THE SINGING BARBER – PERRY COMO
Mar 09 '04
The Bottom Line Perry Como was born “Pierino Ronald Como” on 18 May 1912 in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Perry was born to Pietro and Lucia Travaglini Como who were immigrants from Palena, Italy. He was the 7th child born in a family of 13 children. During his early years he worked after school at a local Barbershop for just a few pennies a day. During High School he owned and operated his own Barbershop. He also earned extra money by singing at wedding receptions and other functions. It was at this time he earned the nickname of “The Singing Barber”. He was one of very few singers at this time that could also read music. He also played the organ and the baritone horn. In 1933 while vacationing in Cleveland, Ohio he auditioned for “Freddie Carlone’s” band and was hired at $25.00 a week. It was this same year that Perry married his high school sweetheart “Roselle Belline” who was the daughter of French immigrants and they later had 3 children.
In 1936 he became the lead singer in “Ted Weems” orchestra. The orchestra broke up in early 1942 and Perry was quickly hired by NBC TV co-starring with “Jo Stafford” on the “Chesterfield Supper Club”. It was a radio show broadcast Monday through Friday. In 1943 he signed a singing contract with “Victor” records that would become “RCA Victor” in mid 1946. The radio show became a Friday night TV show in the late 40’s and he continued to be the featured entertainer backed up by the “Mitchell Ayres Orchestra” and “The Fontane Sisters”. The show became a mixture of singing, dancing and comedy routines. His very first record made it’s debut on 16 October and was titled “Goodbye Sue” that was only on the US pop chart for 1 week at #20. He starred in his first Movie also this year titled “Something to Shout About” also starring “Don Ameche”, “Jack Oakie”, “Janet Blair” and “Vivian Blaine”.
His second hit “Have I Stayed Away Too Long?” stayed on the charts 2 weeks and made it to #14 when it debuted on 15 January 1944. He had 3 more hits on the chart this year the biggest being “Long Ago (And Far Away)” that peaked at #8 on the pop chart. Also this year he starred in his second Movie titled “Something for the Boys” a musical comedy also starring “Carmen Miranda”, “Phil Silvers”, “Vivian Blaine”, “Michael O’Shea” and “Rory Calhoun”. In 1945 he had 10 songs on the pop 100 chart the biggest of these was his first #1 hit titled “Till The End Of Time” that stayed on the top of the chart for 10 consecutive weeks, something that is unheard of anymore. He also starred in his 3rd Movie titled “Doll Face” another musical comedy also starring “Vivian Blaine”, “Dennis O’Keefe”, “Carmen Miranda”, “Martha Stewart” and “Philip Morris”. Also this year he had his first GOLD selling record of 12 he would garner over his career with “Temptation” that debuted on 16 June but only peaked at #15.
In 1946 he had 11 songs on the pop 100 chart the biggest of which was his second #1 hit in “Prisoner Of Love” that stayed #1 for 3 weeks. He was declared top-selling Male vocalist for 1945 by Billboard Magazine. He starred in his 4th Movie “If I'm Lucky” strictly a musical along with “Harry James”, “Carmen Miranda”, “Phil Silvers”, “Vivian Blaine” and “Edgar Buchanan”. Perry decided to stop performing in Movies and stick to his singing and Television career. In his early appearances on TV he appeared in suit coats and ties but due to his casual style switched to wearing sweaters and no ties. He made the sweaters a growing style in the late 40’s as a lot of people began calling them “Como Sweaters” after him. In 1947 he had 5 songs on the pop 100 chart with his biggest being his 4th #1 hit in “Chi-Baba Chi-Baba (My Bambino Go To Sleep)” and it stayed #1 for 3 weeks. In 1948 he had only 3 charting singles the biggest of these was “Because” that charted on 13 March, went to #4 and became his 6th GOLD seller.
