Perry Como

Como died on May 12, 2001 at his home in Jupiter, Florida, six days before his eight-ninth birthday. "Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love)" served as the basis of two hit hip hop singles: Lauryn Hill integrates the chorus into the chorus for The Fugees' 1996 hit "Ready or Not", and Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott and Timbaland sampled the ominous string/horn intro for Elliott's hit 1997 "Sock It to Me". Como's Irish Christmas was produced for the American PBS public television system, and has been re-broadcast annually since 1994. Their music enjoyed a mild renaissance in the mid-1990s when Quentin Tarantino used "La La Means I Love You" and "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" in a pivotal role in the film Jackie Brown. The year 1993 would have marked his fiftieth anniversary with the RCA Victor label, now owned and controlled by Bertelsmann and operated under the BMG logo, as well as his forty-fifth year of television specials celebrating Christmas and its importance throughout the world to people of all faiths. However, in the absence of Thom Bell, the Delfonics' career declined sharply, and the band was effectively over by 1975. In January 1994, Como travelled to Dublin, Ireland, for what would be an auspicious moment in his long career of more than sixty years. The Delfonics swiftly produced another album, Alive and Kicking, produced by Stan Watson.

Over the decades, Como is reported to have sold millions of records, but he commonly suppressed these figures. Randy Cain left the group in 1971, to be replaced by Major Harris; by then, however, Thom Bell had moved on to produce the first album for The Stylistics. It was this characteristic which made him so different from his peers, and which endeared him to legions of fans throughout the world. Philadelphia soul was smoother than traditional soul, strongly influenced by Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" production, but solidly based in the doo-wop sounds of the 1950s. Como had so many recordings achieve gold record status that he refused to have many of them certified. Four more Bell-produced albums appeared in the next few years: The Sexy Sound of Soul, The Delfonics Super Hits, The Delfonics and Tell Me This is a Dream. Among the Delfonics' popular hits were "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)", "Lying to Myself", and "Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love)". He recorded many albums of songs for the RCA Victor label between 1952 and 1987, and is credited with numerous gold records. Bell dreamed of creating a Phildelphia version of Motown and struck gold with the Delfonics, whose first album, released on Watson's own Philly Groove label, featured the hit "La La Means I Love You", in 1968.

This is rarely mentioned, because Como commonly played down his own achievements. At Cameo, Stan Watson introduced them to the man who made them famous, producer Thom Bell, then working with Chubby Checker. Prior to this, Como battled against Jackie Gleason in what was billed the "Battle of the Giants", and won. Soon, they became known throughout the Philadelphia area, signing with Cameo Records. His regular television show, at first a spin-off from the Chesterfield Supper Club, continued through the early 1950s, becoming The Perry Como Show, and then for five years The Perry Como Kraft Music Hall; he became the highest paid performer in the history of television to that date, earning mention in the Guinness Book of World Records. Brothers William and Wilbert Hart formed the group with Randy Cain in high school in the early 1960s. Como's Christmas Concert in Ireland would be his final special and the last of his commercial recordings, although not for his original label RCA Victor. The Delfonics were a quintessential Philadelphia soul singing group, most popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

They were recorded from many parts of the world, including England, Rome, Austria, France, and many locations throughout North America. Download sample "Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love)". Following his weekly series, ending in 1963, Como's television specials changed to bi-monthly, then monthly, followed by seasonal specials celebrating Easter, Spring, Thanksgiving, and Christmas festivities, ending in 1987. He had numerous Christmas television specials, beginning on Christmas Eve, 1948, and continuing to 1994 when his final Christmas Special was recorded in Ireland. Como would record only once more in 1994, but privately, for his well-known Irish Christmas Concert.

His recording of "The Wind Beneath My Wings'" was almost autobiographical, and a fitting end to a long and successful recording career. For this reason he walked-away from his final studio-produced recordings in the early 1980s, but returned to record a final album with his trusted friend and associate Nick Perito in 1987. Como's recording sessions, previously filled with laughter and joy, had deteriorated into much more sombre occasions. By the 1980s, the atmosphere of recording had changed dramatically from his early days at RCA Victor.

Likewise his television show has achieved a much higher rating than that of any other vocalist to date. Como was the first artist to have ten records sell more than one million copies. In 1945, Como recorded the pop ballad "'Til the End of Time" (based on Chopin’s "Polonaise"), which marked the beginning a highly successful career. Just as he was about to abandon his singing career once and for all, two NBC producers stepped in, returning him to show business — specifically for the NBC "Supper Club", followed by very successful theatre and night club engagements.

By this time the erstwhile barber had definitely decided to return to Canonsburg, his family, and his barbering. In 1942 Weems dissolved his band and Como went on to CBS, where he sang for a couple of years without any conspicuous success. Their first recording was a novelty tune titled "You Can't Pull the Wool over My Eyes", recorded for the Decca Records label. In 1933 he joined Freddy Carlone's band in Ohio, and three years later moved up to Ted Weems' Orchestra and his first recording dates.

