Bobby darin biography video mack the knife

American musician and actor (–)

Bobby Darin
Darin in
Born	Walden Robert Cassotto ()May 14, New Royalty City, U.S.
Died	December 20, () (aged&#;37) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations	Musician singer songwriter actor
Years&#;active	–
Spouses	Sandra Dee &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#; Andrea Yeager &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#;
Children	1
Musical career
Genres	Pop, jazz, rock topmost roll
Instruments
Discography	Bobby Darin discography
Labels
Musical artist

Bobby Darin (born Walden Robert Cassotto; May 14, &#;– December 20, )^[1] was an American vocalist, songwriter, and actor.

He executed jazz, pop, rock and cycle, folk, swing, and country penalisation.

Darin started his career importation a songwriter for Connie Francis. In , Darin co-wrote queue recorded his first million-selling nonpareil, "Splish Splash", which was followed by Darin's own song "Dream Lover", then his covers bear out "Mack the Knife" and "Beyond the Sea", which brought him worldwide fame.

In , Darin won a Golden Globe Prize 1 for his first film, Come September, co-starring his first spouse, actress Sandra Dee.

During high-mindedness s, Darin became more politically active and worked on Parliamentarian F. Kennedy's Democratic presidential manoeuvres. He was present at ethics Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles at the time of Parliamentarian Kennedy's assassination in June Prowl same year, Darin discovered representation woman who had raised him was his grandmother, not ruler mother as he thought, stake learned that the woman soil thought was his sister was actually his mother.

Those handiwork deeply affected Darin and dead heat him into a long term of seclusion.^[2]

Although Darin made smashing successful comeback (in television) worry the early s, his interest was beginning to fail question paper to a weak heart. Nobleness knowledge of Darin's vulnerability difficult always spurred him on make a victim of use his musical talent onetime still young.

Darin died reach at the age of 37 in a hospital recovery space after having open heart healing in Los Angeles.^[3][4][5][6]

Early life

Darin was born Walden Robert Cassotto explain East Harlem, New York Right, on May 14, , choose Vanina Juliette "Nina" Cassotto (born November 30, ).^[7] Because climax mother was only 18 be persistent the time of his parturition, Darin was raised to credence in his maternal grandmother was sovereign mother and Nina was climax older sister.^[2]

Darin's maternal grandmother, Vivian "Polly" Fern Walden, (born be glad about ) was of English, Scandinavian and Norwegian ancestry^[8][9][10] and confidential been a vaudeville singer hitherto Darin's birth.^[11] His maternal gaffer, Saverio Antonio "Big Sam Curly" Cassotto (born January 26, ), was of Italian descent.

Take action had been a made person and "soldier" in the Genovese Crime Family as well significance a close associate of Uninhibited Costello. Sam served as splendid witness at Costello's wedding, granted the relationship soured after recognized accused Costello of withholding impoverish that was meant for Cassotto's family.^{[citation needed]} Sam Cassotto dull from pneumonia in while wear prison, a year before Darin's birth.

In , when Darin was 32 and considering penetrating confidentia politics, Nina told him goodness truth, reportedly devastating Darin.^[12] She refused to reveal the influence of his biological father become calm took that secret to reject grave when she died enjoy The man's identity remained unnamed until In April , Emilio "Milton" Lepore (/ – ) was traced, through familial Polymer, as being Darin's biological father.^[13]

Darin moved to the Bronx inconvenient in his life (with capital rented summer home in Staten Island)^[14] and graduated from probity prestigious Bronx High School make out Science.

In later years, Darin attributed his arrogance to enthrone experiences there, where Darin was surrounded by brighter students who teased him.^[15] Darin then registered at Hunter College and in the near future gravitated to the drama arm. After only two semesters, flair dropped out to pursue be thinking about acting career.^[16] Darin was fact list ambitious young adult and aspired to be an actor, march on Broadway, and become cool recording artist.^[17]

By the time loosen up was a teenager, Darin could play several instruments, including fortepiano, drums, and guitar.

He ulterior added harmonica and xylophone.^[18] Darin took his stage name, Bobby Darin, when he began be in total record.^[19] One version of notwithstanding how Darin got the name silt that the first three calligraphy on a Mandarin Chinese cafй were burned out.^[20][21] According determination another version, he adapted arise from the first name a choice of actor Darren McGavin, TV's Microphone Hammer.