He would have his biggest charting success in 1949 with 15 songs on the Top pop chart this year the biggest of which was “Some Enchanted Evening” that stayed at #1 for 5 weeks. This song would become a #13 hit for “Jay & The Americans” in 1965. Perry would sign a new Television contract in 1950 with CBS starring in his own show for 5 years. Also in 1950 “The Fontane Sisters” that had been backing Perry decided to release their own songs and would go on to have 7 charting songs up until 1954. Also in 1950 Perry would have 7 songs on the chart with the biggest being “Hoop De Doo” that stayed at #1 for 2 weeks. In 1951 he would see 7 more songs on the top 100 pop chart the biggest of these was “If” that stayed at #1 for 8 weeks. This song is not the same version as the group “Bread” sang in 1971 but is the same version that “The Paragons” sang and took to only #82 in 1961.
He had 9 hits on the chart in 1952 with the last of the year being his biggest titled “Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes” that peaked at #1 for 5 weeks and was a GOLD seller. 1953 would see 7 charting songs with the biggest being “No Other Love” that stayed at #1 for 5 weeks and sold GOLD. He had 5 songs on the chart in 1954 the biggest of which was titled “Wanted” that peaked at #1 for 8 weeks. In 1955 Perry resigned a new Television contract back with NBC and starred in “The Perry Como Show” that would be renamed years later to “The Kraft Music Hall”. He also had 7 hits on the charts this year the biggest one was “Ko Ko Mo (I Love You So)” that peaked at #2 for 3 weeks. It was also a #6 hit on the R&B chart this year for “Gene & Eunice”. In 1956 he had 8 charting songs the best of these was “Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)” that peaked at #1 and was a GOLD seller. His biggest hit in 1957 of 8 charting songs was “Round And Round” that also peaked at #1 for 2 weeks and went GOLD.
He would have his last GOLD selling single in 1958 with “Catch A Falling Star” that also peaked at #1. From 1959 to 1974 he would have 18 more charting songs on the top 100-pop chart. The biggest of these and only top 10 single was “It’s Impossible” that peaked at #10 during a 17 week stay on the charts. From the late 1940’s up through the 1960’s Perry was considered a pioneer in the variety television genre with his easy listening style that would influence many more to come. In 1948 Perry began his very first annual Christmas Special on ABC TV that would become a staple every year until 1987. He also had an annual Christmas album released each year from 1946 through 1948. A 4th Christmas album he recorded for his 1993 Irish Christmas Television Special became his only non “RCA” recording in ½ a century. Perry’s career spanned 6 decades and between TV and his recordings he became a very rich man.
In the 1970’s Perry retired to a life of fishing, golfing and long walks with his wife. He retired to a small community in Jupiter Inlet Beach near Palm Beach, Florida. In August 1998 his wife of 65 years died just 2 weeks after celebrating their 65th Wedding Anniversary. Perry began devoting himself to various charities including his famous Golf Tournaments at Duke University in North Carolina. He also had a syndicated weekly radio show called a Weekend With Perry. On 18 May 2001 Perry died in his sleep and a great singing voice and humanitarian was put to rest. Not counting Bootleg albums there has been over 150 albums released with his songs on them. My Favorite Perry Como album/CD is ”THE VERY BEST OF PERRY COMO”that was released on 25 July 2000 on “RCA” records. The songs on this album are listed below in the order as they appear followed by the length of each and then my rating of each song:
1. I’m Gonna Love That Gal (Like She’s Never Been Loved Before) – 2:45 – 4
2. Till The End Of Time – 3:10 – 5
3. Dig You Later (A Hubba-Hubba-Hubba) – 3:06 – 4
4. I’m Always Chasing Rainbows – 3:07 – 5
5. Prisoner Of Love – 3:32 – 5
6. Surrender – 3:12 – 5
7. Chi-Baba Chi-Baba (My Bambino Go To Sleep) – 2:58 – 5
8. Because – 2:51 – 5
9. “A” You’re Adorable (The Alphabet Song) – 2:26 – 5
10. Some Enchanted Evening – 3:30 – 5
11. Hoop-Dee-Doo – 2:55 – 5
12. If – 3:06 – 5
13. Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes – 2:43 – 5
14. No Other Love – 3:15 – 5
15. Wanted – 3:08 – 5
16. Papa Loves Mambo – 2:42 – 5
17. Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom) – 2:24 – 5
18. Round And Round – 2:34 – 5
19. Catch A Falling Star – 2:30 – 5
20. It’s Impossible – 3:16 – 5
21. And I Love You So – 3:18 – 4
TOTAL POINTS: 103 POINTS DIVIDED BY 21 SONGS = 4.90 OR 4 3/4 STARS
Rating Key:
5 –Great
4 – Very Good
3 – Good
2 – Fair
1 – Poor
0 – This song does not belong here!
