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In the News

Local musician, 99, is ready for her big break

For the past decade, Marianne Arden Cook has spent her Tuesday afternoons performing at the Friendship Heights Community Center. Now, the 99-year-old pianist and singer is releasing an album of her own songs — 15 of the 130 she’s written.

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Marianne Arden Cook, seen here in a publicity photo circa 1960, was born in 1913 to a colonel and a baroness in Vienna, Austria. She toured Europe and America in the '40s and '50s as Marianne Arden, singing, playing and tap dancing at top nightclubs and on the radio.

/ The Washington Post Files

An undated record of Marianne Arden Cook's 'Liebe Means Love,' which she calls 'a language lesson.' Many of her songs alternate verses in German, English, French and Danish. In 'Liebe Means Love,' she sings, 'Whatever language I speak, I always say 'I love you.' '

An undated record of Marianne Arden Cook's "Liebe Means Love," which she calls "a language lesson." Many of her songs alternate verses in German, English, French and Danish. In "Liebe Means Love," she sings, "Whatever language I speak, I always say 'I love you.' "

Dave Nuttycombe for The Washington Post

Marianne Arden Cook, who performs once a week at the Friendship Heights Community Center in Chevy Chase, receives a warm greeting from a friend. She has spent her Tuesday afternoons playing here for the past decade.

Aug. 7, 2012

Marianne Arden Cook, who performs once a week at the Friendship Heights Community Center in Chevy Chase, receives a warm greeting from a friend. She has spent her Tuesday afternoons playing here for the past decade.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

'They say I'm unique,' says Marianne Arden Cook, at the Friendship Heights Community Center. 'I'm 99, I write songs, words and music — and in four languages,' she says, adding brightly, 'That's better than Cole Porter.'

Aug. 7, 2012

"They say I'm unique," says Marianne Arden Cook, at the Friendship Heights Community Center. "I'm 99, I write songs, words and music — and in four languages," she says, adding brightly, "That's better than Cole Porter."

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Marianne Arden Cook, performing at the Friendship Heights Community Center, came to America in 1940, part of a female vocal group that was booked at the Rainbow Room in New York, a premier nightclub at the time.

Aug. 7, 2012

Marianne Arden Cook, performing at the Friendship Heights Community Center, came to America in 1940, part of a female vocal group that was booked at the Rainbow Room in New York, a premier nightclub at the time.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Marianne Arden Cook also plays the piano. and reel-to-reel tapes onto three CDs. “The Classical Marianne Arden” features solo piano versions of Ravel, Debussy, Rachmaninoff and others; “Marianne Arden Sings and Plays For You” contains her original compositions; and “Marianne Arden Still Sings and Plays For You” is a collection of radio transcriptions and homemade sessions. She is releasing a new album collecting 15 of her 130 original songs.

Aug. 7, 2012

Marianne Arden Cook also plays the piano. and reel-to-reel tapes onto three CDs. “The Classical Marianne Arden” features solo piano versions of Ravel, Debussy, Rachmaninoff and others; “Marianne Arden Sings and Plays For You” contains her original compositions; and “Marianne Arden Still Sings and Plays For You” is a collection of radio transcriptions and homemade sessions. She is releasing a new album collecting 15 of her 130 original songs.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

Marianne Arden Cook speaks with a fan at the Friendship Heights Community Center.

Aug. 7, 2012

Marianne Arden Cook speaks with a fan at the Friendship Heights Community Center.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

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LEWISBURG, WV - AUGUST 11: ( EDITORS NOTE: Image was created using the iPhone 4s with Snapseed's vintage filter) Two young boys sip a drink at the West Virginia State fair on August 11, 2012 in Lewisburg, West Virginia. People from across the region travel to the fair, which is celebrating its 88th year, and hosts various events including equestrian and livestock demonstrations along with a full compliment of carnival rides. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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