Singer Yuro loses long battle with throat cancer at 63

Dan Kulin

Tuesday, April 6, 2004 | 8:43 a.m.

Singer Timi Yuro, who burst onto the popular music scene in 1961 with the hits "Hurt" and "I Apologize," died at her Las Vegas home last week after a lengthy battle with the throat cancer that took her voice years ago. She was 63.

Yuro's singing career included many top 40 hits and 23 albums, the last of which was recorded with Willie Nelson in 1985 -- the same year she was diagnosed with throat cancer, her husband, Robert Selnick, said.

"There was never a person that met my wife that didn't love her," Selnick said. "And she loved her fans so much. She never snubbed her nose at anyone."

Selnick said his wife went so far as to surprise more than 50 fans over the years by showing up at their birthday parties.

Born Rosemary Taneo Yuro in Chicago, she got the nickname Timi as a child and it stuck for life, Selnick said.

When Yuro was a teenager her family moved to Hollywood and opened an Italian restaurant. When business wasn't as good as they'd hoped, they set up a stage for aspiring entertainers to perform on. It was through a contact made at the restaurant that Yuro got her start in music.

Selnick and Yuro met in 1969 while she was performing at the Castaways hotel, where Selnick was casino manager.

"Elvis Presley was probably her biggest fan. I had to have a booth reserved for him every night," Selnick said.

Selnick and Yuro married in 1969, and their daughter Milan was born in 1971.

Yuro spent the next 10 years at home raising their daughter. She would perform once in a while at special concerts, but didn't put out a new album until 1981, Selnick said.

In 1985, Yuro's last album, "Timi Yuro Sings Willie Nelson," was released. She stopped singing after being diagnosed with cancer, Selnick said.

"She was just devastated," Selnick said. "She wouldn't be able to sing anymore, or perform. She didn't even listen to her music for a few years."

Yuro's cancer came and went over the years, About 10 years ago she got a tracheotomy, which left her still able to talk but not able to sing.

"Then a couple of years ago they removed her vocal box completely. She was only able to write notes," Selnick said.

"That was extremely devastating also. But she was an extremely strong woman and fought this as much as she could fight it," he said.

Selnick said the last four months were particularly bad for Yuro. She returned home three days before her death on March 30.

Their daughter Milan lives in Las Vegas with their three grandchildren, Selnick said.

There will be no viewing or funeral ceremony for Yuro. Selnick said she wanted people to remember as she was prior to her illness. Her ashes are to be spread over her parents' graves in Chicago, he said.