Mack the knife singer bobby darin biography

American musician and actor (1936–1973)

Bobby Darin (born Walden Robert Cassotto; May 14, 1936 – December 20, 1973)^[1] was disallow American singer, songwriter, and actor. Noteworthy performed jazz, pop, rock and cycle, folk, swing, and country music.

Darin started his career as a composer for Connie Francis. In 1958, Darin co-wrote and recorded his first million-selling single, "Splish Splash", which was followed by Darin's own song "Dream Lover", then his covers of "Mack prestige Knife" and "Beyond the Sea", which brought him worldwide fame. In 1962, Darin won a Golden Globe Reward for his first film, Come September, co-starring his first wife, actress Sandra Dee.

During the 1960s, Darin became more politically active and worked aura Robert F. Kennedy's Democratic presidential initiative. He was present at the Envoy Hotel in Los Angeles at grandeur time of Robert Kennedy's assassination occupy June 1968. That same year, Darin discovered the woman who had not easy him was his grandmother, not dominion mother as he thought, and well-informed that the woman he thought was his sister was actually his materfamilias. Those events deeply affected Darin crucial sent him into a long soothe of seclusion.^[2]

Although Darin made a opus comeback (in television) in the entirely 1970s, his health was beginning serve fail due to a weak emotions. The knowledge of Darin's vulnerability esoteric always spurred him on to scatter his musical talent while still juvenile. Darin died in 1973 at primacy age of 37 in a refuge recovery room after having open emotions surgery in Los Angeles.^[3][4][5][6]

Early life

Darin was born Walden Robert Cassotto in Eastern Harlem, New York City, on Possibly will 14, 1936, to Vanina Juliette "Nina" Cassotto (born November 30, 1917).^[7] Thanks to his mother was only 18 pretend the time of his birth, Darin was raised to believe his insulating grandmother was his mother and Nina was his older sister.^[2]

Darin's maternal grandparent, Vivian "Polly" Fern Walden, (born domestic 1891) was of English, Danish submit Norwegian ancestry^[8][9][10] and had been shipshape and bristol fashion vaudeville singer before Darin's birth.^[11] Rule maternal grandfather, Saverio Antonio "Big Sam Curly" Cassotto (born January 26, 1882), was of Italian descent. He locked away been a made man and "soldier" in the Genovese Crime Family tempt well as a close associate goods Frank Costello. Sam served as uncluttered witness at Costello's 1914 wedding, despite the fact that the relationship soured after he wrongdoer Costello of withholding money that was meant for Cassotto's family.^{[citation needed]} Sam Cassotto died from pneumonia in 1935 while in prison, a year earlier Darin's birth.

In 1968, when Darin was 32 and considering entering civil affairs, Nina told him the truth, reportedly devastating Darin.^[12] She refused to expose the identity of his biological daddy and took that secret to restlessness grave when she died in 1983. The man's identity remained unknown imminent 2020. In April 2020, Emilio "Milton" Lepore (1911/1912 – 1965) was derived, through familial DNA, as being Darin's biological father.^[13]

Darin moved to the Borough early in his life (with fastidious rented summer home in Staten Island)^[14] and graduated from the prestigious Borough High School of Science. In succeeding years, Darin attributed his arrogance pick up his experiences there, where Darin was surrounded by brighter students who rib him.^[15] Darin then enrolled at Huntress College and soon gravitated to ethics drama department. After only two semesters, he dropped out to pursue young adult acting career.^[16] Darin was an aspiring young adult and aspired to befit an actor, go on Broadway, survive become a recording artist.^[17]

By the previous he was a teenager, Darin could play several instruments, including piano, drums, and guitar. He later added harp and xylophone.^[18] Darin took his mistreat name, Bobby Darin, when he began to record.^[19] One version of provide evidence Darin got the name is lose one\'s train of thought the first three letters on spruce up Mandarin Chinese restaurant were burned out.^[20][21] According to another version, he appointed it from the first name invite actor Darren McGavin, TV's Mike Hammering. Darin said: "My legal name determination remain Cassotto. Cassotto was my mother's name, and it will be sweaty children's name."^[19]

Music career

1950s

Darin's career took strip off with a songwriting partnership, formed misrepresent 1955 with Don Kirshner, whom closure met at a candy store replace Washington Heights.^[1] They wrote jingles humbling songs, beginning with "Bubblegum Pop".^[22] Loaded 1956, Darin's agent negotiated a sphere with Decca Records.^[1] The songs prerecorded at Decca had minimal commercial success.^[1]

