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OBIT: RIP Perry Como
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: SingsIrish Songs Date: 16 May 01 - 06:46 AM The best thing I have ever won to date is tickets and accomodations for a Perry Como concert almost 12 years ago...heard of the "contest" on the radio and told my Mom--"Pack your bag, I am winning this!" And sure enough, I beat all the "seniors"! (Mind you, this was during my first job right out of college.) I always liked the way Perry Como would at some point ask for the lights to be turned up so he could see the audience. He was so personable! One song he sang that evening brought tears to my eyes:
The Father of Girls
When you're the father of boys,
From the time of diaper and pin,
When she's a plain little girl,
Boys come 'round when they want a date,
You trust her, but worry,
When you're the father of boys,
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: GUEST,The Portuguese Prince Date: 15 May 01 - 09:42 AM I have listened to Perry Como for years I am really going to miss him. Rest in peace |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: DougR Date: 14 May 01 - 04:43 PM Perry Como was my favorite of all the crooners. He had good competition in the 40s and 50s with Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dick Haymes being the principal ones. But I always liked him best. His recording of "Because" probably was responsible for it being sung at weddings in those years more than any other song. I did it multiple times myself at weddings of my friends. I would say, with the passing of Perry Como, all of the great crooners are now gone. Thank God for CDs. DougR |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: Art Thieme Date: 14 May 01 - 04:41 PM He was a pro who was truly the definition of laid back. From his old TV show, I remember, "Letters---We get letters. We get stacks and stacks of letters"... Art Thieme |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: Steve Parkes Date: 14 May 01 - 10:56 AM I think I never missed Perry Como's show in the fifties. "Letters, we get letters ..". It used to be followed by "Sporst Report" on the BBC in those days; I always remember one night he closed with "And now over to Peter Dimmick (sic).", to my utter astonishment. He was in America-how did he know about the BBC schedule? Steve How did he know, anyway? |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: Lyndi-loo Date: 14 May 01 - 05:59 AM We used to sing catch a falling sputnik, put it in a matchbox, send it to the USA |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: Lyrical Lady Date: 14 May 01 - 12:39 AM One of my very first memories was that of hearing 'Catch a Falling Star' on my mother's kitchen radio. I could never figure out how he got into that little bakelite box on the counter! One of my favorites. ...LL |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: Bert Date: 13 May 01 - 11:47 PM Bye Perry, It's always sad to see a singer go. Why do I feel old all of a sudden. |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: GUEST Date: 13 May 01 - 07:12 PM |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: bflat Date: 13 May 01 - 04:34 PM My recollections are from my childhood. I met Perry Como several times as a kid growing up in Port Washington, NY. He used to come to my grade school and sing to us, as my class gathered around him in a large cicle. I once felt his hand on the top of my seven year old head, and he called me "darling." That was 48 years ago and I recall the moment with clarity. Two of his three children were my school friends and his son David was in my class. At Halloween trick or treating, Perry met you at the door and escorted you into a small room with fish bowls full of candy and coins lining the room. You were invited to help yourself. He was always warm and kind with an especially sweet smile. He never seemed to be full of his celebrity. I loved his singing of Ave Maria and I Believe. Goodbye, Mr. Como. Ellen |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: ray bucknell Date: 13 May 01 - 04:07 PM When I was about four years old I used to serenade my grandmother with "Catch a Falling Star." I don't think I knew how to carry a tune in those days, but my grandmother never seemed to care. I always feel bad when someone remembered fondly from my childhood passes away, and this is certainly no exception. |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: DancingMom Date: 13 May 01 - 02:15 PM He had a beautiful baritone that was like velvet. |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: SINSULL Date: 13 May 01 - 11:12 AM "Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket Save it for a rainy day. Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket Never let it fade away..." |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: catspaw49 Date: 13 May 01 - 08:20 AM He was really born in Pennsylvania, just across the Ohio border, but he lived in a small town here for awhile and went to barber school here. When I was a boy back home in Uhrichsville, we went to a barber who had gone to school with him and they had become friends. Sam Mastrangelo of course had all of his records at the time and knew lots of stories. They still talked by phone and Sam had been to see him several times when he was touring. One of the things that small town living brings you is an odd mix of excitement and reserve. Also it's amazing the speed at which news travels. It was a summer day in either '57 or '58 when we heard, "Perry Como is down at Sam's shop!!" Now in a podunk little town, a guy who even knew a celebrity WAS a celebrity and Sam qualified as that.......and NOW he had "produced the goods." I