The Del Rubio Triplets-Milly, left, Elena and Eadie-at an appearance in Orange County in 1996. Only Milly survives. (AL SCHABEN / Los Angeles Times)
Studio singer Gene Merlino of Camarillo estimates he sang about 10,000 song-poems over 35 years. Here he sings “Be My Shark.” (ANNE CUSACK / Los Angeles Times)
