Vic Damone
Vic Damone ( born June 12, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York; actually Vito Rocco Farinola ) is an American singer and actor; he was between 1947 and the early 1960s, one of the most successful crooner in the United States. Among his 40 chart success were two number - one hits: You're Breaking My Heart (# 1 in the U.S., 1949) and On the Street Where You Live (# 1 in the UK, 1958).
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Life
From Usher to record deal
His interest in music looked from Vito Farinola by his parents: his father, a professional electrician, sang and played guitar; his mother was a piano teacher. From a young age began Vito to imitate his favorite singer Frank Sinatra. Soon he also took singing lessons. After his father had an accident at work, had to Vito even earn money and worked as an usher and elevator operator in the Paramount Theater in Manhattan.
One day, Perry Como appeared in Paramount, and Vito took the opportunity to sing for him. The star took him under his wing and taught him as a singer in a big band in New York City. At this time, Vito changed his name to Vic Damone ( Damone was his mother's maiden name). In April 1947, he participated in the talent contest in Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts show, which he also won. Like many of the winners of the competition, he sang regularly in Godfrey's show. Shortly after Milton Berle helped him to gigs in the trendy nightclub La Martinique, and within months he was back at the Paramount - but this time as a singer with Stan Kenton and his band. Mid-1947, signed a recording contract with Damone Mercury Records.
Successes on shellac and canvas
Vic Damones first record, I Have But One Heart (O Marinariello ), he sang partly in English and partly in Italian. It was published in August 1947 and was immediately a top ten chart success. The follow-up single, You Do reached number seven in the charts. Other successful plates followed. Early as 1948, Damone received its own radio show, Saturday Night Serenade. In 1949 he was able to receive his first gold record for his number - six hit Again, in the same year he became one of this award You're Breaking My Heart for the number given.
In 1951, he was seen for the first time on the big screen; he played in the movies Deadly paving Sunset Strip and Pretty, young and in love. From 1951 to 1953 he did his military service in the United States Army, but not before he had recorded some songs that were published during this time, so that his career went on. After time in the Army in 1954, he married the actress Pier Angeli. In the same year he made two more films, deep in my heart and Athena. He also appeared several times as a guest in Milton Berle's television show.
In 1955 it looked as if fall Damones star; only one of his songs came into the charts ( Por Favor ), and the only number 73; besides, he had a role in the musical film Kismet.
Second Career Summit
In 1956 he moved to Columbia Records and some of his plates climbed back into the top twenty, including An Affair to Remember, theme song of the movie " The great love of my life ," and his interpretation of the song On the Street Where You Live ("In the road, darling, where you live "). The song comes from the Loewe / Lerner musical My Fair Lady, which premiered in New York. Damones version was produced by Mitch Miller, and also received a gold record.
Those responsible for the Broadway show made sure that the music of the musical did not reach outside of the United States to other countries in the audience could also enjoy the productions of My Fair Lady as " world premieres ." So it was that Damones song after the first London performance in 1958 became a hit in the UK; there it climbed on 27 June, the peak position on the charts. A British cover version of David Whitfield only reached number 16 In the meantime, Damone had already recorded a version of the theme song of the next Broadway musical by Lerner / Loewe, Gigi.
In 1960, he played a major role in his last movie "shock troops Saipan ". But during the 1960s he had his own TV variety shows and appeared as a guest on various other shows and series. In 1961 he moved from Columbia to Capitol Records, where he was to fill the gap that was created by Frank Sinatra change to he co-founded Reprise label. Damone remained until 1965 at the Capitol and took some highly acclaimed albums, two of which came in the lower regions of the Billboard charts, Linger Awhile with Vic Damone (1962 ) and arranged by Billy May The Lively Ones. After another change of record company he had 1965, a U.S. chart hit on Warner Brothers Records, You Were Only Fooling (While I Was Falling in Love ).
Las Vegas and retreat
In 1971 Damone moved on to appearances in the casinos of Las Vegas. With its fees from these shows he was able to keep the consequences of bankruptcy (due to tax payments ) within limits. After a brief stint as a Realtor he went on tour in the United States and especially in Britain, where he experienced a remarkable comeback in the early 1980s ( BBC DJ David Jacobs played at the time with fondness songs by Damone ), and even two albums made the charts. In 1997, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is also dedicated a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Vic Damone in 1998 married his current wife, the fashion designer and entrepreneur ( Jones New York) Rena Rowan. In 2000 he suffered a stroke. In February 2001 he gave his last concert in front of family, friends and fans in West Palm Beach, Florida. His very last song on stage was his big hit An Affair to Remember. He retired from the show business and taking care of his family, children and grandchildren. He also supports his wife in their work for various charitable enterprises.
Quotes
Frank Sinatra described Damones ballad voice as "the best features of organ pipes in show business " ( "the best set of pipes in the business" ).
Private
Damone was married five times. From his first marriage with the Italian actress Pier Angeli ( 1954-1958 ), he has a son, Perry. Three daughters (Victoria, Andrea and Daniella ) come from the second marriage with Judith Rawlins (1963 to 1971). The third marriage to Becky Ann Jones ( 1974-1982 ) had no children, as well as the fourth with the ( in Europe mainly through its role in Dynasty known ) Actress and singer Diahann Carroll (1987 to 1996) and the fifth with Rena Rowan ( since 1998).
Damones cousin Doretta Morrow was a famous Broadway actress.
In the late 1950s, Damone was introduced by a drummer of his band in the Bahai religion. According Damones interpretation of his "On the Street Where You Live " is intended to express a supporting vitality for Abdu'l-Baha, the scribe of the Bahai religion. In the early 1960s, he officially joined the religion.