don't know how many people were in the little "downtown" section of town but there were a lot. Sam's shop was in the decaying Buckeye Hotel but no one lining up at his door. Excited as people obviously were, no one was storming the gates and indeed most were trying to look casual. The downtown streets were pretty full of folks, but it seemed that they all "just happened" to be there that day. When Perry and Sam exited the barber shop and walked to his car, about a dozen folks broke down there midwestern reserve and went for an autograph but most maintained and gave him a smile or a wave, like, "Oh Hi there Perry........I was just going to the H&A for a box of band-aids." Uh-huh. We kids though could be counted on to be 50's midwestern kids. We stood en masse, probably about twenty-five of us, across the street in front of the 5&10, with our mouths hanging open and dumb looks of awe on our faces. I think he probably had better audiences, but he never had a more dumbstruck one. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: Fiolar Date: 13 May 01 - 05:28 AM So sad to hear of the passing of another great artiste. The ranks of the best are gradually being thinned out by the Grim Reaper. |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: GUEST,Rebel Date: 13 May 01 - 04:40 AM I was reading through Hollywood Babylon and they had a short piece on Perry... At a birthday party for studio head at mgm Louie Mayer he sang **** you Mr Mayer and that cost him his film career. I suspect that was why he went into the new medium of TV. I dont know the background for the story but I suspect its valid, Kenneth Angers two books Hollywood Babylon make fun reading if your into truth and dont mind scandal and the ugly or fascinating side of Hollywood(depending on your point of view. I always thought what Perry did took real guts as the studio heads were the ones who ran Hollywood. Judy Garland got hooked on pills on orders of them. Just an example of their power. Perry, you were a great guy, See You At Sunset. Rebel |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: Sourdough Date: 13 May 01 - 04:03 AM Back when his was one of the most popular shows on the air, my best friend's aunt, Jacki, was the costume designer for the Perry Como Show. Since it was a variety show there was more to design than sweaters for Mr. C. I only went to the show once. I remember that it was on the day of the Kentucky Derby and there was a big projection screen in the sudio. This was when television projection was a really big deal and it took a technician a day (I kid you not) to set it up for black and white play. (I almost said playback but this was before magnetic recording). After the show (the only song I can remember is a French singer performing "La Mer" - it was the first time I ever heard it and I thought it was lovely). I had a perfunctory ntroduction to Perry Como who did at least give us his full attention during the 60-90 seconds we were before him. Somehow he felt that the demads of a network show came before the child of his costnme designer and that child's friend. I had to agree. Ever since then, I alwas have felt as though I had a personal connection with Perry Como and even though I sometmes thought hte content of some of his songs was a litle inspid, like so many others, I was captivated by his easy relaxed style. He made you think anyone could do it! After the show, I left with my friend through the stage door. Some teenage girls, about our age, were waiting there to see if they could get the autograph of a star. I didtinctly heard one say, referring to us, "Are they anybody". The other said, I don't care, I am going to ask them for autographs." That was how I got asked for my autograph by some starstuck teenage girls. It has happened rarely since then. Did I modestly wave them off saing, "We're nobody you'd be intersted in"? I did not. Since I had recently been told that I bore somwhat of a resemblance to him, I signed the book, "With best wishes - Tony Perkins." We kept walking and didn't look back. Whatever the reason, it was very quiet behind us. ANd I never got to meet Perry Como again. Sourdough |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: katlaughing Date: 13 May 01 - 12:47 AM Jeez! The RIP threads are really stacking up! I am sorry to hear this. My parents really enjoyed his stuff, too, as well as my sisters. I thought it was pretty neat that he'd enjoyed a sort of renaissance with the kids of today, too. There'll be harmony in Great Beyond for sure, tonight. kat |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: Lonesome EJ Date: 12 May 01 - 11:58 PM Rick Moranis did a great parody of Perry Como lying prostrate on his back on the floor in his sweater singing into the microphone Dream Along with Me. |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: Murray MacLeod Date: 12 May 01 - 11:27 PM His TV show was hugely popular in Britain in the early sixties. He personified relaxed American cool for us back then. RIP. Murray |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: catspaw49 Date: 12 May 01 - 11:23 PM Always enjoyable and as a kid we never missed his program.........Lots of 45's in the 50's.....My Mom and Dad were both fans......Good Ohio boy too. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: RIP Perry Como From: GUEST Date: 12 May 01 - 11:21 PM Wow! Sorry to hear! I've always enjoyed his singing. |
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Subject: OBIT: RIP Perry Como From: GUEST,khandu Date: 12 May 01 - 11:19 PM Perry Como is dead at age 87. I will miss him. He always seemed to be a man of class. I loved his baritone. Rest well, Mr Como. khandu |
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