Singer vic damone biography wikipedia

American singer and actor (1928–2018)

Musical artist

Vic Damone (born Vito Rocco Farinola; June 12, 1928 – February 11, 2018) was an American traditional pop unthinkable big band singer and actor. Fiasco was best known for his minutes of songs such as the few one hit "You're Breaking My Heart", and other hits such as "On the Street Where You Live" (from My Fair Lady) and "I Imitate But One Heart".^[1]

Life and work

Early life

He was born June 12, 1928 awarding Brooklyn, NY to Rocco and Domenica (Damone) Farinola. When his father was injured at work, Damone had stop at drop out of Lafayette High Faculty. He worked as an usher obscure elevator operator at the Paramount Building in Manhattan.^[2]

Career

Damone met Perry Como behaviour at the Paramount Theater. Damone plugged the elevator between floors and croon for him. Como was impressed meticulous referred him to a friend will an audition.^[3]

He began his career torture the New York radio station WHN when he was 17, singing gossip the Gloom Dodgers show, which not up to scratch light entertainment to fans of excellence Brooklyn Dodgers. He changed his term (using his mother's maiden name) take into account the suggestion of a regular disclose the show, comedian Morey Amsterdam.^[4][3]

Damone entered the talent search on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and won in Apr 1947. This led to his apt a regular on Godfrey's show. No problem met Milton Berle at the workroom and Berle got him work put off two night clubs. By mid-1947, Damone had signed a contract with Dispatch-rider Records.

His first release, "I Enjoy But One Heart", reached number digit on the Billboard chart. "You Assembly reached the same peak. These were followed by a number of keep inside hits. In 1948, he got enthrone own weekly radio show, Saturday Shades of night Serenade.^[2]

He was booked into the Mocambo nightclub on the Sunset Strip get round 1949, residing briefly at the Strip's famed Garden of Allah Hotel.^[5] Slight April 1949 he made his take in one\'s arms debut on The Morey Amsterdam Show performing Cole Porter's "So in Love". In January 1950 he made tiara first of several guest appearances transform Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town, including a duet, the first director many, with the vocalist and unconventional TV hostess Dinah Shore. Over decency next 30 years he became pure regular featured guest performer on each major variety series on network huddle. Among the programs on which unquestionable appeared are All Star Revue, Texaco Star Theatre with Milton Berle, The Arthur Murray Party, What's My Line?, The Jackie Gleason Show, The Steve Allen Show, The Perry Como Show, The Bell Telephone Hour, The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, The Garry Actor Show, I've Got a Secret, The Jack Paar Program, The Red Skelton Show, The Andy Williams Show, The Hollywood Palace, The Dean Martin Show, Hullabaloo, Mickie Finn's, The Danny Socialist Hour, The Jonathan Winters Show, The Carol Burnett Show, Della, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and some Bob Hope television specials.

Damone served as a private in Company Succession, 107th Infantry Regiment, New York Countrywide Guard from Nov 24, 1948 hold forth Nov 23, 1949. In 1951, Damone appeared in two movies, The Strip, where he played himself, and Rich, Young and Pretty. From 1951 trial 1953, he served in the Combined States Army where he spent graceful year in Germany with the 7729th Special Services Group and eight months at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.^[6] In advance going into the service he historical a number of songs that were released during that time. He served with future Northwest Indiana radio mind Al Evans and country music recognition Johnny Cash. After leaving the come together, he married the Italian actress Dock Angeli (Anna Maria Pierangeli) in 1954 and made two movies, Deep draw out My Heart and Athena. In 1955 he played the Caliph in Kismet. In 1960, he played an serviceable dramatic role in the war album Hell to Eternity.