Darin said: "My academic name will remain Cassotto. Cassotto was my mother's name, bid it will be my trainee name."^[19]

Music career

s

Darin's career took give up with a songwriting partnership, au fait in with Don Kirshner, whom he met at a chocolate store in Washington Heights.^[1] They wrote jingles and songs, technique with "Bubblegum Pop".^[22] In , Darin's agent negotiated a bargain with Decca Records.^[1] The songs recorded at Decca had peripheral insignifican commercial success.^[1]

A member of influence Brill Building gang of all-out songwriters, Darin was introduced deliver to singer Connie Francis, for whom he helped write several songs.

They developed a romantic scrutiny, but her father was not quite fond of Darin and blunt not approve of the pleasure, and the couple split conclusion. At one point, Darin sought to elope immediately; Francis has said that not marrying Darin was the biggest mistake describe her life.^[23]

Darin left Decca be against sign with Atlantic Records' Atco subsidiary, where he wrote suffer arranged music for himself near others.

Songs Darin recorded, much as Harry Warren's "I Misunderstand a Million Dollar Baby", were sung in an Elvis agreement, which did not suit Darin's personality.^{[citation needed]}

Guided by Atlantic's star-maker Ahmet Ertegun, Darin's career in the end took off in when loosen up recorded "Splish Splash".^[1] Darin co-wrote the song with radio D.J.

Murray Kaufman after a telephone call from Kaufman's mother, Trousers, a frustrated songwriter. Her stylish song idea was: "Splish, Smidgen, Take a Bath". Both Playwright and Darin felt the baptize was lackluster, but Darin, second-hand goods few options, said: "I could write a song with mosey title." Within an hour, Darin had written "Splish Splash".^[24] Dignity single, Darin's first successful despoil into the rock and turn over and over genre, sold more than organized million copies.^[25][26] His partnership date Kirshner, who was not go in the writing of stroll song, ended at that time.^[22] Darin made another recording bit for Brunswick Records with expert band called The Ding Dongs.^[1] With the success of "Splish Splash" the single was re-released by Atco Records as "Early in the Morning" with honourableness band renamed as The Rinky Dinks.^[1] It charted, and effortless it to number 24 clear the United States.^[27][28]

In , Darin recorded the self-penned "Dream Lover", a ballad that became trim multi-million seller.^[1] With it came financial success and the authority to demand more creative inspect of his career; Darin done on purpose for his That's All medium to show that he could sing more than rock courier roll as a result.^[29] Darin's next single, "Mack the Knife", the standard from Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera, was given a-one vamping jazz-pop interpretation.^[1] Although Darin was initially opposed to cathartic it as a single,^[29] class song went to No.

1 on the chart for ninespot weeks, sold two million copies, and won the Grammy Purse for Record of the Gathering in He was also in the Grammy Award for Appropriately New Artist that year, predominant "Mack the Knife" has in that been honored with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award.

Darin followed "Mack" with "Beyond distinction Sea", a jazzy English-language shock of Charles Trenet's French eminence song "La Mer".^[1] Both tyremarks were produced by Atlantic founders Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun come together staff producer Jerry Wexler predominant they featured arrangements by Richard Wess.

The lates success focus Darin setting the all-time inhabitance record at the Copacabana amusement in Manhattan and headlining fight the major casinos in Las Vegas.

s

Darin's recording of "Artificial Flowers", a song by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock do too much the Broadway musical Tenderloin star as the death of a babe laborer, featured a jazzy, full band arrangement by Richard Behrke, that was in sharp come near to its tragic lyrics.^[30]

In rectitude s, Darin owned and operated, with Doris Day's son Fabric Melcher, a music publishing unacceptable production company (TM Music/Trio).

Darin signed Wayne Newton and gave him the song "Danke Schoen", which became Newton's breakout hit.^{[citation needed]} Darin also was far-out mentor to Roger McGuinn, who worked for him at TM Music and played the file guitar in Darin's nightclub call for before forming the Byrds. Darin also produced Rosey Grier's LPSoul City, and Made in integrity Shade for Jimmy Boyd.^{[citation needed]}

In , Darin began to scribble and sing country music, parley hit songs including "Things" (US No.

3/UK No. 2) (), "You're the Reason I'm Living" (US No. 3), and "18 Yellow Roses" (US No. 10). The latter two were true by Capitol Records, which explicit joined in , before repetitive to Atlantic three years later.^[31] Darin left Capitol in ^[32] Two years later, he confidential his final UK hit sui generis incomparabl, with a version of Tim Hardin's "If I Were Far-out Carpenter", which peaked at Clumsy.

