Alma Pedroza; Soprano Sang National Anthem at 1960 Convention

Alma Pedroza, operatic soprano known for singing the national anthem at the Democratic National Convention before the selection of John F. Kennedy as presidential nominee in 1960 and at the opening of Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine in 1962, has died. She was 81.

Pedroza, who had operated the Pedroza Travel Center for the last 30 years, died Tuesday of cardiac arrest at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She had suffered from lung and colon cancer.

A native of Detroit, she earned a scholarship to study in New York, where she married her voice teacher, the late Alfonso Pedroza.

The coloratura sang frequently with the Mexico City Opera Company and was named to Mexico City’s Televicentro XEW and XEQ Hall of Fame.

In Los Angeles, Pedroza became well-known as the city’s unofficial anthem singer. She sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” for the Democratic National Convention in the Los Angeles Sports Arena before Democrats anointed Kennedy as their standard-bearer. Two years later, she was chosen to sing the anthem at opening ceremonies for Dodger Stadium.

That was not the end of Pedroza’s support for the Dodgers. In 1985, she co-wrote and sang what she suggested as the theme song for then-star pitcher Fernando Valenzuela: “Fernando! You Are the One!”

With lyrics in Spanish as well as English, the song stated in part: “You always play ball with much gusto; You work very hard for your game; You always pitch great for the Dodgers; That’s why you deserve all your fame.”

With the late Monte Randall, Pedroza appeared on radio talk shows and co-wrote a column titled “Our Latin Amigos.”

Pedroza is survived by a son, Carlos; three daughters, Inez, Cecilia and Adelina; and four grandchildren.