Perry Como
One of the most popular vocalists between the end of World War II and the rise of rock & roll in the mid-'50s, Perry Como perfected the post-big band approach to pop music by lending his own irresistible laidback singing -- influenced by Bing Crosby and Russ Columbo -- to the popular hits of the day on radio, TV, and LP. Both his early traditional crooning style plus his later relaxed manner and focus on novelty material were heavily indebted to Bing Crosby, though Como's appeal during the early '50s was virtually unrivalled. Born in 1912 in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, Como was working as a singing barber in his hometown when he began touring with local bandleader Freddie Carlone at the age of 21. By the mid-'30s, he got his big break with Ted Weems & His Orchestra, who headed a popular radio show named Beat the Band. After the orchestra broke up in 1942, Como hosted a regional CBS radio show later called Supper Club. The show's success gained him a contract with RCA Victor Records by 1943, and he also began working in Hollywood with Something for the Boys.
Perry Como's real big break came with the 1945 film A Song to Remember. His rendition of "Till the End of Time" spent ten weeks at the top of the charts and became the biggest hit of the year. Como's dreamy baritone worked especially well on ballads, such as the additional 1945-47 number one hits "Prisoner of Love," "Surrender" and "Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba (My Bambino Go to Sleep)." Hired by NBC for another radio show in 1948, Como crossed over to the emerging medium of television that same year with the Chesterfield Supper Club. The show quickly took off, and eventually earned him four Emmy Awards. In the mid-'50s, Como began to indulge in light novelty fare, the titles often comprising nonsense words -- "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Doo," "Hoop-Dee-Doo," "Pa-Paya Mama" and "Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)." Though he often disliked the songs, they frequently became huge hits and made his reputation as one of the singers who defined the style of music later known as middle-of-the-road pop.
Como's breezy songs had worked well at the beginning of the decade, but his appeal began to wane towards the end of the 1950s, with the emergence of rock & roll and the wave of teen idols. His last number one hit, "Catch a Falling Star," came in 1958. Como was much less visible during the 1960s, but returned in 1970 with his first live show in over two decades, and a world tour followed; a single ("It's Impossible") even made the Top Ten in late 1970. Como continued to record LPs and occasional television specials while making scattered appearances during the 1970s and '80s. On May 12, 2001 Perry Como died in his sleep at his home in Florida.
© TiVo
Similar artists
-
Essential Hits By Perry Como
Pop - Released by Rendez-Vous Digital on 12 Apr 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
They Say It's Wonderful
Pop - Released by Synergie OMP on 13 Mar 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Perri Como - Christmas All Over the World
Pop - Released by Railroad on 24 Nov 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Relax With
Pop - Released by First to the End again on 3 Feb 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Music around the World by Perry Como, Vol. 1
Pop - Released by Sunny Side of the Street on 4 Sep 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes - 4 Track EP
Pop - Released by Play Digital on 20 Oct 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
There Is No Christmas Like a Home Christmas
Pop - Released by Music Maestros on 1 Aug 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The V Discs
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Cool Cats on 8 Jan 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
My Sweet Home (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by That's What Records on 13 May 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Four Classic Albums Plus (a Sentimental Date With / Wednesday Night Music Hall / Make Someone Happy Aka I Love You Truly / Relaxing With) (2024 Digitally Remastered)
Lounge - Released by AVID Easy on 5 Apr 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (Remastered)
Lounge - Released by New World on 8 Apr 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
My Melancholy Baby
Pop - Released by Academia Royal on 16 Oct 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Trip Around The City
Pop - Released by me & she song company on 21 Jan 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year from Perry Como, Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by White Christmas on 8 Dec 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ko-Ko Mo (Mono Version)
Pop - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Caterina (feat. The Ray Charles Singers, Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra) (Mono Version)
Pop - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Perry como chante Noël (Mono Version)
Pop - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1957
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
A Sentimental Date with Perry
Pop - Released by Shellac Revival on 1 Jan 1952
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Saturday Night With Mr. C.
Pop - Released by Academia Royal on 1 Jan 1958
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo