Bobby Darin
A frail Walden Robert Cassotto entered the world on May 14, 1936 in New York City. Rheumatic fever as a child would damage his heart, with doctors concerned he wouldn't live much beyond his teens. With an early interest in music, he would master several musical instruments, including the piano, guitar, harmonica and drums. Graduating from high school with a genius-level IQ, he attended college on a scholarship for a year, but would cut short his formal education to perform in small nightclubs in the Bronx and in the Catskillâs.
At twenty years of age he recorded unsuccessfully for Decca Records and a year later in 1957 signed with Atco Records where the following year a song he wrote, âSplish Splashâ leaped to the top of the charts peaking at #3 nationally. Before the year ended he would return with, âEarly in the Morningâ and a top ten hit, âQueen of the Hopâ. 1959 would began with another song penned by Bobby Darin, âDream Loverâ that peaked at #2 and would be followed by his biggest chart topper, the multi million selling worldwide hit, âMack The Knifeâ.[1]
The decade of the 60âs began with Bobby hitting the top ten with âBeyond the Seaâ, followed by âClementineâ, âWonât You Come Home Bill Baileyâ, âArtificial Flowersâ, âLazy Riverâ, âYou Must Have Been a Beautiful Babyâ, âIrresistible Youâ and in 1962 after moving to Capitol Records, âThingsâ, âYouâre The Reason Iâm Livingâ and â18 Yellow Rosesâ. Bobby recorded his final top ten hit in 1966, âIf I Were A Carpenterâ[2] for Atlantic Records.
Darin had a wide range of talent and an overwhelming need to make it big in show business, winning two Grammy Awards in 1960 for âBest New Artistâ and âRecord of the Yearâ for âMack The Knifeâ that would also become a Grammy Hall of Fame winner.
Headlining in Las Vegas at The Sands, The Hilton and The Flamingo, Bobby would play to sell out crowds at the famed Copacabana in New York, breaking even the attendance records of Frank Sinatra.
As a talented actor, Bobby Darin appeared in more than a dozen motion pictures and was nominated for an Oscar for his 1963 performance in the file "Captain Newman M.D." He also received a Golden Globe award for Most Promising Male Newcomer, for his role in âPressure Pointâ.
In 2004, actor Kevin Spacey directed and produced a film about the life of Bobby Darin, âBeyond The Seaâ.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, he was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Following open heart surgery to repair a heart valve, Bobby Darin died at 37 years of age on December 20, 1973. He had hoped his legacy was âto be remembered as a great entertainer and a human beingâ.
In 2007 Bobby Darin was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.