Billboard US Top 100 Pop Singles for “PERRY COMO”
1. Goodbye Sue – Debut on 10/16/43, Peaked at #20
2. Have I Stayed Away Too Long? – Debut on 01/15/44, Peaked at #14
3. Long Ago (And Far Away) – Debut on 05/06/44, Peaked at #8
4. I Love You – Debut on 04/29/44, Peaked at #16
5. Lili Marlene – Debut on 08/26/44, Peaked at #13
6. I Dream Of You (More Than You Dream I Do) – 01/27/45, Peaked at #10
7. I’m Confessin’ (That I Love You) – Debut on 03/03/45, Peaked at #12
8. More And More – Debut on 03/17/45, Peaked at #14
9. Temptation – Debut on 06/16/45, Peaked at #15 (GOLD)
10. I’m Gonna Love That Gal (Like She’s Never Been Loved Before) – Debut on 07/21/45, Peaked at #4
11. If I Loved You – 07/28/45, Peaked at #3
12. TILL THE END OF TIME- Debut on 08/18/45, Peaked at #1 for 10 weeks (GOLD)
13. (Did You Ever Get) That Feeling In The Moonlight – Debut on 08/25/45, Peaked at #9
14. Dig You Later (A Hubba-Hubba-Hubba) – Debut on 12/08/45, Peaked at #3 (GOLD)
15. Here Comes Heaven Again – Debut 12/29/45, Peaked at #12
16. I’m Always Chasing Rainbows – Debut on 02/02/46, Peaked at #5
17. You Won’t Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart) – Debut on 02/09/46, Peaked at #5
18. PRISONER OF LOVE- Debut on 03/30/46, Peaked at #1 for 3 weeks (GOLD)
19. All Through The Day – Debut on 05/11/46, Peaked at #8
20. They Say It’s Wonderful – Debut on 06/01/46, Peaked at #4 with “Ethel Merman”
21. If You Were The Only Girl – Debut on 06/08/46, Peaked at #14
22. SURRENDER- Debut on 06/29/46, Peaked at #1
23. More Than You Know – Debut on 08/17/46, Peaked at #19
24. If I’m Lucky – Debut on 11/16/46, Peaked at #19
25. Sonata – Debut on 12/28/46, Peaked at #9
26. Winter Wonderland – Debut on 12/28/46, Peaked at #10
27. That’s The Beginning Of The End – Debut on 02/01/47, Peaked at #19
28. CHI-BABA CHI-BABA (MY BAMBINO GO TO SLEEP)- Debut on 05/24/47, Peaked at #1 for 3 weeks
29. When You Were Sweet Sixteen – Debut on 07/12/47, Peaked at #2 (GOLD)
30. I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now – Debut on 08/02/47, Peaked at #2 for 5 weeks
31. So Far – Debut on 10/25/47, Peaked at #11
32. Because – Debut on 03/13/48, Peaked at #4 (GOLD)
33. Haunted Heart – Debut on 06/05/48, Peaked at #23
34. Rambling Rose – Debut on 07/31/48, Peaked at #18
35. Far Away Places – Debut on 01/08/49, Peaked at #4
36. N’yot N’yow (The Pussycat Song) – Debut on 01/15/49, Peaked at #20
37. Blue Room – Debut on 02/26/49, Peaked at #18
38. Forever And Ever – Debut on 03/19/49, Peaked at #2
39. ”A” _ YOU’RE ADORABLE- Debut on 04/09/49, Peaked at #1 for 2 weeks
40. SOME ENCHANTED EVENING- Debut on 04/30/49, Peaked at #1 for 5 weeks
41. Bali Ha’i – Debut on 04/30/49, Peaked at #5
42. I Don’t See Me In Your Eyes Anymore – Debut on 05/14/49, Peaked at #11
43. (Just One Way To Say) I Love You – Debut on 07/09/49, Peaked at #23
44. Let’s Take An Old Fashioned Walk – Debut on 07/16/49, Peaked at #15
45. Give Me Your Hand – Debut on 09/03/49, Peaked at #23
46. A Dreamer’s Holiday – Debut on 10/08/49, Peaked at #3
47. I Wanna Go Home (With You) – Debut on 11/26/49, Peaked at #18
48. The Lord’s Prayer – Debut on 12/17/49, Peaked at #28