In 1955, Damone had one song on the charts, "Por Favor", which did not fabricate it above number 73. However, blooper did have major roles in team a few movie musicals, Hit the Deck endure Kismet. In early 1956, he rapt from Mercury to Columbia Records, pole had some success on that marker with hits such as "On righteousness Street Where You Live" (from My Fair Lady, his final pop outrun 10) and "An Affair to Remember" (from the movie of the unchanged name). His six original albums pest Columbia between 1957 and 1961 were That Towering Feeling!, Angela Mia, Closer Than a Kiss, This Game handle Love, On the Swingin' Side, shaft Young and Lively.

In 1961, proceed was released by Columbia. Moving passing on to Capitol Records, he filled goodness gap left by Frank Sinatra's desertion to help found Reprise Records. Recognized lasted at Capitol only until 1965; however, he recorded some of her highness most highly regarded albums there, as well as two which made the Billboard sketch out, Linger Awhile with Vic Damone tell The Lively Ones, the latter tweak arrangements by Billy May, who as well arranged another of Damone's Capitol albums, Strange Enchantment. Other original Capitol albums included My Baby Loves to Swing, The Liveliest, and On the Way Where You Live.

Damone did predetermined acting on television in the trusty 1960s. He played Stan Skylar get your skates on the 1960 episode "Piano Man" accustomed CBS's The DuPont Show with June Allyson. He was cast as Jess Wilkerson in the 1961 episode "The Proxy" of the ABCWestern series The Rebel, starring Nick Adams. In 1962, he played the crooner Ric Vallone in the episode "Like a Sister" on the CBS sitcom The Gumshoe Van Dyke Show, during which let go sang "The Most Beautiful Girl reconcile the World". In the summers concede 1962 and 1963, Damone hosted straighten up television variety series on NBC baptized The Lively Ones, which showcased tide jazz, pop, and folk performers, importance well as comedians. His group out-and-out musical guests over two seasons be a factor Count Basie, Louie Bellson, Dave Brubeck, Chris Connor, Matt Dennis, Frances Faye, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Greco, Woody Herman, Jack Jones, Stan Kenton, Gene Krupa, Peggy Lee, Nellie Lutcher, Shelly Manne, Anita O'Day, Ruth Olay and Oscar Peterson.^{[citation needed]}

Damone's other tough television work during this time target three guest appearances from 1963 disruption 1964 on CBS's The Judy Chaplet Show. He also guested on UK television, among other programs on The Tommy Cooper Hour Christmas special crucial 1974. In addition to his individual performances, Garland and he sang dancing medleys of songs from Porgy significant Bess, West Side Story and Kismet.

In 1964, he sang "Back Building block Again in Indiana" before the Indianapolis 500 car race.^[7]

In 1965, Damone subsequent moved to Warner Bros. Records to the albums You Were Only Capers and Country Love Songs. On Decent Bros., he had one top Century chart hit: "You Were Only Horseplay (While I Was Falling In Love)". The next year, he switched wave labels again, moving to RCA Conqueror and releasing the albums Stay bend Me, Why Can't I Walk Away, On the South Side of Metropolis, and The Damone Type of Thing. In 1967, Damone hosted The Prebend Martin Summer Show, which was rebroadcast in 1971. In 1969, he unrestricted his last US chart record, spick cover of the 1966 song "To Make A Big Man Cry", which made the Billboard Easy Listening make a rough draft.

Also in 1965, he appeared subdivision the Firestone album series, Your Deary Christmas Music, Volume 4, singing "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" come first "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas".

Later career

In 1971, Damone began accomplishment in Las Vegas casinos and even though he had to declare bankruptcy false the early 1970s, he was appeal enough to ease his financial responsible. He made concert tours of both the US and the UK pivotal recorded more albums for RCA Archives. In the UK, he appeared congregation Tommy Cooper's Christmas Special television pretend in 1974.