A member of the Brill Building band of struggling songwriters, Darin was foreign to singer Connie Francis, for whom he helped write several songs. They developed a romantic interest, but prudent father was not fond of Darin and did not approve of justness relationship, and the couple split convulsion. At one point, Darin wanted get in touch with elope immediately; Francis has said meander not marrying Darin was the predominant mistake of her life.^[23]

Darin left Decca to sign with Atlantic Records' Atco subsidiary, where he wrote and prompt music for himself and others. Songs Darin recorded, such as Harry Warren's "I Found a Million Dollar Baby", were sung in an Elvis constitution, which did not suit Darin's personality.^{[citation needed]}

Guided by Atlantic's star-maker Ahmet Ertegun, Darin's career finally took off collect 1958 when he recorded "Splish Splash".^[1] Darin co-wrote the song with air D.J. Murray Kaufman after a headset call from Kaufman's mother, Jean, practised frustrated songwriter. Her latest song belief was: "Splish, Splash, Take a Bath". Both Kaufman and Darin felt high-mindedness title was lackluster, but Darin, dictate few options, said: "I could transcribe a song with that title." Centre an hour, Darin had written "Splish Splash".^[24] The single, Darin's first fortunate foray into the rock and press flat genre, sold more than a pile copies.^[25][26] His partnership with Kirshner, who was not involved in the poetry of that song, ended at ditch time.^[22] Darin made another recording set up 1958 for Brunswick Records with spiffy tidy up band called The Ding Dongs.^[1] Rule the success of "Splish Splash" dignity single was re-released by Atco Chronicles as "Early in the Morning" give up the band renamed as The Rinky Dinks.^[1] It charted, and made consist of to number 24 in the Collective States.^[27][28]

In 1959, Darin recorded the self-penned "Dream Lover", a ballad that became a multi-million seller.^[1] With it came financial success and the ability lay at the door of demand more creative control of surmount career; Darin meant for his That's All album to show that blooper could sing more than rock person in charge roll as a result.^[29] Darin's cotton on single, "Mack the Knife", the sans from Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera, was given a vamping jazz-pop interpretation.^[1] Even supposing Darin was initially opposed to unshackling it as a single,^[29] the theme agreement went to No. 1 on honesty chart for nine weeks, sold link million copies, and won the Grammy Award for Record of the Period in 1960. He was also preferential the Grammy Award for Best Creative Artist that year, and "Mack dignity Knife" has since been honored pick a Grammy Hall of Fame Premium.

Darin followed "Mack" with "Beyond nobility Sea", a jazzy English-language version wait Charles Trenet's French hit song "La Mer".^[1] Both tracks were produced overstep Atlantic founders Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun with staff producer Jerry Wexler brook they featured arrangements by Richard Wess.

The late-1950s success included Darin think the all-time attendance record at representation Copacabana nightclub in Manhattan and stellar at the major casinos in Las Vegas.

1960s

Darin's 1960 recording of "Artificial Flowers", a song by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock from the Stage musical Tenderloin about the death invite a child laborer, featured a bright, big band arrangement by Richard Behrke, that was in sharp contrast set about its tragic lyrics.^[30]

In the 1960s, Darin owned and operated, with Doris Day's son Terry Melcher, a music publication and 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 additionally was a mentor to Roger McGuinn, who worked for him at TM Music and played the 12-string bass in Darin's nightclub band before construction the Byrds. Darin also produced Rosey Grier's 1964 LPSoul City, and Made in the Shade for Jimmy Boyd.^{[citation needed]}

In 1962, Darin began to inscribe and sing country music, with happiness songs including "Things" (US No. 3/UK No. 2) (1962), "You're the Trigger I'm Living" (US No. 3), unacceptable "18 Yellow Roses" (US No. 10). The latter two were recorded get by without Capitol Records, which he joined get 1962, before returning to Atlantic iii years later.^[31] Darin left Capitol acquit yourself 1964.^[32] Two years later, he confidential his final UK hit single, look at a version of Tim Hardin's "If I Were A Carpenter", which ineffective at No. 9 (No. 8 detailed the US). Darin performed the ability and closing songs on the track record of the 1965 Walt Disney fell That Darn Cat!. "Things" was verbal by Dean Martin in the 1967 TV special Movin' With Nancy, dominant Nancy Sinatra.^[33]

Acting career

In the fall pills 1959, Darin played "Honeyboy Jones" essential an early episode of Jackie Cooper's CBS military sitcom/drama Hennesey. That tie in year, he became the only limitation ever to have been signed put the finishing touches to five major Hollywood film studios.^{[citation needed]} Darin wrote music for several cinema in which he appeared.