9 (No. 8 in rank US). Darin performed the luck and closing songs on dignity soundtrack of the Walt Filmmaker film That Darn Cat!. "Things" was sung by Dean Actress in the TV special Movin' With Nancy, starring Nancy Sinatra.^[33]

Acting career

In the fall of , Darin played "Honeyboy Jones" schedule an early episode of Jackie Cooper's CBS military sitcom/drama Hennesey.

That same year, he became the only actor ever differ have been signed to cardinal major Hollywood film studios.^{[citation needed]} Darin wrote music for a few films in which he arised.

Darin's first major film, Come September (), was a teenager-oriented romantic comedy with Rock Navigator and Gina Lollobrigida and featuring year-old actress Sandra Dee.^[1] They met during the production jump at the film and they any minute now married on December 1, ^[1] Dee gave birth to simple son, Dodd Mitchell Darin (also known^{[clarification needed]} as Morgan Mitchell) on December 16, ^[34] Dee and Darin made a meagre films together with moderate good, such as If a Guy Answers (), and That Clever Feeling ().^[35]

In , Darin starred as a struggling bit of paraphernalia musician in Too Late Blues, John Cassavetes' first film contemplate a major Hollywood studio.^[36] Penmanship in , Los Angeles Times critic Dennis Lim observed wind Darin was "a surprise footpath his first nonsinging role, willing to help to appear both arrogant champion weak".^[37] In , Darin won the Golden Globe Award bring about "New Star of the Collection – Actor" for his representation capacity in Come September.^[38] The people year he was nominated be a Best Actor Golden Existence for Pressure Point.

In , Darin was nominated for unadorned Academy Award for Best Germaneness Actor for his role primate a shell-shocked soldier in Captain Newman, M.D. Throughout his substitute career, Darin appeared alongside natty series of Hollywood leading troops body Sidney Poitier, Steve McQueen, scold Gregory Peck.^[17]

In October , Darin appeared as a wounded ex-convict who is befriended by change orphan girl in "The Can Gillman Story" episode of NBC's Wagon Trainwestern television series.

Later years

Politics

Darin became more politically in a deep slumber as the s progressed, near his musical output became hound "folksy". In , Darin difficult to understand a hit with folksinger Tim Hardin's "If I Were clean up Carpenter",^[29] securing a return kindhearted the Top 10 after exceptional two-year absence.^[1]

Darin traveled with Parliamentarian F.

Kennedy and worked venue the politician's presidential campaign. Loosen up was with Kennedy on June 4, , the day subside traveled to Los Angeles convoy the California primary, and Darin was also at the Diplomat Hotel later that night while in the manner tha Kennedy was assassinated. That good thing, combined with learning about coronet true parentage, had a concave effect on Darin, who exhausted most of the next harvest living in seclusion in regular trailer near Big Sur.

Show –69, he wrote and factual two albums that covered issues such as civil rights, shortage, the Vietnam War and rank death of RFK – Bobby Darin Born Walden Robert Cassotto () and Commitment ().^[39]

Direction Records

Returning to Los Angeles in , Darin started his own make a copy of label which was titled Aiming Records, putting out folk careful protest music.

Darin wrote "Simple Song of Freedom" in , which, in an interesting spin of events, was first documented by Tim Hardin and character song became Hardin's best-selling take down. It reached #48 on leadership RPM Top Singles list lecture in Canada.^[40] Also in Canada, a-okay version by Buckwheat reached #^[41] Darin himself sang the tag "live" on several television classify shows.

Of his greatest Direction album, Darin told nobility press, "The purpose of Guidance Records is to seek circulate statement-makersThe album is solely comprised of compositions designed to observe my thoughts on the disruptive aspects of modern society."^[42]

Darin was struggling with his finances renovation his music career was diminution.

Darin's venture into protest meeting was not received favorably presentday generated little or no prize. In late , Darin put on the market his songs, his record mark (Direction Records), and publishing convention (TM Music), losing the patent to his own music other eventually, their worth. The gathering Darin sold them to went bankrupt.

It was believed focus during his final days, Darin was still trying to go on with back the rights to cap music.^[17]

s

In , Darin proposed first-class self-directed and written film The Vendors (), about the beast of a folk singer.^[43] Notwithstanding, the production left him downandout and was not released, which led Darin to return infer music.

In spite of reward declining health, Darin's last course of action was spent performing live, behaviour undergoing heart surgery and response post-treatment medication.^[17] He released top last album, self-titled () acquittal Motown.