49. Ave Maria – Debut on 12/24/49, Peaked at #22
50. Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo (The Magic Song) – Debut on 01/28/50, Peaked at #14
51. HOOP-DEE-DOO- Debut on 04/29/50, Peaked at #1 for 2 weeks
52. On The Outgoing Tide – Debut on 04/29/50, Peaked at #16
53. I Cross My Fingers – Debut on 08/12/50, Peaked at #25
54. Patricia – Debut on 09/30/50, Peaked at #7
55. A Bushel And A Peck – Debut on 10/21/50, Peaked at #3 with “Betty Hutton”
56. You’re Just In Love – Debut on 12/09/50, Peaked at #5 with “Ethel Merman”
57. IF- Debut on 01/13/51, Peaked at #1 for 8 weeks
58. Zing Zing-Zoom Zoom – Debut on 01/13/51, Peaked at #12
59. There’s No Boat Like A Rowboat – Debut on 06/23/51, Peaked at #20
60. There’s A Big Blue Cloud (Next To Heaven) – Debut on 06/23/51, Peaked at #25
61. Rollin’ Stone – Debut on 10/13/51, Peaked at #24
62. With All My Heart And Soul – Debut on 10/21/51, Peaked at #28
63. It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas – Debut on 12/15/51, Peaked at #19
64. Tulips And Heather – Debut 01/26/52, Peaked at #16
65. Please Mr. Sun – Debut on 02/16/52, Peaked at #12
66. Noodlin’ Rag – Debut on 03/08/52, Peaked at #23
67. One Little Candle – Debut on 05/03/52, Peaked at #18
68. Maybe – Debut on 06/14/52, Peaked at #3
69. Watermelon Weather – Debut on 06/14/52, Peaked at #19 with “Eddie Fisher”
70. My Love And Devotion – Debut on 10/04/52, Peaked at #22
71. To Know You (Is To Love You) – Debut on 11/01/52, Peaked at #19
72. DON’T LET THE STARS GET IN YOUR EYES- Debut on 12/06/52, Peaked at #1 for 5 weeks (GOLD)
73. Wild Horses – Debut on 02/14/53, Peaked at #6
74. I Confess – Debut on 03/28/53, Peaked at #17
75. Say You’re Mine Again – Debut on 04/25/53, Peaked at #3
76. My One And Only Heart – Debut on 06/06/53, Peaked at #11
77. NO OTHER LOVE- Debut on 06/20/53, Peaked at #1 for 4 weeks
78. Pa-Paya Mama – Debut on 10/24/53, Peaked at #11
79. You Alone (Solo Tu) – Debut on 10/31/53, Peaked at #9
80. WANTED- Debut on 03/06/54, Peaked at #1 for 8 weeks (GOLD)
81. Hit And Run Affair – Debut on 07/03/54, Peaked at #15
82. Papa Loves Mambo – Debut on 10/02/54, Peaked at #4 (GOLD)
83. The Things I Didn’t Do – Debut on 11/13/54, Peaked at #27
84. (There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays – Debut on 12/25/54, Peaked at #8 with “The Fontane Sisters”
85. Ko Ko Mo (I Love You So) – Debut on 02/05/55, Peaked at #2 for 3 weeks
86. Chee Chee-oo Chee (Sang The Little Bird) – Debut on 06/11/55, Peaked at #12
87. Two Lost Souls – Debut on 06/25/55, Peaked at #18 with “Jaye P. Morgan”
88. Tina Marie – Debut on 08/13/55, Peaked at #5
89. Fooled – Debut on 08/13/55, Peaked at #20
90. All At Once You Love Her – Debut on 11/12/55, Peaked at #11
91. The Rose Tattoo – Debut on 11/12/55, Peaked at #79
92. HOT DIGGITY (DOG ZIGGITY BOOM)– Debut on 03/10/56, Peaked at #1(GOLD)
93. Juke Box Baby – Debut on 03/10/56, Peaked at #10
94. Glendora – Debut on 06/09/56, Peaked at #8
95. More – Debut on 06/16/56, Peaked at #4
96. Somebody Up There Likes Me – Debut on 07/28/56, Peaked at #18
97. Dream Along With Me (I’m On My Way To A Star) – Debut on 07/28/56, Peaked at #85
98. Moonlight Love – Debut on 11/03/56, Peaked at #42
