Buddy Greco

Buddy Greco

Buddy Greco 1962

Greco in 1962
Background information
Birth name Armando Greco
Born (1926-08-14) August 14, 1926
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres Jazz, traditional pop, country, soundtrack
Occupation(s) Singer, musician, arranger
Instruments Piano
Years active 1940s–present
Labels Bainbridge, Kapp, London, Epic, Fontana, Reprise, Pye
Associated acts Benny Goodman
Website www.buddygreco.com
External video
Oral History, Buddy Greco reflects on learning his craft with Benny Goodman. Interview date October 4, 2007, NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Oral History Library

Armando "Buddy" Greco (born August 14, 1926) is a jazz and pop singer and pianist. He has sold over one million records in several genres.

Music career

Greco and George Carlin in a skit from Away We Go, 1967

Buddy Greco was born Armando Greco in Philadelphia. His mother introduced him to piano at the age of four. At an early age he was singing and performing on the radio and during his teens in Philadelphia clubs. When he was 16, he was hired by Benny Goodman and toured worldwide. He spent four years with Goodman's orchestra, singing, playing piano, and arranging.[1][2][3][4]

After leaving Goodman at the age of 20, he returned to nightclubs, singing and playing piano. He also recorded many hit songs in jazz, pop, and country music, including "Oh Look A-There", "Ain't She Pretty", "Up, Up and Away" and "Around the World".[1] His most successful single was "The Lady Is a Tramp", which sold over one million copies.[5] During his career, he recorded over sixty albums. He conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, performed for Queen Elizabeth and with the Beatles.[1]

In the 1960s, his career expanded into movies and television. He appeared often in the TV series Away We Go and had a role in the movie The Girl Who Knew Too Much.[1] He worked with Ron Eschete from 1969–1970. The duo appeared in several TV shows, including The Mike Douglas Show.[6]

Las Vegas and Palm Springs

Greco met Lezlie Anders while she was performing in Las Vegas. Their first meeting was when they stepped out on stage together, as she was a support act for him at The Desert Inn. After marrying, they worked and toured together.[7]

In 1992, Greco began a thirteen-week act in Las Vegas at the Starlight Room at Stars' Desert Inn. This brought about his second big period of fame. The following year he was added to the Philadelphia Music Alliance's Walk of Fame. Shortly after, he toured Italy, France, Australia, and England.[8]

While living in Palm Springs, Greco opened a small club. On the walls were pictures of Greco, the Rat Pack, and other celebrity friends, the room arranged by his wife. He often performed at his club, and it was a popular place for stars to dine before he closed it and moved to England.[9]

Living in Palm Desert, California, he continued to appear at his club in Cathedral City, California,[10] until it closed in August 2009. In 2004 he and his wife Lezlie Anders were headliners with the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies at the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs, California.[11][12]

Living in England

Greco became acquainted with the UK in 1949. He spent years performing in clubs around England. He moved to Essex, though he still owns his house in Palm Springs, California, where he often spends vacations.[3]

In 2008, Greco toured the UK with Anders. Together they performed with the BBC Big Band and played at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London. Greco was the first Las Vegas headliner to star at a British casino when he performed in cabaret in August 2008 at the Circus Casino, Star City, Birmingham. In April 2010, he performed a salute to Frank Sinatra for BBC Radio 2 with the 42-piece BBC Concert Orchestra. He toured the UK for over 30 dates from July 2010 with the Swinging Las Vegas Legends Show.

In 2010 Greco and his wife produced the stage show Fever! The Music of Miss Peggy Lee, which met with critical acclaim and opened in London's West End. The inspiration came from his wife, who was a friend of Lee. The show tells of the life and music of Peggy Lee. Greco plays piano and conducts the orchestra while his wife sings. The show received positive reviews and toured the U.S.[7]

On New Year's Eve 2011 he made a guest appearance on Jools Holland's Hootenanny singing Fly Me to the Moon backed by the Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.

In 2012, Greco toured England in smaller venues, including Thameside Theatre Stage,[13] and The Broadway in Essex.[14]

In 2013, Greco celebrated his 80th year in show business in a concert in Southend, Essex. Stars such as the Rat Pack cast, Atila, Kenny Lynch, Paul Young and Michelle Collins were present to celebrate his career and also took part throughout the evening. Greco and his wife performed together.[15]

Awards and honors

Personal life

Greco has been married five times:[16]

Partial discography

Buddy Greco, by Allan Warren

Singles

Year Title Chart positions
US US AC
1947 "Ooh! Look-A There, Ain't She Pretty" 15 —
1951 "I Ran All the Way Home" 30 —
1960 "The Lady Is a Tramp"A — —
1961 "Around the World" 109 —
1962 "Mr. Lonely" 64 —
1965 "That Darn Cat" — 36
"I Can't Begin to Tell You" 132 27
1966 "Put Yourself in My Place" — 24
"Walking on New Grass" — 21
1967 "Love's Gonna Live Here Again" — 19
"There She Goes" — 14
1972 "From Atlanta to Goodbye" — 34

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Summers, Kim. "Buddy Greco | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  2. ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 43. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  3. 1 2 "My Hols". The Sunday Times, 7 April 2013: 27, Print.
  4. ↑ "I Would Die If I Quit". Liverpool Daily Echo, 13 August 2010: 11, Print.
  5. ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 135. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  6. ↑ Unknown. "Ron Escheté - Biography." Roneschete.com, 2014. Web. 20 Jan 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Rat pack legend tells Peggy's story". Croydon Advertiser, 4 November. 2011: 49, Print.
  8. ↑ "Six decades and 62 albums later, this showman goes on". St. Petersburg Times, 24th January. 1997: 5, Print.
  9. ↑ "Performer finds heavenly Springs". The Gold Coast Bulletin, 8 September 2007: 123, Print.
  10. ↑ Davis, Rick (November 1, 2005). "Dinner Club Due in Desert: For Buddy Greco, it's show business as usual". The Public Record. Desert Publication, Inc. and Sharon Apfelbaum.
  11. ↑ "Palm Springs Follies Opens". Inland Empire Business Journal. Daily Planet Publishing, Inc. November 1, 2004. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Palm Springs Follies pays tribute to the golden age of burlesque". Redlands Daily Facts. Los Angeles Newspaper Group. August 4, 2004. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Legend Buddy Is Back On Stage". Thurrock Gazette, 15 April 2012: Print.
  14. ↑ "An Evening With Buddy Greco". Brentwood Gazette, 25 January 2012: 3, Print.
  15. ↑ "Interview with Buddy Greco." Personal interview. 28 December 2013.
  16. ↑ "Buddy Greco : Biography". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Buddy Greco." Discogs, 2014. Web. 19 Jan 2014.
  18. ↑ Billboard (magazine) Dec 22, 1984 - Page 72 "BUDDY GRECO Ready For Your Love PRODUCERS: Buddy Greco. Art Clausen Bainbridge BT 6255 With a full orchestra dotted with top L.A. players, Greco tackles a program of newer, lesser-known, adult pop titles, with the lone recent hit ..."
  19. ↑ Show Music - Volume 4, Issue 1 - Page 43 1985 "Jazz singer Buddy Greco's READY FOR TOUR LOVE (BT 6255) features nine recent vintage songs, with "The Hungry Years," "Love Won't Let Me Wait," "Me and Mrs. Jones," and "Ready For Your Love" included on the album. I AM WHAT I AM ..."

External links

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