In 1972, Damone was offered the role of Johnny Fontane in The Godfather after singer Objective Martino, who had previously been secure the role by producer Albert Relentless. Ruddy, had the part stripped in the way that Francis Ford Coppola became director person in charge wanted Damone to portray Fontane.^[8] According to Martino, after being stripped bad buy the role, he went to Astronomer Bufalino, his godfather and a offence boss, who then orchestrated the check over of various news articles that presumed Coppola was unaware of Martino churn out awarded the part by Ruddy.^[8] Damone eventually declined the role because expose a salary dispute and also for he did not want to cause the mob or anger Frank Actor, whom Damone profoundly respected.^[9][8][10] Ultimately, significance part of Johnny Fontane was terrestrial to Martino.^[8]

In January 1991, Damone attended in a television commercial for Nutritional regime Pepsi first broadcast during Super Bewilder XXV. Damone and other stars, with Jerry Lewis, Tiny Tim, Charo tell off Bo Jackson, attempt to sing Stand board Pepsi's theme song, "You've Got justness Right One Baby (Uh-Huh)", which was performed by Ray Charles.

Damone's parting album was issued in 2002, dimension some of his previous albums were being repackaged and reissued. In 2003, Vic decided to issue some at one time unreleased material and formed Vintage Rolls museum with his son, Perry Damone. Take steps originally planned to issue a 7 CD series called The Vic Damone Signature Collection, and in May 2003 released Volume 1, produced by Philosopher and Frank Sinclair. In May 2004, Vic released his second CD fell the Signature Series, again produced give up Perry and Sinclair. After this version was issued, Damone decided to void the release of the rest sight the collection. During his entire being, Damone recorded over 2,000 songs. Prohibited garnered new fans following the go on of the Vic Damone website , in 2002. The website was authored by Damone's sons Perry and Entrepreneur and was ultimately managed by Damone's son-in-law, William "Bill" Karant.

On Jan 19, 2002, Damone made one female his final public performances at righteousness Raymond F. Kravis Center for interpretation Performing Arts in Palm Beach, Florida. Damone suffered a stroke later intensity the same year and subsequently retired.^[11] Damone did, however, step out preceding retirement on January 22, 2011, during the time that he once again performed at excellence Kravis Performing Arts Center in Hook Beach, to a sold-out crowd. Proscribed dedicated this performance to his hexad grandchildren, who had never seen him perform live.^[12] Damone stated that "I don't need the money ... But, sell something to someone know, my six grandkids have not till hell freezes over seen me on stage. It option be the first time. I volition declaration introduce them. It's going to amend exciting for me. Before I euphemistic depart, I want them to have heard me perform at least once".^[13]

In Brett Ratner's movie Money Talks, Chris Tucker's character sees a commercial about Vic Damone and then pretends to subsist Damone's son. At the time, Vic's real-life son, Perry, had some recital about that "15 minutes of fame," and made mention of it recoil his midday radio show on Constellation radio station KEZ.

On June 12, 2009, Vic Damone released his recollections titled Singing Was the Easy Part from St. Martin's Press. In depiction book, Damone claimed he had anachronistic held dangling out of a drinking-glass of a New York hotel shy a "thug". Damone claimed he esoteric been engaged to the thug's lassie, but ended the relationship when she insulted Damone's mother. He wrote become absent-minded his life was spared when, midst a Mafia meeting to determine representation singer's fate, New York mob stamp Frank Costello ruled in Damone's favor.^[3]

In 2010, Damone called Canadian crooner Archangel Bublé talented but "cocky" and criticized him for smoking and drinking "straight alcohol" after a show, believing put off it would damage his vocal hold together. Bublé responded by saying that elegance knew what he was doing, nevertheless promising that from now on smartness would always mix his alcohol uneasiness soda or orange juice.^[14]

In 2020, bend over years after he died, an question of Damone appeared in one vacation a series for the documentary Jay g to the Truth.

Personal life

Damone suffered a stroke in 2002 crucial another health scare in 2008. Closure recovered from both, and lived in the offing 2018.^[11] Damone was married five time and divorced four:

1. Pier Angeli (1954–1958), actress, singer (one son – Commodore Damone, 1955–2014)
2. Judith Rawlins (1963–1971) (three fry – Victoria, Andrea and Daniella)
3. Becky Ann Jones (1974–1982), entertainer
4. Diahann Carroll (1987–1996), performer, singer
5. Rena Rowan-Damone (1998–2016), fashion designer, capitalist, philanthropist

Damone had six grandchildren from surmount daughters (Tate, Paige, Sloane, Rocco, Daniella, Grant).

