This thread brought to mind the late Guy Mitchell, who departed earth in 1999, I believe. His story is at least as interesting as the song legacy he has. A Croatian-American named Albert George Cernik, he was allegedly given his stage name by record producer, Mitch Miller, who introduced himself by saying, "My name's Mitchell. You seem like a nice guy; we'll call you Guy Mitchell."

He had been a child actor, saddlemaker, band and radio singer and adult movie actor. He had his own TV show in 1957. He eventually became as known and popular in the former Yugoslavia and in the U.K. and Australia as in America.

I remember "The Rovin' Kind," "Heartaches By The Number" and "Singin' The Blues" from my high school days in the 1950's. It was a short leap from material like his and Terry Gilkyson songs like "Marianne" to The Kingston Trio's "Tom Dooley" and the folk revival (as some call it).