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We would love to post to this website any material you would like to share with other fans. Do you have some memories or pictures you would like to share. If so please send to: |
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Submitted by Jonathan Arthur (Feb. 2005) Perry took over Ann-Margret's tour so that she could go film Joseph Andrews. We flew from LA to Chicago to catch her last show (amazing), then started performing the next night to sold-out crowds for the rest of the tour. This picture is from the Westbury Music Fair, NY. We performed the first half of the show as The Establishment, then came out with Perry for the second half as the Ray Charles Singers (I am all the way on the left). Magic moments, indeed! A heady experience for a 22 year old kid. Perry Como was the epitome of grace and calm dignity, and the number one question people ask me about him is - was he as nice as he seemed? Yes, he was, and as calm, all the time. The most perturbed (and mildly, at that) I ever saw him was when he told us backstage after a performance that he had been told by his doctor to cut down on his glasses of wine with dinner, which he thought was ridiculous (ask an Italian to cut down his wine with dinner?!?). I am proud to have been associated with him - bless you Perry, wherever you are.
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Submitted by Johnny
Hammond. (2004) I was a 17 sailor in the Royal Navy. Having been wounded while on a destroyer on Russian Convoys I was mended and drafted to the Far East. I got as far as the US just after VE day. The war was nearly over and I was based in pier 92 on the Manhattan waterfront. I met Perry Como at a bond rally and immediately became a desciple. He signed my copy of 'Till the end of time' 'to Jack.. see you in Tokyo kid...watch them nips.. Always, Perry'. He changed the course of my entire life. After my discharge I went into show business where I stayed successfully for 54 years. I met Perry again in the 80's in Australia.. we chatted about our first meeting and he invited me to the wrap party. I sang 'Till the end of time' for him and he gave me a hug and (jokingly) said I should get out of the business because he didn't need the competition. My love and devotion to him has never for a second faltered over all thse long years. There'll always be great entertainers and great men. "There'll never be another Perry Como! |
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This is Sylvia writing
from Aylsham in the County of Norfolk, England. (2004) As a teenager I enjoyed most things in music in the 60's, The Beatles, the Stones etc., but I grew to like Perry Como mainly through his television shows broadcast on the BBC. I joined the Fan Club and in 1962 the BBC invited Perry over to film in London for a Christmas Show(this was in October) All the names of fan club members were put into a hat, the lucky six people would travel down to London to meet Perry. Guess what? I was chosen. I was greeted by Perry like a long lost daughter, showered with hugs and kisses. I was hooked buy this wonderful human being and he instantly became my long lost adopted dad. In the evening time we danced and of course he burst into song. Ivy Rose was the title although it quickly became Sylvie Rose. Another example of his lovely kind sense of humour. If anyone could possibly supply me with a photograph of Perry's grave I would be most grateful My boss, who is a BBC Regional Radio Presenter here in England very often plays Perry's records . Best Wishes Sylvia |
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Submitted by Tina Maria
Iannone. (2004) Hi, I have always loved Perry Como. Part of the reason is I remember my mother listening to him when I was little. Well, she liked him so much she named me Tina, after his hit song “Tina Marie” in 1955. She was in her early twenties then. Now at seventy, I found the song that she hadn’t heard for over 45 years. One day, I told her to come and listen to this. Well her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree! I played it for her .We laughed so hard we cried. She said she didn’t remember the lyrics, but thought it was so cute when she was young, and that it reminded her of her newborn daughter, me! It was my song every since I could remember, always will be. |
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Art Vallee, a long-time friend of Perry has written a new book about our favorite singer. You can order the book from the authors website
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Thanks to Colleen Zwack for this great article in the Boston Herald |
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Thanks to Amy Swanson for letting us know about this wonderful Interview with Perry from a 1990 Issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine. This is rare because Perry gave few interviews |
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A. C. Parker sends in a scan of an autographed picture of Perry.
Submitted: April 19, 2003 I was the Lighting
Designer and Master Electrician for the Perry Como
December 27, 2002
Last evening, my husband and I
watched the cable TV Channel A&E presentation of BIOGRAPHY focusing on
Perry Como, one of our favorite singers. It sure did bring back
memories! I saw Mr. Como, in person, on the evening of March 1,
1941.
We had a large, well-known
dancehall near our home in Coloma, Michigan, called The Crystal Palace,
located on Paw Paw Lake between Coloma and Watervliet. On a previous
visit in 1940, my mother had escorted me to see the Orin Tucker orchestra
featuring the singer, Bonnie Baker, one of my favorite female
vocalists. Before this visit, she bought me a small autograph
book. If I was lucky, I might get the signature of Bonnie...I did,
plus others.
On the night of March 1, 1941,
my aim was to get Perry Como's autograph when we again visited The Crystal
Palace to see, and hear, the Ted Weems orchestra. To an 11 year-old
girl, this was a big thrill. It was difficult to get near the stage,
but I made it and the guys in the band were wonderful, passing the
book around (I had a pencil attached to it by a length of string!) and
signing their names, as follows: Perry Como, Ted Weems, Elmo Tanner
(remember his big hit record whistling "HEARTACHES'?), Johnny Helmer, Rex
Kelly, Pete Beelman, Art Winter, Ralph Blank, Ormond Downes, Country
Washburn, Rosy McHorey, Marilyn Thorne, Red Ingle and Parker Gibbs.
But, Mr. Como's signature stood out from the rest.
I was standing in front of the
stage when Perry Como got up to sing and he looked down at me and
smiled! That was the highlight of my evening and for the next few
weeks I was a star struck kid and still am where Mr. Como is
concerned.
Even as a 11 year-old, I had
the impression of 'niceness' about him, not an act put on for the
moment, but genuine caring for people. When he sang, he didn't just
use his lungs and vocal chords, he sang from the heart, every time.
I will always remember him.
Barbara Probst
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