Robert Mitchum

Robert Charles Durman Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997) was an American film actor and singer. He was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Mitchum is largely remembered for his starring roles in several major works of the film noir genre, and is considered a forerunner of the antiheroes prevalent in film during the 1950s and 60s.

Music

Few people who have watched his films have noticed that Robert Mitchum also was an accomplished singer, providing songs for Rachel and the Stranger, The Night of the Hunter, and others.

Related Topics:
Rachel and the Stranger - The Night of the Hunter

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Decca recorded Mitchum singing six songs from Rachel and the Stranger in longer and more elaborate versions than appear in the film; the company released two on a 78 at the time, and the full set was published much later on CD.

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In March 1957, he recorded the calypso album Calypso — Is Like So . . .. After meeting such artists as Mighty Sparrow and Lord Invader while filming on location in Trinidad, Mitchum successfully pitched the concept of this album to Capitol Records. Mitchum opted for an "ethnic" sound, the result sounding like (in his biographer Lee Server's words) "equal parts Belafonte, Martin Denny, and karaoke bar".

Related Topics:
1957 - Calypso - Calypso — Is Like So . . . - Mighty Sparrow - Lord Invader - Trinidad - Capitol Records - Lee Server - Belafonte - Martin Denny - Karaoke

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In 1967 he recorded That Man, Robert Mitchum, Sings for Monument Records, for the most part older pop and country pop songs (notably "Little Old Wine Drinker Me", which had inspired him), plus his own "The Ballad of Thunder Road" and "Whippoorwill".

Related Topics:
1967 - That Man, Robert Mitchum, Sings - Monument Records - The Ballad of Thunder Road

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