Bobby Darin

Bobby Darin (born May 14, 1936, died December 20, 1973), born Walden Robert Cassotto, was one of the most popular rock and roll American teen idols of the late 1950s. However, he is widely respected for being a multi-talented, versatile performer.

'Mack the Knife' Goes Mainstream (1956-1964): Musical Career

As was common with ethnic minorities at the time, he changed his Italian name and, in 1956, his agent negotiated a contract for him with Decca Records where Bill Haley & His Comets had risen to fame. However, this was a time when rock and roll was still in its infancy and the number of capable record producers and arrangers in the field was extremely limited. Like other performers, Darin was at first pigeon-holed, recording the banal, meaningless songs popular with record executives at the time.

Related Topics:
Decca Records - Bill Haley & His Comets - Rock and roll

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He left Decca to sign with Atlantic Records, where he wrote and arranged music for himself and others. There, after three mediocre recordings, his career took off in 1958 when he released his unique rock song "Splish Splash" (which was written on a bet that he couldn't write a song that started out with the words, "Splish Splash") that became an instant hit, selling more than a million copies. This was followed by more hits recorded in the same successful style.

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In 1959, Bobby Darin recorded "Dream Lover", a complex ballad that would become a multi-million seller and one that is still remembered to this day. With financial success came the ability to demand more creative control and, despite the objections of most everyone around him, Darin's immense and diverse talent came to the fore with his next record "Mack the Knife", the classic standard from Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera. Darin gave the tune a vamping jazz-pop interpretation. The song went to No. 1 on the charts, sold several million copies, and won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards of 1960. For his innovation, Darin was voted the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. "Mack The Knife" has since been honored with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award.

Related Topics:
Mack the Knife - Kurt Weill - Threepenny Opera - Grammy Award for Record of the Year - Grammy Awards of 1960 - Grammy Award for Best New Artist - Grammy Hall of Fame Award

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