Perry Como: A Biography and Complete Career Record

by Malcolm Macfarlane, Ken Crossland

Overview

Perry Como put aside his career as a barber to become one of the top American crooners of the 20th century and also one of the first multimedia stars. His record sales exceeded 100 million. In 1948, Como was the first popular singer to cross over to television and The Perry Como Show became the benchmark for a broadcast music and variety show. Como's career illuminates developments in the music and television business in the middle of the last century. This biography features 73 photographs, a complete discography, a listing of all television appearances, and a year by year chronology of Perry Como's life from 1912 to 2001.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786471669
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	05/24/2012
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	310
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Malcolm Macfarlane is also the author of Bing Crosby: Day By Day and is editor of Bing, the journal of the International Crosby Circle. He has studied American and British popular singers for over 40 years. He lives in the United Kingdom. Ken Crossland is the author of The Man Who Would Be Bing: the Life Story of Michael Holliday. He has studied American and British popular singers for over 40 years. He lives in the United Kingdom.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Foreword Michael Feinstein 1

Introduction 3

1 The Barber Business 7

2 Beat the Band-The Ted Weems Years 19

3 Till the End of Time 28

4 Hollywood and Bust 36

5 The Supper Club 45

6 First Contact 55

7 Hoop-Dee-Doing It 66

8 Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes 76

9 Old Silver Throat 88

10 Catch a Falling Star 99

11 Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall 108

12 The Scene Changes 120

13 It's Impossible 131

14 The Barber Comes to Town 139

15 Charisma in Slow Motion 151

16 Final Curtain 162

17 You Are Never Far Away from Me 172

Appendix A Perry Como on Record 175

Appendix B Perry Como on Television, 1948-1995 192

Appendix C Perry Como Year by Year 239

Chapter Notes 277

Bibliography 289

Index 293

Editorial Reviews

a fabulous introspective that tells us what went on beyond the microphone, the recording studio, and the camera. It belongs on the bookshelf of all who would like to know details transpiring the life of a captivating artist who was for years at the top of his game”—Chattanooga Airwaves.

From the Publisher

a fabulous introspective that tells us what went on beyond the microphone, the recording studio, and the camera. It belongs on the bookshelf of all who would like to know details transpiring the life of a captivating artist who was for years at the top of his game

Chattanooga Airwaves