After graduation from high school, he opened his own barber's shop. Como was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Although he always liked to sing, his first great ambition was to be the best barber in Canonsburg. His exclusive recording contract with RCA Victor in 1943 began an association that would last for almost fifty years. Perry Como (born Pierino Ronald Como; May 18, 1912–May 12, 2001) was an Italian-American crooner during the last half of the 20th century.

Zing Zing —Zoom Zoom. You Won't Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart). You're Nearer (1968) (1987). You're Just in Love (I Wonder Why).

You're Following Me. You Made It That Way (Watermelon Summer). You Are So Beautiful. You Are My World.

You'll Always Be My Lifetime Sweetheart. You Alone (Solo Tu) (1953) (1961). Yesterday. Yellow Beach Umbrella.

Wrong Rainbow. A World of Love (That I Found in Your Arms). Winter Wonderland (1946) (1959). With All My Heart and Soul.

The Wind Beneath My Wings. Wild Horses. Whither Thou Goest. White Christmas (1947) (1959).

Where Does a Little Tear Come From?. When You Were Sweet Sixteen. When You're In Love. When You Come to the End of the Day (1952) (1958).

When She Smiles. When I Lost You. When. What's One More Time?.

What's New?. What Love Is Made Of. What Kind of Fool Am I?. Watermelon Weather (duet with Eddie Fisher).

Wanted. Un giorno dopo l'altro (One Day is Like Another). Two Loves Have I. Two Lost Souls.

Turn Around. Turnaround. Tulips and Heather. Try to Remember.

Traveling Down a Lonely Road (Love theme from La Strada). Toyland. Toselli's Serenade (Dreams and Memories). Tomboy.

To Know You (Is to Love You) (with Ray Charles) (1959). To Know You (Is to Love You) (with the Fontane Sisters) (1952). To Know You (Is to Love You) (with Betty Hutton) (1952). Together Forever.

Tina Marie. Till the End of Time. This is All I Ask. This is a Great Country.

The Things I Didn't Do. They Say It's Wonderful. There's No Boat Like a Rowboat. There's a Big Blue Cloud (Next to Heaven).

There Never Was a Night So Beautiful. There'll Soon Be a Rainbow. There'll Never Be Another Night Like This. There Is No Christmas Like a Home Christmas (1950) (1968).

That's Where I Came In. That's the Beginning of the End. That's All this Old World Needs. That Ain't All.

Temptation (1945) (1974). Take Me Home. Take a Look at Me. The Sweetest Sounds.

Sweet Adorable You. Surrender. Sunshine Wine. Sunrise, Sunset.

The Summer Wind. Summer Me, Winter Me. The Story of the First Christmas (1959). Stop! and Think It Over.

A Still Small Voice. Stay with Me. Stand Beside Me. Souvenir d'Italie.

Someone is Waiting. Some Children See Him. Somebody Somewhere. Somebody up There Likes Me.

Somebody Makes it So. Somebody Cares. The Songs I Love. Sonata.

Some Enchanted Evening. So It Goes. So Far. Slightly out of Tune (Desafinado).

Silver Bells. She's a Lady (with Betty Hutton). The Shadow of Your Smile. Send in the Clowns.

The Second Time. Seattle. Scarlet Ribbons. Say You're Mine Again.

Save Me the Dance. Santa Lucia. Round and Round. The Rose Tattoo.

Rollin' Stone. Roamin' through the Countryside. Regrets. Rambling Rose (1947).

Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado). Prisoner of Love (1945) (1970). Prayer for Peace. Please Mr Sun.

Pigtails and Freckles. Pianissimo. Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps. People.

Patricia. Pardon My English (Samba Torto). Pa-paya Mama. Papa Loves Mambo.

Oowee, Oowee. On the Outgoing Tide. Only One. One More Time (with the Ames Brothers).

One Little Candle. Once upon a Time. Once I Loved (Amor e Paz). O Marienariello (1966) (1970).

O Holy Night (1959) (1968). Oh Marie (1966) (1980). N'yot N'yow (The Pussycat Song). No Well On Earth.

No Other Love. Noodlin' Rag. Nobody But You. My Own Peculiar Way.

My One and Only Heart. My Love and Devotion. My Little Baby. My Favorite Things.

My Cup Runneth Over. My Coloring Book. Not While I'm Around. More Than You Know.

More than Likely. More and More. More. Moon Talk.

Moon River. Moonlight Love. Moonglow and Theme from Picnic. Mi Casa, Su Casa (My House Is Your House).

Meet Me at the Altar. Meditation (Meditacao). Maybe (duet with Eddie Fisher). May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You.

Marie. Maria. Marchin' Along to the Blues. Mandolins in the Moonlight.

Manha de Carnaval (from Black Orpheus). Make Someone Happy. Magic Moments. Love Makes the World Go Round.

