REMEMBERING PERRY AND DEAN

There is a lot to watch on "You Tube". I watch it quite a bit. Lately I have been watching and listening to a lot of music. I have started listening to a lot of music by popular performers from a gone by era. Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Andy Williams, Tony Bennett among many others. Two that I have watched and listened to lately that I may not have appreciated as much many years ago are Perry Como and Dean Martin.

Perry Como was born in 1912. He quit school at fourteen and became a barber. He had a good singing voice and was encouraged to try singing as a career. By the mid 1930's he was singing professionally. Between 1944 and 1950 he had his own radio show on the N.B.C. radio network. He went on to have a weekly one-hour variety show on television show from 1955 until 1964. Most of those years the show was in the top ten.

He became known for his relaxed style and for wearing cardigan sweaters. He had a recording contract with R.C.A. for over forty years. His first hit record was recorded in 1944 called "Long ago and far away". He went on to have a dozen million selling records during his career. These included such hits as "Catch a Falling Star", "Magic Moments", "Round and Round", and "Its's Impossible". He sold 100 million records during his career.

He went on to do T.V. specials and concerts all over the world. Perry Como won Grammy Awards, Emmy's was honored by the Kennedy Center. His career spanned six decades.

Dean Martin war born in 1917 in Steubenville Ohio. His singing career began around 1940. In the mid 1940's he met Jerry Lewis. They decided to put an act together. They were known as "Martin and Lewis." They became very popular and worked together on stage, T.V. and in movies. They decided to go their separate ways in the mid 1950's. When they split up many people felt Dean would not be successful. He proved them wrong. He went on to be one of the most popular entertainers of his generation.

Dean performed in night clubs. Recorded a number of hit records. He also made a number of successful movies. Such as "Some Came Running," The Young Lions," "Rio Bravo," The Bells Are Ringing". From 1965 until 1974 he had his own top ten variety show on television.

He records very popular records." That's Amore", 'Volare", "Return to Me", and of course "Everybody Loves Somebody. He also performed concerts all over the world.

They had slightly different styles. They were from the same era. Their careers covered almost the same period of time. They were both good singers and good entertainers. They knew how to capture an audience and entertain them. When they were on stage, they looked good, dressed perfect and put on a good show. Dean's humor was sometimes a little colorful. He like to play up his drinking. I think it was part of his act.

They had different personalities but when you look back you can see they actually had a similar style that represented a certain time and era. You can see why they both had very long and successful careers. Why audiences always enjoyed their performances.

Time has passed quickly. Perry and Dean have both been gone for decades. I have enjoyed watching performances by both these stars on You Tube recently. I recommend those from that generation watch some the work of these two stars. I think they would bring back good memories.

Enjoy the holidays!

WRITTEN BY

RON TURETT.

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Thanks, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS Ron