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Canonsburg,
Pennsylvania, U.S.
Jupiter
Inlet Colony, Florida, U.S.
Listening, Adult
Contemporary, Popular
Vocal, Pop, Big Band, Jazz, Latin, Swing, Country, Rock and
Roll, Faith
and Inspirational
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como (May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was
an Italian American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than
half a
century he recorded exclusively for the RCA
Victor label after signing with it in 1943.[1] "Mr. C",
as he was nicknamed, sold millions of records for
RCA and pioneered a weekly
musical variety television show, which set the standards for the genre
and
proved to be one of the most successful in television history. His
combined
success on television and popular recordings was not matched by any
other artist
of the time.
A popular television performer and recording artist,
Perry Como produced numerous
hit records with record sales so high the label literally stopped
counting at
Como's behest. His weekly television shows and seasonal specials were
broadcast
throughout the world and his popularity seemingly had no geographical or
language boundaries.[2] He was
equally at ease in live performance and in the confines of a recording
studio.
His appeal spanned generations and he was widely respected for both his
professional standards and the conduct in his personal life. In the
official RCA Records Billboard
Magazine memorial, his life was summed up in these few words:
"50 years
of music and a life well lived. An example to all."[3] One of the many factors in his success was Como's insistence on his
principles
of good taste; if he considered something to be in bad or poor taste, it
wasn't
in the broadcast or show.[4][5] While
his
performance of "Ave Maria" was a tradition of his holiday television
programs,
Como refused to sing it at live performances, saying, "It's not the time
or
place to do it.", even though it was the number one request of his
audiences.[6]
Composer Ervin Drake said
of him, "... [o]ccasionally someone like Perry comes along and won't
'go with
the flow' and still prevails in spite of all the bankrupt others who
surround
him and importune him to yield to their values. Only occasionally."
Como received 3 Emmys (2 in
1956 and 1 in 1958), a Christopher AwardPeabody Award with
good
friend Jackie Gleason in 1956.[7][8][9] He was inducted into the Academy
of Television Arts
& Sciences Hall of Fame in 1989[10] and received a Kennedy Center
Honor[11] Posthumously, Como
received the Grammy
Lifetime Achievement
Award in 2002;[12] he
was inducted
into the Long
Island Music Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Hit Parade Hall of Fame in 2007.[13]Hollywood
Walk of Fame-one each for his work in radio, in television, and in
music.[14] Bing
Crosby once described him
as, "the man who invented casual".[15] (1956) and shared a in 1987.