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PEOPLE & ARTS Tuesday 13 February 2018
Daughter: Popular crooner Vic Damone dies in Florida at 89

By JENNIFER KAY and BOB the Street Where You Live" Born Vito Farinola in Brook-
THOMAS and, in 1957, the title song lyn, New York, on June
MIAMI (AP) — Vic Damone, of the Cary Grant film "An 12, 1928 to immigrants
whose mellow baritone Affair to Remember." from Bari, Italy, Damone
once earned praise from Damone's style as a lounge dropped out of high school
Frank Sinatra as "the best singer remained constant after his father, an electri-
pipes in the business," has through the years: straight- cian, was injured on the
died in Florida at the age forward, concentrated on job.
of 89, his daughter said. melody and lyrics without Damone adopted his moth-
Victoria Damone told The resorting to vocal gimmicks. er’s maiden name when
Associated Press in a phone Like many young singers of he began his career, after
interview Monday that her his era, he idolized Sinatra. catching an early break
father died Sunday at a "I tried to mimic him," Da- while working as an usher
Miami Beach hospital from mone said in a 1992 in- at the Paramount Theater
complications of a respira- terview with Newsday. in New York City, accord-
tory illness. "I decided that if I could ing to a family statement.
Damone's easy-listening ro- sound like Frank maybe I The 14-year-old bumped
mantic ballads brought him did have a chance. I was into Perry Como in an el-
million-selling records and singing his words, breath- evator at the theater, In this Feb. 3, 1997 file photo, singer Vic Damone poses after be-
sustained a half-century ing his breaths, (doing) his stopped it between floors, coming a member of Lafayette High School's midyear graduat-
career in recordings, mov- interpretation, with the high and started singing. Then ing class, in the Brooklyn borough of New York.
ies and nightclub, concert notes, the synergy." he asked Como whether Associated Press
and television appearanc- Sinatra and Damone, he should continue voice
es. along with Tony Bennett, lessons, and Como said wife, fashion designer Rena Al Martino.
Damone's career began Perry Como, Dean Martin simply, “Keep singing!” Rowan. He wrote in his memoir,
climbing in the 1940s after and others, formed a group and referred him to a local Damone appeared in sev- “Singing Was the Easy
he won a tie on the radio of Italian Americans who bandleader. eral MGM musicals and he Part,” that he never con-
show "Arthur Godfrey's Tal- dominated the postwar Damone still drew crowds was originally cast in “The sidered himself a showman
ent Hunt." His hit singles pop music field. And far in nightclubs and concerts Godfather,” but the role of like Milton Berle or Sammy
included "Again," ''You're from resenting the mimicry, into his 70s, before illness a budding singer seeking Davis Jr. “That wasn’t my
Breaking My Heart," ''My Sinatra praised Damone's prompted his retirement to mob help in a Hollywood particular gift,” he wrote.
Heart Cries for You," ''On singing ability. Palm Beach with his fifth career eventually went to “My gift was singing.”q