Perry ComoPerry Como (born Pierino Ronald Como; May 18, 1912–May 12, 2001) was an Italian-American crooner during the last half of the 20th century. His exclusive recording contract with RCA Victor in 1943 began an association that would last for almost fifty years. Como was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Although he always liked to sing, his first great ambition was to be the best barber in Canonsburg. After graduation from high school, he opened his own barber's shop. Professional singerIn 1933 he joined Freddy Carlone's band in Ohio, and three years later moved up to Ted Weems' Orchestra and his first recording dates. Their first recording was a novelty tune titled "You Can't Pull the Wool over My Eyes", recorded for the Decca Records label. In 1942 Weems dissolved his band and Como went on to CBS, where he sang for a couple of years without any conspicuous success. By this time the erstwhile barber had definitely decided to return to Canonsburg, his family, and his barbering. 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. 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. Como was the first artist to have ten records sell more than one million copies. Likewise his television show has achieved a much higher rating than that of any other vocalist to date. By the 1980s, the atmosphere of recording had changed dramatically from his early days at RCA Victor. Como's recording sessions, previously filled with laughter and joy, had deteriorated into much more sombre occasions. 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. His recording of "The Wind Beneath My Wings'" was almost autobiographical, and a fitting end to a long and successful recording career. Como would record only once more in 1994, but privately, for his well-known Irish Christmas Concert. TelevisionHe had numerous Christmas television specials, beginning on Christmas Eve, 1948, and continuing to 1994 when his final Christmas Special was recorded in Ireland. 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. They were recorded from many parts of the world, including England, Rome, Austria, France, and many locations throughout North America. 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. 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. Prior to this, Como battled against Jackie Gleason in what was billed the "Battle of the Giants", and won. This is rarely mentioned, because Como commonly played down his own achievements. He recorded many albums of songs for the RCA Victor label between 1952 and 1987, and is credited with numerous gold records. Como had so many recordings achieve gold record status that he refused to have many of them certified. It was this characteristic which made him so different from his peers, and which endeared him to legions of fans throughout the world. Over the decades, Como is reported to have sold millions of records, but he commonly suppressed these figures. A farewell concert from IrelandIn January 1994, Como travelled to Dublin, Ireland, for what would be an auspicious moment in his long career of more than sixty years. 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. Como's Irish Christmas was produced for the American PBS public television system, and has been re-broadcast annually since 1994. Como died on May 12, 2001 at his home in Jupiter, Florida, six days before his eight-ninth birthday. Selected RCA Victor Recordings
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Como died on May 12, 2001 at his home in Jupiter, Florida, six days before his eight-ninth birthday. The band has stated that they are very satisfied with this album, and that in many ways they wish it had been the follow-up to Hysteria. Como's Irish Christmas was produced for the American PBS public television system, and has been re-broadcast annually since 1994. X, Def Leppard's tenth album, was released in 2002. 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. Next came the album Euphoria in 1999. In January 1994, Como travelled to Dublin, Ireland, for what would be an auspicious moment in his long career of more than sixty years. He collaborated in the songwriting for Slang, which was released in 1996. Over the decades, Como is reported to have sold millions of records, but he commonly suppressed these figures. Vivian Campbell had previously been in Sweet Savage, Dio, Whitesnake, Trinity, Riverdogs, and Shadow King. It was this characteristic which made him so different from his peers, and which endeared him to legions of fans throughout the world. In 1992, guitarist Vivian Campbell joined Def Leppard. Como had so many recordings achieve gold record status that he refused to have many of them certified. Retroactive was followed by the release of Vault 1995, Def Leppard's Greatest Hits, which sold 3.5 million copies. He recorded many albums of songs for the RCA Victor label between 1952 and 1987, and is credited with numerous gold records. Some of this album's songs were written as B-sides for Hysteria singles. This is rarely mentioned, because Como commonly played down his own achievements. Retroactive was released in 1993 and is a collection of songs which, although not new, were either rare or never previously released. Prior to this, Como battled against Jackie Gleason in what was billed the "Battle of the Giants", and won. It was also nominated for Best Video of the Year at the 1992 9th MTV Video Music Awards. However, it did not have the longevity of their previous albums, and in retrospect many fans consider it one of their weakest albums. 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. It remained there for five weeks, selling six million copies, and the first single, "Let's Get Rocked," was on MTV's video countdown for a long time. 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 album entered the US charts at number 1. They were recorded from many parts of the world, including England, Rome, Austria, France, and many locations throughout North America. Adrenalize was finally released in 1992, the only album recorded by Leppard as a four-piece (Elliott, Collen, Savage, and Allen). 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. After Hysteria 's release, internal problems (including the death of guitarist Steve Clark from a drug and alcohol overdose on January 8, 1991) resulted in a long delay before the follow-up. He had numerous Christmas television specials, beginning on Christmas Eve, 1948, and continuing to 1994 when his final Christmas Special was recorded in Ireland. Much of Leppard's success in the 1980s is credited to their producer, Robert John 'Mutt' Lange, who was considered by the band to be its sixth member. Como would record only once more in 1994, but privately, for his well-known Irish Christmas Concert. The seventh and last single to be released from this album was Rocket in early 1989 (see 1989 in music). His recording of "The Wind Beneath My Wings'" was almost autobiographical, and a fitting end to a long and successful recording career. The album included a total of six Top 20 singles. 