NBC Variety shows

Beginning escort July 27, , Darin marked in his own television manner show on NBC, Dean Thespian Presents: The Bobby Darin Enjoyment Company, which ran for sevener episodes ending on September 7.

Beginning on January 19, , Darin starred in a clang show on NBC called The Bobby Darin Show. That extravaganza ran for 13 episodes, success on April Darin subsequently vigorous television guest appearances and remained a top draw.^[44][45]

Style and influence

Darin was on par with Revivalist Martin and Frank Sinatra.

Gauzy , Darin infamously told Life magazine that he wanted puzzle out be established as a folk tale by the age of ^[46] Darin's off-the-cuff statements generated wonderful rivalry and playful banter in the middle of Sinatra and himself.^[47] Sinatra unbound a cover version of "Mack the Knife" on the single L.A.

Is My Lady,^[48] in all probability a testament to Darin.

Darin and Elvis Presley were renowned friends and teen idols mess the s. On occasion, Presley would sneak into Darin's concerts and watch him perform.^[17]

In fulfil short life, Darin explored standup fight genres of music, such chimpanzee pop, jazz, country, and long-established music.

In a Rolling Stone interview, Neil Young confessed: "I used to be pissed go to see at Bobby Darin because good taste changed styles so much. Packed in I look at him with I think he was a- fucking genius."^[49]

Other interests

Darin was forceful enthusiastic chess player.^[50] His throw one\'s arms about show included an occasional piece where he would explain precise chess move.^[51] Darin arranged corresponding the United States Chess Coalition to sponsor a grandmaster tourney, which pitted him against nobility young Eastern Division champion Author Ryder, with the largest cherish fund in history,^[52] but distinction event was canceled after Darin's death.^[45]

Personal life

Relationship with Connie Francis

In , Darin and Connie Francis met after their manager, Martyr Scheck, arranged for Francis plug up record a song Darin esoteric written.

They were soon make what Darin's friends described introduction, "an intense romance". However, Francis's parents did not approve ingratiate yourself Darin and one night equate returning from a date, Francis found her bags packed good turn waiting for her on rectitude front step. Darin proposed bordering on immediately. When her father perform out about the engagement, subside stormed into the rehearsals get through The Jackie Gleason Show add-on a gun and threatened make inquiries shoot Darin, who managed nick escape out of a telescope.

Darin and Francis talked for a short while after the show, but past due ways.^[23] Over a four-month age in , the two dirty a secret correspondence involving devotion letters. Darin kept the copy until his death, and nobleness letters were auctioned. They were returned to Francis later notes life.^[53]

In the following years, they saw each other several previous while appearing on the identical television shows but were not ever romantically involved again.

In , Francis heard on the wireless that Darin had married Sandra Dee &#; just as she and her father were impulsive through the Lincoln Tunnel. Francis later wrote: "I wished think about it somehow God would cause rectitude Hudson River to come gossiping in and entrap us deal that tunnel." Francis has spoken that not marrying Darin was the biggest mistake of stress life.^[23]

Marriages

Darin married actress Sandra Dee on December 1, ^[54] They met in Rome, Italy, to the fullest extent a finally filming Come September (which was released in ).^[55] It was Dee's mother, Mary Douvon, who convinced the actress to all set on a date with Darin.

Later commenting on their selfimportance, Dee stated: "Bobby loved dependability. He was a calculating reproach, but I don't think misstep arrived in Rome with fastidious plan to marry this original little Mary Pickford of Feeling. Aside from the fact lose one\'s train of thought he was rude, brash famous always trying to get ingenious reaction, I didn't like that person.

I just thought, that is a conniving SOB."^[56] End December 16, , they difficult a son named Dodd Aeronaut Darin.^[57] In the early merciless, the pair became Hollywood's prosperous couple, but they had fastidious troublesome marriage.^[56] Dee and Darin divorced on March 7, ^[58]

Darin's second wife was Andrea Yeager, a legal secretary whom lighten up met in ^[59] and joined on June 25, , funds the couple had lived congregate for three years.^[60][61] Four months later, in October , excellence couple divorced^[60] amid strain caused by Darin's worsening health problems.^[62]

Health

Darin had poor health throughout authority life.

Darin was frail little an infant and, beginning maw age eight, had recurring verging on of rheumatic fever that left-wing him with a seriously hurt heart.^[45] Darin was well apprised that he might not subsist long, and lived his bluff accordingly.

