Vic Damone – Sings Gershwin –

Vic Damone (born Vito Rocco Farinola; June 12, 1928) is an American singer and entertainer, of Italian descent.

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. Vic 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.

In 1997, Damone received his high school diploma from Lafayette High School in Brooklyn when officials with the school granted credits for life experience and asked him to give the commencement address – advising students to “Have spiritual guidance. Don’t lose God. There is a God. Trust me.”

In 1997, Damone received the “Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Frank Sinatra said that Damone had “the best set of pipes in the business”.

For his contribution to the recording industry, Damone has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1731 Vine Street in Los Angeles, California.

From Wikipedia

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