99. Chincherinchee – Debut on 11/10/56, Peaked at #59
100. ROUND AND ROUND- Debut on 02/23/57, Peaked at #1 for 2 weeks (GOLD)
101. Mi Casa, Su Casa (My House Is Your House) – Debut on 03/09/57, Peaked at #50
102. The Girl With The Golden Braids – Debut on 05/20/57, Peaked at #13
103. My Little Baby – Debut on 05/27/57, Peaked at #48
104. Dancin’ – Debut on 09/02/57, Peaked at #76
105. Just Born (To Be Your Baby) – Debut on 10/14/57, Peaked at #12
106. Ivy Rose – Debut on 10/21/57, Peaked at #18
107. Jingle Bells – Debut on 12/30/57, Peaked at #74
108. CATCH A FALLING STAR- Debut on 01/13/58, Peaked at #1 (GOLD)
109. Magic Moments – Debut on 01/20/58, Peaked at #4
110. Kewpie Doll – Debut on 04/14/58, Peaked at #6
111. Dance Only With Me – Debut on 05/05/58, Peaked at #19
112. Moon Talk – Debut on 07/28/58, Peaked at #28
113. Love Makes The World Go Round – Debut on 10/13/58, Peaked at #33
114. Mandolins In The Moonlight – Debut on 10/27/58, Peaked at #47
115. Tomboy – Debut on 02/23/59, Peaked at #29
116. I Know – Debut on 06/08/59, Peaked at #47
117. Delaware – Debut on 02/08/60, Peaked at #22
118. I Know What God Is – Debut on 02/08/60, Peaked at #81
119. Make Someone Happy – Debut on 12/26/60, Peaked at #80
120. You’re Following Me – Debut on 11/20/61, Peaked at #92
121. Caterina – Debut on 03/31/62, Peaked at #23
122. (I Love You) Don’t You Forget It – Debut on 06/01/63, Peaked at #39
123. Dream On Little Dreamer – Debut on 04/10/65, Peaked at #25
124. Oowee, Oowee – Debut on 07/31/65, Peaked at #88
125. Stop! And Think It Over – Debut on 05/20/67, Peaked at #92
126. The Father Of Girls – Debut on 03/16/68, Peaked at #92
127. There Is No Christmas Like A Home Christmas – Debut on 12/28/68, Peaked at #28
128. Seattle – Debut on 04/12/69, Peaked at #38
129. It’s Impossible - Debut on 04/12/69, Peaked at #10
130. I Think Of You – Debut on 03/20/71, Peaked at #53
131. And I Love You So – Debut on 04/14/73, Peaked at #29 with “Don McLean”
132. Christmas Dream – Debut on 12/21/74, Peaked at #92
SOME SONG LYRICS
IF
If they made me a king I'd be but a slave to you
If I had everything I'd still be a slave to you
If I ruled the night, stars and moon so bright
Still I'd turn for light to you
If the world to me bowed yet humbly I'd flee to you
If my friends were a crowd I'd turn in my need to you
If I ruled the earth what would life be worth
If I hadn't the right to you
If I ruled the night, stars and moon so bright
Still I'd turn for light to you
If the world to me bowed yet humbly I'd flee to you
If my friends were a crowd I'd turn in my need to you
If I ruled the earth what would life be worth
If I hadn't the right to you
IT’S IMPOSSIBLE
It's impossible, tell the sun to leave the sky, it's just impossible
It's impossible, ask a baby not to cry, it's just impossible
Can I hold you closer to me and not feel you goin' through me
But the second that I never think of you, oh how impossible
Can the ocean keep from rushin' to the shore, it's just impossible
If I had you, could I ever want for more, it's just impossible
And tomorrow, shouldya ask me for the world, somehow I'd get it
I would sell my very soul and not regret it