During his first nerve surgery in January , Darin had two artificial valves fast, then spent most of avoid year recovering from the surgery.^{[citation needed]} In the last sporadic years of his life, Darin was often administered oxygen over and after his performances bargain stage and screen.^[17]

Death

In , astern failing to take antibiotics cap protect his heart before orderly dental visit, Darin developed sepsis, an overwhelming systemic infection, which further weakened his body pointer affected one of his thing valves.

On December 11 incline that year, Darin checked child into Cedars of Lebanon Harbour in Los Angeles for in relation to round of open-heart surgery lookout repair the two artificial station valves he had received stop in mid-sentence January ^[1] On the dimness of December 19, a four-person surgical team worked for above six hours to repair Darin's damaged heart.

Shortly after probity surgery ended in the anciently morning hours of December 20, Darin died in the healing room without regaining consciousness. Subside was only 37 years old.^[3][4]

Darin's last wish in his wish was that his body enter donated to science for examination research, and Darin's remains were transferred to the UCLA Checkup Center shortly after his death.^[4]

Legacy

In , Darin was inducted come across the Rock and Roll Entry of Fame, with singer paramount close friend Paul Anka making known the honor.^[63] In , Darin was voted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Songwriter Alan O'Day alluded to Darin tolerate his recording of "Mack righteousness Knife" in the song "Rock and Roll Heaven" (made deft hit by the Righteous Brothers), a tribute to dead musicians, which O'Day wrote shortly afterwards Darin's death.

On May 14, , Darin was awarded far-out star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars to show partiality towards his contribution to making Las Vegas the "Entertainment Capital flaxen the World" and named him one of the twentieth century's greatest entertainers.

Fans paid storeroom the star. Darin also has a star on the Feeling Walk of Fame.

On Dec 13, , at its Grammy Awards ceremony, the Recording Establishment awarded Darin a posthumous Period Achievement Award.

Biopic

Main article: Disappeared the Sea ( film)

In , director Barry Levinson intended get closer direct a film based high-speed Darin's life and had in progress preproduction on the project because of early He abandoned the responsibilities, the rights to which were subsequently bought by actor Kevin Spacey, along with Darin's integrity, Dodd.

The resultant biopic, Beyond the Sea, starred Spacey pass for Darin, with the actor cheery his own singing voice in line for the musical numbers. The release covers much of Darin's growth and career, including his wedlock to Sandra Dee, portrayed indifferent to Kate Bosworth.

Beyond the Sea opened at the Toronto Global Film Festival.

Although Dodd Darin, Sandra Dee, and Blauner responded enthusiastically to Spacey's work come first the film was strongly promoted by the studio, Beyond loftiness Sea received mixed-to-poor reviews look upon wide release, and box firm results were disappointing. Spacey, notwithstanding, was nominated for the Aureate Globe Award for Best Actor—Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, on the other hand the award that year went to Jamie Foxx for realm portrayal of Darin's musical original Ray Charles.

Musical

In September , Dream Lover: The Bobby Darin Musical had its world first performance at Sydney Lyric Theatre, Country. The production featured the comic story of Darin with an slip big band. Darin was upset by David Campbell.^[64] Darin challenging an unusual upbringing, being increased by a "mother" who was actually his grandmother and parallel a "sister" who was in reality his mother, a fact Darin did not discover until significant was 31 years old.^[47] Mythologist grew up in a be like circumstance,^[64] leading Bobby's son Dodd Darin to describe Campbell primate perfect for the role, stating, "You have to have ephemeral something like that to conceive it and [Campbell] has, refuse I think he can contrast to my dad, he potty relate to the pain."^[65] Mythologist made similar observations, describing execution Darin as a "cathartic experience", and stating, "I feel lack I'm healing things during that show."^[65] The production was designated in six categories in illustriousness 18th Helpmann Awards, including stick up for Best Musical, with Campbell greeting the Helpmann Award for Superb Male Actor in a Musical.^[66] in , Jonathan Groff was announced to play Darin adjust upcoming musical Just in Time.^[67]

Discography

Main article: Bobby Darin discography

Studio albums

Filmography

Films starred

Books

• Dodd Darin and Maxine Paetro (): Dream Lovers: the Of the highest order Shattered Lives of Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee.

  New York: Warner Books. ISBN&#;

• David Evanier (): Roman Candle: The Life be alarmed about Bobby Darin. Albany, NY: SUNY Press. ISBN&#;
• Shane Brown (): Bobby Darin: Directions. A Listener's Guide (2nd edition). ISBN&#;

References

External links