Frankie laine biography singer

American singer (1913–2007)

For the Canadian wrestler, see Frankie Laine (wrestler).

Musical artist

Frankie Laine (born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio; March 30, 1913 – February 6, 2007) was an American singer and songwriter whose career spanned nearly 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to his final performance of "That's My Desire" in 2005. Often billed as "America's Number One Song Stylist", his other nicknames include "Mr. Rhythm", "Old Leather Lungs", and "Mr. Steel Tonsils". His hits included "That's My Desire", "That Lucky Old Sun", "Mule Train", "Jezebel", "High Noon", "I Believe", "Hey Joe!", "The Kid's Last Fight", "Cool Water", "Rawhide", and "You Gave Me a Mountain".

He sang well known theme songs for many Western film soundtracks, including 3:10 To Yuma, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and Blazing Saddles, although his recordings were not charted as country and western. Laine sang an eclectic variety of song styles and genres, stretching from big band crooning to pop, western-themed songs, gospel, rock, folk, jazz, and blues. He did not sing the soundtrack song for High Noon, which was sung by Tex Ritter, but his own version (with somewhat altered lyrics, omitting the name of the antagonist, Frank Miller) was the one that became a bigger hit. He also did not sing the theme to another show he is commonly associated with—Champion the Wonder Horse (sung by Mike Stewart)—but released his own, subsequently more popular, version.

Laine's enduring popularity was illustrated in June 2011 w

Frankie Laine, born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio (30 March 1913 – 6 February 2007), was an American singer and one of the more successful hit-makers of the late 1940s and early 1950s. Laine has had worldwide sales of over 250 million disks, and has earned 21 gold records. Originally a rhythm and blues influenced jazz singer, his energetic, passionate style has led some to consider him the first of the blue-eyed soul singers. Eventually he expanded to such varied genres as popular standards, gospel, folk, country, rock 'n' roll, and a hard-driving (and slightly campy) form of western/Americana.
… Throughout the 1950s, Laine enjoyed a second career singing the title songs of Hollywood films and television shows, including: Gunfight At OK Corral, 3:10 To Yuma, Bullwhip, and Rawhide. His rendition of the title song for Mel Brooks' 1974 movie Blazing Saddles won an Oscar nomination for Best Song, and his recording of "Rawhide" for the television series of the same name has become a classic of the genre.

Frankie Laine, an entertainer whose career spans literally six decades, is one of those consummate artists whose performing style has always ridden high above the wave of musical fads. Laine’s approach to his music is distinctive and
recognizable even to many listeners today in an era when you’re never quite sure what’s coming on your radio next. The major hits of his repertoire, such as “I Believe,” “That Lucky Old Son” and “Mule Train,” to mention a few, even today can be found on many restaurant juke boxes.

Born Frank Lo Vecchio in Chicago on March 30, 1913, Laine first sang in public as a member of the choir at The Church of the Immaculate Conception. As early as age 15, still in the late ‘20s, Frankie, urged on by friends, would take the bandstand at the Windy City’s Merry Garden Ballroom, singing a tune or two with
the likes of Jess Stacy, Gene Krupa, Dave Rose and Muggsy Spanier, all jazz greats in the making.

In 1930, when he was 17, Laine left home to try his luck as a marathon dancer, a raging fad at the time. For the uninitiated, in this unusual rite, dancers would continue their own versions of dancing uninterruptedly, with partners or as soloist, for days, weeks, even months at a time. He and a later partner, Ruth Smith, set the all-time dance marathon record in Atlantic City, decades before the casino era began, of 3501 hours, just under 146 days.

However, the singing bug prevailed and for the purpose of making a living, Laine tuned away from his feet, to his voice. With many gigs in nondescript clubs in tank towns from coast to coast, a distinct break developed during an impromptu appearance at Billy Berg’s club on Vine Street in Hollywood. Hoagy Carmichael, composer of “Rocking Chair,” was in the club one evening when Frankie sang the tune. The chance encounter led to steady employment at the club and eventually to a recording contract with Merc