
In addition to her son, Ms. MacDowell is survived by a brother, Phil Panza, and a grandson.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Gary MacDowell, and brothers Richard and Wayne Panza.
First Published: March 17, 2025, 9:30 a.m.
Updated: March 17, 2025, 3:02 p.m.
