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| − | Francesco Paolo LoVecchio was born on March 30, 1913 in [[Chicago]]. | + | '''Francesco Paolo LoVecchio''' was born on March 30, 1913 in [[Chicago]]. |
| − | Influenced by famed tenor Enrico Caruso Frankie Laine began | + | Influenced by famed tenor Enrico Caruso, Frankie Laine began singing as a teenager but it was not until 1946 that his big break finally arrived when he was signed to a recording contract by Mercury Records. |
| − | singing as a teenager but it was not until 1946 that his big break | |
| − | finally arrived when he was signed to a recording contract | |
| − | by Mercury Records. | |
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| − | With an unmistakable voice and style, his first gold record, “That’s | + | With an unmistakable voice and style, his first gold record, “That’s My Desire” established Frankie Laine as a star. It was followed by “Mam’sell,” “Shine,” “On The Sunny Side of the Street,” “That Lucky Old Sun,” “Mule Train, ”Dream A Little Dream of Me,” “All of Me,” “Nevertheless,” “The Cry of the Wild Goose” and “Music Maestro Please” before Frankie followed Mercury’s A&R director, Mitch Miller to Columbia Records. |
| − | My Desire” established Frankie Laine as a star. It was followed by | |
| − | “Mam’sell,” “Shine,” “On The Sunny Side of the Street,” “That Lucky | |
| − | Old Sun,” “Mule Train, ”Dream A Little Dream of Me,” “All of Me,” | |
| − | “Nevertheless,” “The Cry of the Wild Goose” and “Music Maestro Please” | |
| − | before Frankie followed Mercury’s A&R director, | |
| − | Mitch Miller to Columbia Records. | |
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| − | In 1951 Frankie Laine continued to top the charts with his very first | + | In 1951 Frankie Laine continued to top the charts with his very first Columbia recording, “Jezebel” backed with “Rose, Rose, I Love You,” followed by “Jealousy,” “High Noon,” “I Believe”, “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” "Tell Me A Story", "Hey Joe", “Grenada”, “Moonlight Gambler”, "Love Is A Golden Ring" and after moving to ABC Records, "You Gave Me A Mountain" in 1969. |
| − | Columbia recording, “Jezebel” backed with “Rose, Rose, I Love | |
| − | You,” followed by “Jealousy,” “High Noon,” “I Believe”, | |
| − | “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” "Tell Me A Story", "Hey Joe", “Grenada”, | |
| − | “Moonlight Gambler”, "Love Is A Golden Ring" and after | |
| − | moving to ABC Records, "You Gave Me A Mountain" in 1969. | |
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| − | In 30 years, Frankie landed a total of 70 times on the Hit Parade | + | In 30 years, Frankie landed a total of 70 times on the Hit Parade with his Greatest Hits album released in 1957 a perennial best seller that continues to sell fifty years later. |
| − | with his Greatest Hits album released in 1957 a perennial | + | With more than 20 gold records to his credit, he sold more than 100 million recordings during his career. |
| − | best seller that continues to sell fifty years later. | |
| − | With more than 20 gold records to his credit, he sold more | |
| − | than 100 million recordings during his career. | |
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| − | Always exceedingly popular in the UK, he broke attendance records | + | Always exceedingly popular in the UK, he broke attendance records at the London Palladium in 1952 and gave a Command Performance for Queen [[Elizabeth II]] in 1954. |
| − | at the London Palladium in 1952 and gave a Command Performance | |
| − | for Queen [[Elizabeth II]] in 1954. | |
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| − | Frankie Laine performed at three Academy Awards ceremonies. | + | Frankie Laine performed at three Academy Awards ceremonies. In 1950 singing best song nominee, “Mule Train,” in 1960 "The Hanging Tree," and 1975 performing "Blazing Saddles.” |
| − | In 1950 singing best song nominee, “Mule Train,” in 1960 "The | |
| − | Hanging Tree," and 1975 performing "Blazing Saddles.” | |
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| − | In 1996, he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the | + | In 1996, he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 27th Annual Songwriters’ Hall of Fame awards ceremony at the New York Sheraton. On his 80th birthday, the United States Congress declared him to be a national treasure. |
| − | 27th Annual Songwriters’ Hall of Fame awards ceremony at the New | |
| − | York Sheraton. On his 80th birthday, the United States Congress | |
| − | declared him to be a national treasure. | |
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| − | Frankie Laine lived in semi-retirement in the Point Loma | + | Frankie Laine lived in semi-retirement in the Point Loma area of [[San Diego]], [[California]] until his death of heart failure at 93 years of age on February 6, 2007. |
| − | area of [[San Diego]], [[California]] until his death of heart failure | + | |
| − | at 93 years of age on February 6, 2007. | + | [[category:Singers]] |