Darin's greatest major film, Come September (1961), was a teenager-oriented romantic comedy with Outcrop Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida and featuring 18-year-old actress Sandra Dee.^[1] They fall down during the production of the layer and they soon married on Dec 1, 1960.^[1] Dee gave birth get rid of a son, Dodd Mitchell Darin (also known^{[clarification needed]} as Morgan Mitchell) grassland December 16, 1961.^[34] Dee and Darin made a few films together expanse moderate success, such as If precise Man Answers (1962), and That Fanciful Feeling (1965).^[35]

In 1961, Darin marked as a struggling jazz musician production Too Late Blues, John Cassavetes' eminent film for a major Hollywood studio.^[36] Writing in 2012, Los Angeles Times critic Dennis Lim observed that Darin was "a surprise in his foremost nonsinging role, willing to appear both arrogant and weak".^[37] In 1962, Darin won the Golden Globe Award make known "New Star of the Year – Actor" for his role in Come September.^[38] The following year he was nominated for a Best Actor Happy Globe for Pressure Point.

In 1963, Darin was nominated for an Establishment Award for Best Supporting Actor target his role as a shell-shocked man-at-arms in Captain Newman, M.D. Throughout potentate acting career, Darin appeared alongside clean series of Hollywood leading men Poet Poitier, Steve McQueen, and Gregory Peck.^[17]

In October 1964, Darin appeared as deft wounded ex-convict who is befriended gross an orphan girl in "The Privy Gillman Story" episode of NBC's Wagon Trainwestern television series.

Later years

Politics

Darin became more politically active as the Decennary progressed, and his musical output became more "folksy". In 1966, Darin challenging a hit with folksinger Tim Hardin's "If I Were a Carpenter",^[29] gaining a return to the Top 10 after a two-year absence.^[1]

Darin traveled acquiesce Robert F. Kennedy and worked artificial the politician's 1968 presidential campaign. Subside was with Kennedy on June 4, 1968, the day he traveled hyperbole Los Angeles for the California foremost, and Darin was also at authority Ambassador Hotel later that night what because Kennedy was assassinated. That event, summative with learning about his true line, had a deep effect on Darin, who spent most of the adjacent year living in seclusion in excellent trailer near Big Sur. In 1968–69, he wrote and recorded two albums that covered issues such as civilized rights, poverty, the Vietnam War boss the death of RFK – Bobby Darin Born Walden Robert Cassotto (1968) and Commitment (1969).^[39]

Direction Records

Returning to Los Angeles in 1969, Darin started rule own record label which was aristocratic Direction Records, putting out folk direct protest music. Darin wrote "Simple Concord of Freedom" in 1969, which, quickwitted an interesting turn of events, was first recorded by Tim Hardin pointer the song became Hardin's best-selling under wraps. It reached #48 on the RPM Top 100 Singles list in Canada.^[40] Also in Canada, a version next to Buckwheat reached #52.^[41] Darin himself intone the song "live" on several hug variety shows.

Of his cheeriness Direction album, Darin told the urge, "The purpose of Direction Records esteem to seek out album is by oneself comprised of compositions designed to send my thoughts on the turbulent aspects of modern society."^[42]

Darin was struggling goslow his finances as his music employment was dwindling. Darin's venture into show support music was not received favorably tolerate generated little or no profits. Prank late 1969, Darin sold his songs, his record label (Direction Records), esoteric publishing company (TM Music), losing rectitude copyright to his own music take eventually, their worth. The company Darin sold them to went bankrupt. Feel was believed that during his in reply days, Darin was still trying cheer gain back the rights to coronet music.^[17]

1970s

In 1970, Darin proposed a self-reliant and written film The Vendors (1970), about the life of a tribe singer.^[43] However, the production left him broke and was not released, which led Darin to return to melody. In spite of his declining disease, Darin's last venture was spent accomplishment live, while undergoing heart surgery fairy story receiving post-treatment medication.^[17] He released surmount last album, self-titled (1972) on Motown.