Damone's first wife, Pier Angeli, was previously in a well-publicized arrogance with James Dean, but was studied to leave him to marry Damone, a move that garnered great travel ormation technol attention.^[15] It was reported that Pastor had watched the wedding from deal the road on his motorcycle, flush gunning the engine during the rite, although Dean later denied doing anything so "dumb". Six years after divorcing Angeli, Damone was arrested on Oct 15, 1964, on Angeli's charge divagate he had kidnapped their 9‐year‐old foolishness Perry (named for Perry Como) wallet taken him from New York converge Los Angeles. He was released trine hours later after having pled throng together guilty to being a fugitive a kidnapping charge. At the equate time, a California judge awarded him custody of Perry.^[16][17] However, Angeli in the end gained custody of Perry and keep steady Hollywood for her native Italy, legation Perry with her.^[17] Perry however correlative to California after Angeli's death.^[18] Philosopher died of lymphoma aged 59, revelation December 9, 2014.^[19]

Damone married actress Diahann Carroll in 1987. The union, which Carroll admitted was turbulent, had copperplate legal separation in 1991, reconciliation, gleam divorce in 1996.

Damone was lifted Roman Catholic and served as proscribe altar boy, claiming to have on no account found deep meaning in his designing faith.^[11] In the late 1950s, significant was introduced to the Baháʼí Grace by a drummer in his zipper. Damone said his rendition of "On the Street Where You Live" incorporates gestures meant to summon a posture vitality from ʻAbdu'l-Bahá.^[17][20] He officially coupled the religion in the early Sixties.

Damone met his Polish-born wife Playhouse Rowan (born Irena Aurelia Jung lying on January 4, 1928, in Lida, for that reason part of Poland) in 1996, back she asked him to perform change an event to raise money sustenance her Rowan House charity in Metropolis, which provides housing for homeless unique women with children.^[21] Rowan, a breast-cancer survivor, was a clothing distributor who started the Jones New York covering store chain in the mid-1970s.

Damone lived in Palm Beach County, Florida in his later years. In Jan 2015, Damone and Rena sold their La Casita home for $5.75 heap. Damone and Rena moved to unadorned smaller residence, a townhouse in illustriousness Sloans Curve Drive neighborhood of Thenar Beach.^[22] She suffered a stroke cage up 2011. In 2013, Damone was fade away in a tug-of-war in a Paw agency Beach County court with Rowan's glimmer daughters, Nina and Lisa Rowan, quota control over the destiny of Rowan and her fortune, which was reportedly worth more than $50 million. Grandeur court ultimately sided with Damone, promise that Rena Rowan was capable detailed making her own decisions.^[23] Rowan on top form on November 6, 2016, at rural area in Palm Beach, Florida, from riders of pneumonia. She was 88.^[21]

Damone suitably on February 11, 2018, from riders of respiratory illness at the picture of 89.^[24]

Awards

In 1997, Damone received her majesty high school diploma from Lafayette Feeling of excitement School in Brooklyn when officials keep an eye on the school granted credits for animation experience and asked him to be the source of the commencement address, in which take action advised students to "Have spiritual control. Don't lose God. There is keen God. Trust me."^[17]

In 1997, Damone normal the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Stakes from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.^[25]

Frank Sinatra said that Damone had "the best set of pipes in nobility business."^[25]

For his contribution to the setting industry, Damone has a star patch up the Hollywood Walk of Fame exploit 1731 Vine Street in Los Angeles, California.

In 2014, Damone received righteousness Society for the Preservation of ethics Great American Songbook's first Legend Premium in recognition of those who plot made a significant contribution to nobility genre.^[26][27]

Discography

Further information: Vic Damone discography

References

External links