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. Album sales were slow until the fourth single, "Pour Some Sugar On Me", became a hit. Como's recording sessions, previously filled with laughter and joy, had deteriorated into much more sombre occasions. The first released single, Women, was not very successful. By the 1980s, the atmosphere of recording had changed dramatically from his early days at RCA Victor. Leppard's next album, Hysteria, (yet again produced by Lange), was released in 1987 (see 1987 in music). Likewise his television show has achieved a much higher rating than that of any other vocalist to date. He then worked with Simmons to design a custom electronic drum kit. Como was the first artist to have ten records sell more than one million copies. He practiced drumming with pillows, and realized that he could use his legs to do some of the percussive work previously done with his arms. 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. While recovering in the hospital from his accident, Rick was committed to continuing his role as Def Leppard's drummer. 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. The period after the album's success, however, was difficult: on December 31, 1984, Rick Allen lost his left arm in a car crash in which his Corvette veered off the road into a concrete wall. By this time the erstwhile barber had definitely decided to return to Canonsburg, his family, and his barbering. Aided by the singles "Photograph", "Rock of Ages", and "Foolin'", Pyromania sold six million copies in 1983 & 84. In 1942 Weems dissolved his band and Como went on to CBS, where he sang for a couple of years without any conspicuous success. Lange was again the producer. Their first recording was a novelty tune titled "You Can't Pull the Wool over My Eyes", recorded for the Decca Records label. This personnel change took place during the recording of their next release, Pyromania (January 20, 1983). 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. Pete Willis later recorded with the bands Gogmagog and Roadhouse. After graduation from high school, he opened his own barber's shop. Phil Collen, former guitarist from the band Girl, replaced Pete Willis who was fired on July 11, 1982 due to alcoholism. Como was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Although he always liked to sing, his first great ambition was to be the best barber in Canonsburg. From it, "Bringin' on the Heartbreak"'s video was one of the first "metal" videos played on MTV video. His exclusive recording contract with RCA Victor in 1943 began an association that would last for almost fifty years. High 'N' Dry (1981 in music) was their first album to be produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. 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. Their major label debut was On through the Night (1980 in music). Zing Zing —Zoom Zoom. They signed to Mercury Records. You Won't Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart). Rick Allen was added as the permanent drummer, to replace Kenning. You're Nearer (1968) (1987). They began playing locally and soon added Steve Clark before recording the underground hit "Getcha Rocks Off" for Bludgeon Riffola, their own label. You're Just in Love (I Wonder Why). Elliott had thought of the name Deaf Leopard in school and the band changed the name to Def Leppard based on the way Led Zeppelin spelled their name. You're Following Me. Rick Savage (bass), Pete Willis (guitars) and Tony Kenning (drums) formed the band in 1977 in Sheffield (see 1977 in music). Joe Elliott joined as the vocalist, and brought the name of the band with him, originally they were called Atomic Mass. You Made It That Way (Watermelon Summer). Def Leppard are a band from Sheffield, England, that emerged in the late 1970s as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. You Are So Beautiful. 2003 "Long Long Way to Go" #40 UK. You Are My World. 2002 "Now" #23 UK. You'll Always Be My Lifetime Sweetheart. 1999 "Promises" #38 US. You Alone (Solo Tu) (1953) (1961). 1996 "All I Want Is Everything" #38 UK. Yesterday. 1996 "Work It Out" #22 UK. Yellow Beach Umbrella. 1996 "Slang" #17 UK. Wrong Rainbow. 1995 "When Love and Hate Collide" #2 UK. A World of Love (That I Found in Your Arms). 1994 "Action" #14 UK. Winter Wonderland (1946) (1959). 1993 "Miss You in a Heartbeat" #39 US. With All My Heart and Soul. 1993 "Two Steps Behind" #32 UK, #12 US. The Wind Beneath My Wings. 1993 "Tonight" #34 UK. Wild Horses. 1993 "Heaven Is" #13 UK. Whither Thou Goest. 1992 "Stand Up (Kick Love into Motion)" #34 US. White Christmas (1947) (1959). 1992 "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad" #16 UK, #12 US. Where Does a Little Tear Come From?. 1992 "Make Love Like a Man" #12 UK, #36 US. When You Were Sweet Sixteen. 1992 "Let's Get Rocked" #2 UK, #15 US. When You're In Love. 1989 "Rocket" #15 UK, #12 US. When You Come to the End of the Day (1952) (1958). 1988 "Love Bites" #11 UK, #1 US. When She Smiles. 1988 "Armageddon It" #20 UK, #3 US. When I Lost You. 1987 "Hysteria" #26 UK, #10 US. When. 1987 "Pour Some Sugar on Me" #18 UK, #2 US. What's One More Time?. 1987 "Animal" #6 UK, #19 US. What's New?. 1987 "Women" #80 US. What Love Is Made Of. 1983 "Rock of Ages" #16 US. What Kind of Fool Am I?. 1983 "Photograph" #12 US. Watermelon Weather (duet with Eddie Fisher). 1983 "Foolin'" #28 US. Wanted. Rock Of Ages - The Definitive Collection (2005). Un giorno dopo l'altro (One Day is Like Another). The Best of Def Leppard (2004). Two Loves Have I. X (2002) #14 UK, #11 US. Two Lost Souls. Euphoria (1999)#11 UK, #11 US. Turn Around. Slang (1996) #5 UK, #14 US. Turnaround. Vault: Def Leppard's Greatest Hits 1980-1995 (1995) #3 UK, #15 US. Tulips and Heather. Retro Active (1993) #6 UK, #9 US. Try to Remember. Adrenalize (1992) #1 UK, #1 US. Traveling Down a Lonely Road (Love theme from La Strada). Hysteria (1987) #1 UK, #1 US. Toyland. Pyromania (1983) #18 UK, #2 US. Toselli's Serenade (Dreams and Memories). High 'N' Dry (1981) #26 UK, #38 US. Tomboy. On through the Night (1980) #15 UK, #51 US. 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). |