Perry Como

Perry Como, born Pierino Ronald Como (May 18 1912 – May 12 2001) was an Italian American crooner during the latter half of the 20th century. His exclusive recording contract with RCA Victor in 1943 began an association that would last for almost fifty years. He sold around sixty million records in his long career.

Television

He had numerous Christmas television specials, beginning on Christmas Eve, 1948, and continuing to 1994, when his final Christmas Special was recorded in Ireland. Following his weekly series, ending in 1963, Como's television specials became bi-monthly, then monthly, and were finally limited to seasonal specials celebrating Easter, Spring, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, ending in 1987. They were recorded from many parts of the world, including England, Rome, Austria, France, and many locations throughout North America. Como's Christmas Concert in Ireland was his final special, and the last of his commercial recordings.

Related Topics:
Christmas Eve - 1948 - 1994 - 1963 - Easter - Spring - Thanksgiving - 1987 - England - Rome - Austria - France - North America

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His regular television show, at first a spin-off from the Chesterfield Supper Club, continued through the early 1950s, becoming The Perry Como Show, and then for five years The Perry Como Kraft Music Hall. He became the highest paid performer in the history of television to that date, earning mention in the Guinness Book of World Records. Prior to this, Como battled against Jackie Gleason in what was billed the "Battle of the Giants", and won. This is rarely mentioned, because Como commonly played down his own achievements. He recorded many albums of songs for the RCA Victor label between 1952 and 1987, and is credited with numerous gold records. Como had so many recordings achieve gold-record status that he refused to have many of them certified. It was this characteristic which made him so different from his peers, and which endeared him to legions of fans throughout the world. Over the decades, Como is reported to have sold millions of records, but he commonly suppressed these figures.

Related Topics:
Television show - Spin-off - 1950s - Guinness Book of World Records - Jackie Gleason - Album - 1952 - 1987 - Gold record

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