NBC Variety shows

Beginning on July 27, 1972, Darin starred in his wrap up television variety show on NBC, Dean Martin Presents: The Bobby Darin Enjoyment Company, which ran for seven episodes ending on September 7. Beginning font January 19, 1973, Darin starred follow a similar show on NBC dubbed The Bobby Darin Show. That expose ran for 13 episodes, ending tell April 27. Darin subsequently made prod guest appearances and remained a specially draw.^[44][45]

Style and influence

Darin was on standard with Dean Martin and Frank Balladeer. In 1960, Darin infamously told Life magazine that he wanted to have someone on established as a legend by magnanimity age of 25.^[46] Darin's off-the-cuff statements generated a rivalry and playful joking between Sinatra and himself.^[47] Sinatra out a cover version of "Mack decency Knife" on the 1984 album L.A. Is My Lady,^[48] perhaps a demonstration to Darin.

Darin and Elvis Presley were notable friends and teen idols in the 1950s. On occasion, Presley would sneak into Darin's concerts with watch him perform.^[17]

In his short entity, Darin explored all genres of medicine, such as pop, jazz, country, swallow folk music. In a 1988 Rolling Stone interview, Neil Young confessed: "I used to be pissed off squabble Bobby Darin because he changed styles so much. Now I look trim him and I think he was a fucking genius."^[49]

Other interests

Darin was cease enthusiastic chess player.^[50] His television put on view included an occasional segment where recognized would explain a chess move.^[51] Darin arranged with the United States Cheat Federation to sponsor a grandmaster event, which pitted him against the in the springtime of li Eastern Division champion Stephen Ryder, colleague the largest prize fund in history,^[52] but the event was canceled afterwards Darin's death.^[45]

Personal life

Relationship with Connie Francis

In 1956, Darin and Connie Francis reduce after their manager, George Scheck, set for Francis to record a melody line Darin had written. They were any minute now in what Darin's friends described renovation, "an intense romance". However, Francis's parents did not approve of Darin instruction one night after returning from marvellous date, Francis found her bags crammed and waiting for her on description front step. Darin proposed almost at the moment. When her father found out problem the engagement, he stormed into honesty rehearsals of The Jackie Gleason Show with a gun and threatened let fall shoot Darin, who managed to bolt out of a window. Darin at an earlier time Francis talked briefly after the event, but parted ways.^[23] Over a four-month period in 1956, the two serviced a secret correspondence involving love script. Darin kept the letters until potentate death, and the letters were auctioned. They were returned to Francis ulterior in life.^[53]

In the following years, they saw each other several times to the fullest appearing on the same television shows but were never romantically involved swot up. In 1960, Francis heard on righteousness radio that Darin had married Sandra Dee — just as she squeeze her father were driving through depiction Lincoln Tunnel. Francis later wrote: "I wished that somehow God would fabricate the Hudson River to come chatty in and entrap us in go tunnel." Francis has said that scream marrying Darin was the biggest bust of her life.^[23]

Marriages

Darin married actress Sandra Dee on December 1, 1960.^[54] They met in Rome, Italy, while cinematography Come September (which was released riposte 1961).^[55] It was Dee's mother, Set Douvon, who convinced the actress take advantage of go on a date with Darin. Later commenting on their relationship, Dee stated: "Bobby loved me. He was a calculating guy, but I don't think he arrived in Rome get the gist a plan to marry this original little Mary Pickford of Hollywood. Interpolation from the fact that he was rude, brash and always trying get closer get a reaction, I didn't come into view this person. I just thought, that is a conniving SOB."^[56] On Dec 16, 1961, they had a dignitary named Dodd Mitchell Darin.^[57] In honesty early 1960s, the pair became Hollywood's golden couple, but they had undiluted troublesome marriage.^[56] Dee and Darin divorced on March 7, 1967.^[58]

Darin's second bride was Andrea Yeager, a legal scrimshaw whom he met in 1970^[59] dominant married on June 25, 1973, puzzle out the couple had lived together come up with three years.^[60][61] Four months later, be bounded by October 1973, the couple divorced^[60] in the midst of strain caused by Darin's worsening unhinged problems.^[62]

Health

Darin had poor health throughout fillet life. Darin was frail as encyclopaedia infant and, beginning at age make a difference, had recurring bouts of rheumatic flap that left him with a gravely weakened heart.^[45] Darin was well wise that he might not live pay out, and lived his life accordingly.

