Perry Como Biography

While working as a singing barber in his hometown, he began touring with bandleader Freddie Carlone when he was 21.

He got his first break with Ted Weems’s Orchestra in the mid-1930s, on Weem’s radio show 'Beat The Band'. Upon their break-up in 1942, Como was tempted to return to his hometown to become a barber again.

He changed his mind, however, and hosted 'Supper Club', a regional CBS radio show. He gained a contract with RCA Victor Records in 1943, and began working in Hollywood. The film 'Something for the Boys' appeared the same year.

Como really hit the big-time in 1945, with the film, 'Words And Music'. Spending 10 weeks at the top of the charts, his version of 'Till the End of Time' became the biggest hit of the year.

It was quickly followed by ballads such as 'Prisoner of Love', 'Chi-Baba', which reached the top between 1945-47. Later songs, whilst huge hits, were often novelty-songs, based on nonsense titles - 'Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Doo', 'Hoop-Dee-Doo', 'Pa-Paya Mama'.

Making his entrance into television in 1948, his show 'The Chesterfield Supper Club' soon became huge, and won Como several Emmy awards.

Throughout the 1950s, Como’s appeal was unrivalled but,inevitably, with the dawn of rock’n’roll, Como struggled. His last number one was in 1958, with 'Catch a Falling Star', and he disappeared for much of the next decade, only re-emerging in 1970 for live shows, singles and a world tour.

One of the most popular vocalists between the end of World War II and the rise of rock & roll in the mid-1950s, Perry Como perfected the post-big band approach to pop music, by lending his own irresistible laidback singing, influenced by Bing Crosby and Russ Columbo, to the popular hits of the day on radio, TV and LP.

Resurfacing for various television appearances during the 1970s and 1980s, Perry Como passed away in his sleep in May 2001.