Famed anthem singer Rocco Scotti dead at 95

CLEVELAND (AP) Rocco Scotti, the opera-trained singer who belted out the national anthem before Cleveland Indians games, has died. He was 95.

Scotti's rendition of the anthem, with a trademark high note at the end, made him beloved in Cleveland. The Indians confirmed Scotti's death and expressed its thoughts and prayers to his family in a statement late Friday night.

''Rocco was a unique member of the Cleveland sports scene for many years,'' Indians vice president Bob DiBiasio said. ''We truly enjoyed our long relationship with him.''

Scotti grew up in Cleveland's Little Italy section and graduated from Collinwood High School. He worked with his father in construction while taking singing lessons. The team honored him before a game last year, playing one of his versions of the anthem.