Perry Como

Perry Como

Commenting on the relaxing effect his music has on people, Dean Martin once joked that he "used to go over to Perry's to borrow a cup of sleep".

Days after his death, columnist William F. Buckley wrote a column describing a past act of Como kindness when he gave Buckley's mother a jeweled brooch of his (when she needed a pin to repair an outfit) on board a plane. [May 2001]

Godfather of Debby Boone.

Had a Big Hit with "Lili Marlene" in the US and Canada.

Had the longest stay of any popular artist with RCA Victor records, 1943-88.



Had three children, Ronnie, David, and Terri. David and Terri were both adopted, David at the age of 4, because Roselle could no longer have children after the birth of her first child.

He was awarded 2 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 1708 Vine Street and for Television at 6376 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

He was the first of his many brothers and sisters to have been born in America.

In December 2006, his 1946 recording of "Jingle Bells" topped Billboard magazine's Hot Ringtones chart - five years after he died.

One of 13 children, he was the seventh son of a seventh son - a sign of good luck in Italian families.

One of his biggest hits, "Hot Diggity", was freely adapted from Emmanuel Chabrier's popular classical piece, "España".

One of the most popular male vocalists of all time, his list of hit records, over a 30 year period, is testament to his durability. His many hits include: "Till the End of Time," "Temptation," "Prisoner of Love," "Because," "When You Were Sweet Sixteen," "Wanted," "No Other Love," "Hot Diggety," "(There's No Place Like) Home For the Holidays," "Round and Round," "Catch a Falling Star," "Delaware," "Seattle," "It's Impossible" and "And I Love You So."

Performed at a 10 cent a dance club in Pittsburgh called "The Grove" in the early 1930s. He did not have a car to get to work, so he traveled to work on a trolley every day.

Sold well over 50 million records. Had 13 number #1 hit songs - the first was "Till The End of Time" in 1945.

The private Como was exactly as he appeared to the public: a quiet, self-effacing man who considered his performing activities as strictly tertiary to his family and his faith. While he had numerous million-selling singles and albums, he refused to have most of them certified gold (later platinum) out of modesty. A notable exception was when his album "Como's Gold Records" (RCA Victor: 1958) was released. One of the first compilation albums to become a best-seller, with liner notes by Irving Berlin, it became a million-seller in and of itself, and remained on the Billboard charts for more than a decade after its release.


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