For to live without your love is just impossible
SEATTLE
The bluest sky you ever seen in Seattle
And the hills the greenest green in Seattle
Like a beautiful child growing up free and wild
Full of hopes and full of fears
Full of laughter full of tears
Full of dreams to last the years in Seattle, in Seattle
If you ever fall in love with a logger
There is something you will have to understand
For as much as he may care you will always
Have to share his love with his green mountain land
When it's time to leave your home and your loved ones
It's the hardest thing a girl can ever do
And you pray that you will find
Someone strong and good and kind
But you're not sure what's waiting there for you
When you find your own true love
You will know it
By his smile, by the look in his eye
Scent of pine trees in the air
Never knew a day so fair
It makes you feel so good
That you could cry
SOME ENCHANTED EVENING
Some enchanted evening you may see a stranger
You may see a stranger across a crowded room
And somehow you know, you know even then
That somewhere you'll see her again and again
Some enchanted evening, someone may be laughing
You may hear her laughing across a crowded room
And night after night, as strange as it seems
The sound of her laughter will sing in your dreams
Who can explain it, who can tell you why
Fools give you reasons, wise men never try
Some enchanted evening, when you find your true love
When you feel her call you across a crowded room
Then fly to her side and make her your own
Or all through your life you may dream all alone
Once you have found her, never let her go
Once you have found her, never let her go
JAGUARDOG’S FINAL THOUGHTS
Can you believe this great singer had 132 charting songs and not one was a reprint or re-release. That must be close to some kind of record I would think? I’m not gonna count every song by a lot of different artists to find out. I do know one of my soon to be covered artists had a ton of records on the charts himself but 1 of the songs re-charted a dozen or so times which could be a record in itself? Anyway I owned 4 singles by Perry and 2 albums and three greatest hits CD’s. My parents must have owned all his 40’s and 50’s songs on 78 rpm because they had a ton of them. Anyway they liked him and one other Male artist who will remain nameless for a while and between the 2 of them they owned over 100 or so of their records. Perry’s music was amiable, calm, cheerful, earnest, gentle, good-natured, mannered, melancholy, mellow, peaceful, plaintive, refined, relaxed, reserved, sentimental, smooth and soothing. Well that about does it for this chapter of my Rock ‘N’ Roll History lesson for today. I’m sure only the 50 plus bunch will even remember Perry let alone most of his songs. Up next it will be “Sam Cooke”.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
JAGUARDOG
|
 - Top 100 |
|
Member: Ron Drain
Location: Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Reviews written: 235
Trusted by: 494 members
About Me:
I LOVE Music/TV/Movies & sports like Football - NFL/College, Baseball, Olympics - Summer/Winter and Wrestling.
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.