Love Is Spreadin' over the World. Love Is a Christmas Rose. Love in a Home. Love Don't Care (Where It Grows!).

Love. The Lord's Prayer (1949) (1959). Look to Your Heart. Look out the Window (and See How I'm Standing in the Rain).

Long Ago (and Far Away). Lollipops and Roses. Little Man You've Had a Busy Day (1946) (1958). Little Boat (O Barquinho).

The Little Drummer Boy. Lili Marlene. Lies. Let's Take an Old-Fashioned Walk.

The Last Straw (with Betty Hutton). Laroo Laroo Lilli Bolero. Ko-Ko-Mo (I Love You So). Kewpie Doll (with Ray Charles).

Keep It Gay. Just Out of Reach. (Just One Way to Say) I Love You. Just Born (to Be Your Baby).

Juke Box Baby. Jingle Bells. Jason. I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (1947).

I Want to Thank Your Folks. I Wanna Go Home (with You). I Wanna Be Around. Ivy Rose.

It Was Such a Good Day. It's Impossible. It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas. It Gets Lonely in the White House.

I Think of You. I Think I Love You. The Island of Forgotten Lovers. Is She the Only Girl in the World?.

I Really Don't Want to Know. In Our Hide-Away (with Sandy Stewart). In These Crazy Times. In the Garden.

(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco. I'm Gonna Love That Gal (Like She's Never Been Loved Before). I'm Confessin' (That I Love You). I May Never Pass this Way Again.

I'm Always Chasing Rainbows. (I Love You) Don't You Forget It. I Love You. I Looked Back.

I'll Remember April. I'll Always Love You. I Know What God Is. I Know.

If You Were the Only Girl. If I'm Lucky. If I Loved You. If.

If (They Made Me a King). I Dream of You (More Than You Dream I Do). I Don't See Me in Your Eyes Any Mmore. I Don't Know What He Told You.

I Cross My Fingers. I Confess. How to Handle a Woman (1967) (1968). How Insensitive.

How Beautiful the World Can Be. Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom). Hopelessly (with the Ames Brothers). Hoop-Dee-Doo.

Honey, Honey (Bless Your Heart) (1957) (1959). (There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays (1954) (1959). Hit and Run Affair. He Who Loves.

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands. Here Comes My Baby (Back Again!). Here Comes That Song Again. Here Comes Heaven.

Hello, Young Lovers (1951) (1960). He Couldn't Love You More (1973). Hearts Will Be Hearts. The Hawaiian Wedding Song (Ke Kali Nei Au).

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Have I Stayed away Too Long?. Haunted Heart. A Hatchet, a Hammer, a Bucket of Nails.

Happy Man. Happy Together. Happiness Comes, Happiness Goes (1965) (1967). Gringo's Guitar.

Goodbye, Sue. Goodbye for Now. Glendora. Glad to Be Home.

Give Myself a Party. Give Me Your Hand. The Girl with the Golden Braids. A Garden in the Rain.

Funny How Time Slips Away. Forever and Ever. Forget Domani. Fooled.

Fly Me to the Moon. The First Christmas (c.1950). A Fellow Needs a Girl. The Father of Girls (1967) (1968) (1970).

Far away Places. Fancy Dancer. Empty Pockets Filled with Love. E Lei (To You).

A Dreamer's Holiday. Dream on Little Dreamer. A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes. Dream Along with Me (I'm on My Way to a Star).

Do You Hear What I Hear?. Don't Leave Me. Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes. Dindi.

Dig You Later (A Hubba-Hubba-Hubba ). (Did You Ever Get) That Feeling in the Moonlight. Delaware. Deep in Your Heart.

Days of Wine and Roses. Dancin'. Dance Only with Me. Coo Coo Roo Coo Coo Paloma.

Cominciamo ad amarci. The Colors of My Life. The Christmas Symphony. Christmas Dream.

Christmas Eve. Christmas Bells (In the Steeple). Christ is Born. Chincherinchee.

Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba (My Bambino Go to Sleep). Chee Chee-Oo Chee (Sang the Little Bird) (duet with Jaye P. Morgan). Caterina. Catch a Falling Star.

Carnival (1963). Carol Medley (1968). Can't Help Falling in Love. Bye Bye Little Girl.

A Bushel and a Peck (with Betty Hutton). Bummin' Around. Brian's Song (The Hands of Time). Blue Room.

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo (The Magic Song). Beyond Tomorrow (Love Theme from Serpico). The Bells of St Mary's. Because.

Beady Eyed Buzzard. Bali Ha'i. Baia. 'A' — You're Adorable.

Ave Maria (1949) (1959) (1968). As My Love for You. Arrivederci Roma (Goodbye to Rome). Another Go 'Round.

Anema e core. And Roses and Roses. And I Love You So. All Through the Night.

All Through the Day. All at Once You Love Her. Accentuate the Positive (1958) (1980).