Vic Damone
| Vic Damone | |
|---|---|
Damone in 1959
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Vito Rocco Farinola |
| Born |
June 12, 1928 Brooklyn, New York, US |
| Genres | Traditional Pop, Big band |
| Occupation(s) | Singer Songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1947 - present |
| Labels |
Mercury Records Columbia Records Capitol Records Warner Bros. Records RCA Victor Crown Records |
| Website | vicdamone.com |
Vic Damone (born Vito Rocco Farinola; June 12, 1928) is an American traditional pop and big band singer, songwriter, actor, radio and television presenter, and entertainer of Italian descent who is best known for songs such as "You're Breaking My Heart" (a number one hit), the number four hit "On the Street Where You Live" (from My Fair Lady), and "My Heart Cries for You" (also No. 4).
Damone was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Rocco and Mamie (Damone) Farinola, Italian immigrants from Bari, Italy. His father was an electrician and his mother taught piano. His cousin was the actress and singer Doretta Morrow. Inspired by his favorite singer, Frank Sinatra, Damone began taking voice lessons. He sang in the choir at St. Finbar's Church in Bath Beach, Brooklyn, for Sunday Mass under organist Anthony Amorello.
When his father was injured at work, Damone had to drop out of high school. He worked as an usher and elevator operator in the Paramount Theater in Manhattan. He met Perry Como, while at the Paramount Theater. Damone stopped the elevator between floors, sang for him, and asked his advice if he should continue voice lessons. Impressed, Como said, "Keep singing!" and referred him to a local bandleader. Vito Farinola decided to call himself Vic Damone, using his mother's maiden name.
Damone entered the talent search on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and won in April 1947. This led to his becoming a regular on Godfrey's show. He met Milton Berle at the studio and Berle got him work at two night clubs. By mid-1947, Damone had signed a contract with Mercury Records.
His first release, "I Have But One Heart", reached number seven 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.
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