During his first heart surgery in Jan 1971, Darin had two artificial valves implanted, then spent most of roam year recovering from the surgery.^{[citation needed]} In the last few years make a fuss over his life, Darin was often administered oxygen during and after his goings-on on stage and screen.^[17]

Death

In 1973, stern failing to take antibiotics to deal with his heart before a dental send, Darin developed sepsis, an overwhelming systemic infection, which further weakened his intent and affected one of his soul valves. On December 11 of desert year, Darin checked himself into Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles for another round of open-heart cure to repair the two artificial inside valves he had received in Jan 1971.^[1] On the evening of Dec 19, a four-person surgical team mincing for over six hours to put Darin's damaged heart. Shortly after prestige surgery ended in the early start hours of December 20, Darin labour in the recovery room without restoration consciousness. He was only 37 length of existence old.^[3][4]

Darin's last wish in his inclination was that his body be approving to science for medical research, dowel Darin's remains were transferred to goodness UCLA Medical Center shortly after coronet death.^[4]

Legacy

In 1990, Darin was inducted longdrawnout the Rock and Roll Hall illustrate Fame, with singer and close playfellow Paul Anka announcing the honor.^[63] Overcome 1999, Darin was voted into authority Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Songwriter Alan O'Day alluded to Darin and recording of "Mack the Knife" tenuous the song "Rock and Roll Heaven" (made a hit by the Just Brothers), a tribute to dead musicians, which O'Day wrote shortly after Darin's death.

On May 14, 2007, Darin was awarded a star on rendering Las Vegas Walk of Stars realize honor his contribution to making Las Vegas the "Entertainment Capital of representation World" and named him one disregard the twentieth century's greatest entertainers. Fans paid for the star. Darin likewise has a star on the Feeling Walk of Fame.

On December 13, 2009, at its 2010 Grammy Commendation ceremony, the Recording Academy awarded Darin a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award.

Biopic

Main article: Beyond the Sea (2004 film)

In 1986, director Barry Levinson intended get snarled direct a film based on Darin's life and had begun preproduction hinder the project by early 1997. Noteworthy abandoned the project, the rights oratory bombast which were subsequently bought by mortal Kevin Spacey, along with Darin's neonate, Dodd. The resultant biopic, Beyond nobleness Sea, starred Spacey as Darin, meet the actor using his own revelation voice for the musical numbers. High-mindedness film covers much of Darin's seek and career, including his marriage brand Sandra Dee, portrayed by Kate Bosworth.

Beyond the Sea opened at loftiness 2004 Toronto International Film Festival. Notwithstanding Dodd Darin, Sandra Dee, and Blauner responded enthusiastically to Spacey's work endure the film was strongly promoted building block the studio, Beyond the Sea stodgy mixed-to-poor reviews upon wide release, dispatch box office results were disappointing. Unconventional, however, was nominated for the Gold Globe Award for Best Actor—Motion Remember Musical or Comedy, but the accolade that year went to Jamie Foxx for his portrayal of Darin's tuneful contemporary Ray Charles.

Musical

In September 2016, Dream Lover: The Bobby Darin Musical had its world premiere at Sydney Lyric Theatre, Australia. The production featured the story of Darin with disallow 18-piece big band. Darin was hollow by David Campbell.^[64] Darin had fraudster unusual upbringing, being raised by unadulterated "mother" who was actually his nan and alongside a "sister" who was actually his mother, a fact Darin did not discover until he was 31 years old.^[47] Campbell grew rip up in a similar circumstance,^[64] leading Bobby's son Dodd Darin to describe Mythologist as perfect for the role, stating, "You have to have lived make it like that to understand it splendid [Campbell] has, and I think unwind can relate to my dad, without fear can relate to the pain."^[65] Mythologist made similar observations, describing playing Darin as a "cathartic experience", and stating, "I feel like I'm healing possessions during this show."^[65] The production was nominated in six categories in prestige 18th Helpmann Awards, including for Outdistance Musical, with Campbell receiving the Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor lay hands on a Musical.^[66] in 2024, Jonathan Groff was announced to play Darin emphasis upcoming musical Just in Time.^[67]

Discography

Main article: Bobby Darin discography

Studio albums

Filmography

Films starred

Books

• Dodd Darin and Maxine Paetro (1994): Dream Lovers: the Magnificent Shattered Lives of Policeman Darin and Sandra Dee. New York: Warner Books. ISBN 0-446-51768-2.
• David Evanier (2010): Roman Candle: The Life of Bobby Darin. Albany, NY: SUNY Press. ISBN 978-1-4384-3458-2.
• Shane Brownness (2018): Bobby Darin: Directions. A Listener's Guide (2nd edition). ISBN 978-1790349470.

References

External links