Vic Damone

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Vic Damone (born June 12, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York) is an Italian American singer. He was born Vito Rocco Farinola.

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He inherited his musical interests from his parents: His father, an electrician by trade, sang and played the guitar; his mother taught piano.


At an early age he decided to imitate his favorite singer, Italian American Frank Sinatra, and began taking voice lessons. After his father became injured at work, he had to drop out of school, and he took a job as an usher and elevator operator in a movie theater, the Paramount, in Manhattan.

One day, Italian American Perry Como visited the theater and Vic took Como to his dressing room to perform for him. Como liked the performance enough to take him under his wing, and referred him to a local bandleader. At this time, he took the name of Damone, his Italian mother's maiden name.

He entered the talent search on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and won the competition in April, 1947.

Winning that contest led to his getting a regular role on Godfrey's show (a step that figured in the careers of many other Talent Scouts winners). One day he ran into Milton Berle at the station and Berle got him a chance to do regular shows at two night clubs. By the middle of 1947, he had a contract with Mercury Records.

His first release, "I Have But One Heart" (August 30) reached #7 on the Billboard chart. "You Do" (released November 1) reached the same peak. These were followed by a number of other hits. In 1948 he got his own weekly radio show, Saturday Night Serenade.

In 1951 he played in two movies: The Strip and Rich, Young, and Pretty. From 1951 to 1953 he served in the United States Army, but before going into the service he recorded a number of songs which were released during that time. After leaving the service, he married an Italian American actress, Anna Maria Pierangeli, and in 1954 made two more movies: Deep In My Heart and Athena. He also made some guest appearances on Milton Berle's television show in 1954.

1955 was a poor year for Damone. He only had one song on the charts, "Por Favor," which did not make it above #73. However, he did have a major role in the movie musical, "Kismet" in 1955. In early 1956, he was dropped by Mercury, but was able to sign with Columbia Records and had some success on that label with hits like "On the Street Where You Live" (from My Fair Lady) and "An Affair to Remember" (from the movie of the same name).

His marriage to Italian Anna Maria Pierangeli ended in 1958. In this period Damone was introduced to the Bahá'í Faith by a drummer in his band. Damone relates his rendition of "On the Street Where You Live" incorporates gestures meant to summon a sustaining vitality from 'Abdu'l-Bahá.[1] Early in the 1960's he officially joined the religion. In 1960 he starred in the movie Hell to Eternity, which would prove to be his last movie. In 1961 he was released by Columbia, moving over to Capitol Records, where he filled in the gap left by Frank Sinatra's leaving to help found Reprise Records. He lasted at Capitol only until 1965, however, but he recorded some of his most highly-regarded albums there, including two which made the Billboard chart, Linger Awhile With Vic Damone and The Lively Ones, the latter with arrangements by the great Billy May, who also arranged another of Damone's best Capitol albums, Strange Enchantment. Damone moved next to Warner Brothers' record label. On Warners he had one chart hit: "You Were Only Fooling (While I Was Falling In Love)." The next year he moved again, to RCA Records, but in 1968 he released what would be his final record for a long time.

In 1971 he started touring Las Vegas casinos as a performer, and although he had to declare bankruptcy in the early 1970s, he earned enough as a casino performer to clear up his financial difficulties. He extended his geographical range, touring through the United States and the United Kingdom, and as a result of his popularity decided to record some albums again, releasing them on RCA's label.

Damone was married from 1987 to 1996 to an American entertainer, Diahann Carroll. She was his fourth wife. Damone has married five times, divorced four. He has three daughters from his second marriage to Judith Rawlins and one son from his first union to Anna Maria Pierangeli. In 1998 the singer married Rena Rowan, designer.

His final album was issued in 1992

In 1997 Damone received his high school diploma from Lafayette High School in Brooklyn when officials with the school granted credits for life experience and wished give the commencement address - advising students to "Have spiritual guidance. Don't lose God. There is a God. Trust me."[1] In 1997 Damone also received the "Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.[2] Sinatra famously said that Damone had "the best set of pipes in the business".[2]

The following songs recorded by Damone made the Billboard charts:

  1. ^ a b Music, faith can guide us, a singer believes - By Pat Kinney
  2. ^ a b 1997 Award and Inductee Ceremonies

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