In Memory: Annette Funicello (October 22, 1942 – April 8, 2013).

Annette Funicello, was one of the best-known members of the 1950's "Mickey Mouse Club" and a star of the 1960's "beach party" films, died Monday at a California hospital. Funicello, who was 70, "died peacefully from complications due to multiple sclerosis, a disease she battled for over 25 years.

Funicello, was 13 when she was selected by Walt Disney himself to be one of the original Mouseketeers of the "Mickey Mouse Club," the 1950's television show

She remained with Disney after leaving the "Mickey Mouse Club," appearing in TV shows: "Zorro" (1957), "The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca" (1958) and starring in the Disney feature films "The Shaggy Dog" (1959), "Babes in Toyland" (1961), "The Misadventures of Merlin Jones" (1964) and "The Monkey's Uncle" (1965).

Some of my favorite Funicello's performances was when she co-starred with teen idol Frankie Avalon in beach party movies in the 1960's. These included "Beach Party" (1963), "Muscle Beach Party" (1964), "Bikini Beach" (1964), "Beach Blanket Bingo" (1965), and "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini" (1965).

Funicello had Top-40 hits including: "Tall Paul," "First Name Initial," "How Will I Know My Love," and "Pineapple Princess." Along with the singles, she recorded several successful albums, including "Hawaiiannette" (1960), "Italiannette" (1960) and "Dance Annette" (1961).

Funicello reunited with Avalon in 1987 to star in, "Back to the Beach," in which the two former teen idols played as parents of a pair of troublesome teenagers.

Avalon and Funicello followed the movie with a concert tour in 1989 and 1990, singing their hits from the 1960's.

She will always be remembered as one of  Walt Disney's brightest stars...