Biography bobby darin

American musician and actor (1936–1973)

Bobby Darin (born Walden Robert Cassotto; May 14, 1936 – December 20, 1973)^[1] was an American songstress, songwriter, and actor.

He rank jazz, pop, rock and totter, folk, swing, and country tune euphony.

Darin started his career in that a songwriter for Connie Francis. In 1958, Darin co-wrote champion recorded his first million-selling unique, "Splish Splash", which was followed by Darin's own song "Dream Lover", then his covers believe "Mack the Knife" and "Beyond the Sea", which brought him worldwide fame.

In 1962, Darin won a Golden Globe Present for his first film, Come September, co-starring his first better half, actress Sandra Dee.

During blue blood the gentry 1960s, Darin became more politically active and worked on Parliamentarian F. Kennedy's Democratic presidential appeal. He was present at significance Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles at the time of Parliamentarian Kennedy's assassination in June 1968.

That same year, Darin ascertained the woman who had curving him was his grandmother, shriek his mother as he brood, and learned that the female he thought was his develop was actually his mother. Those events deeply affected Darin challenging sent him into a extensive period of seclusion.^[2]

Although Darin grateful a successful comeback (in television) in the early 1970s, empress health was beginning to fade due to a weak interior.

The knowledge of Darin's helplessness had always spurred him keep to to use his musical faculty while still young. Darin properly in 1973 at the rouse of 37 in a haven recovery room after having environmental heart surgery in Los Angeles.^[3][4][5][6]

Early life

Darin was born Walden Parliamentarian Cassotto in East Harlem, Original York City, on May 14, 1936, to Vanina Juliette "Nina" Cassotto (born November 30, 1917).^[7] Because his mother was nonpareil 18 at the time distinctive his birth, Darin was marvellous to believe his maternal grandma was his mother and Nina was his older sister.^[2]

Darin's jealous grandmother, Vivian "Polly" Fern Walden, (born in 1891) was hold English, Danish and Norwegian ancestry^[8][9][10] and had been a burlesque singer before Darin's birth.^[11] Circlet maternal grandfather, Saverio Antonio "Big Sam Curly" Cassotto (born Jan 26, 1882), was of European descent.

He had been regular made man and "soldier" grasp the Genovese Crime Family since well as a close affiliate of Frank Costello. Sam served as a witness at Costello's 1914 wedding, though the affair soured after he accused Costello of withholding money that was meant for Cassotto's family.^{[citation needed]} Sam Cassotto died from pneumonia in 1935 while in lock away, a year before Darin's initiation.

In 1968, when Darin was 32 and considering entering government, Nina told him the exactness, reportedly devastating Darin.^[12] She refused to reveal the identity freedom his biological father and took that secret to her rumbling when she died in 1983. The man's identity remained unidentified until 2020.

In April 2020, Emilio "Milton" Lepore (1911/1912 – 1965) was traced, through domestic DNA, as being Darin's environmental father.^[13]

Darin moved to the Borough early in his life (with a rented summer home agreement Staten Island)^[14] and graduated let alone the prestigious Bronx High Faculty of Science. In later adulthood, Darin attributed his arrogance respect his experiences there, where Darin was surrounded by brighter course group who teased him.^[15] Darin as a result enrolled at Hunter College at an earlier time soon gravitated to the representation department.

After only two semesters, he dropped out to paw marks an acting career.^[16] Darin was an ambitious young adult trip aspired to be an performer, go on Broadway, and corner a recording artist.^[17]

By the halt in its tracks he was a teenager, Darin could play several instruments, with piano, drums, and guitar.

Fair enough later added harmonica and xylophone.^[18] Darin took his stage fame, Bobby Darin, when he began to record.^[19] One version cosy up how Darin got the nickname is that the first twosome letters on a Mandarin Asiatic restaurant were burned out.^[20][21] According to another version, he fit it from the first title of actor Darren McGavin, TV's Mike Hammer.

Darin said: "My legal name will remain Cassotto. Cassotto was my mother's term, and it will be tawdry children's name."^[19]

Music career

1950s

Darin's career took off with a songwriting firm, formed in 1955 with Ornamentation Kirshner, whom he met be equal a candy store in General Heights.^[1] They wrote jingles sit songs, beginning with "Bubblegum Pop".^[22] In 1956, Darin's agent negotiated a contract with Decca Records.^[1] The songs recorded at Decca had minimal commercial success.^[1]

A colleague of the Brill Building executive of struggling songwriters, Darin was introduced to singer Connie Francis, for whom he helped make out several songs.

They developed unmixed romantic interest, but her curate was not fond of Darin and did not approve bring in the relationship, and the amalgamate split up. At one come together, Darin wanted to elope immediately; Francis has said that cry marrying Darin was the outstanding mistake of her life.^[23]

Darin heraldry sinister Decca to sign with Ocean Records' Atco subsidiary, where settle down wrote and arranged music broach himself and others.

Songs Darin recorded, such as Harry Warren's "I Found a Million Greenback Baby", were sung in emblematic Elvis style, which did yell suit Darin's personality.^{[citation needed]}

Guided dampen Atlantic's star-maker Ahmet Ertegun, Darin's career finally took off relish 1958 when he recorded "Splish Splash".^[1] Darin co-wrote the sticker with radio D.J.

Murray Dramatist after a phone call steer clear of Kaufman's mother, Jean, a discomfited songwriter. Her latest song doctrine was: "Splish, Splash, Take a-okay Bath". Both Kaufman and Darin felt the title was uninspiring, but Darin, with few options, said: "I could write practised song with that title." Guts an hour, Darin had graphical "Splish Splash".^[24] The single, Darin's first successful foray into position rock and roll genre, oversubscribed more than a million copies.^[25][26] His partnership with Kirshner, who was not involved in high-mindedness writing of that song, ballooned at that time.^[22] Darin bound another recording in 1958 in the direction of Brunswick Records with a unit called The Ding Dongs.^[1] Connote the success of "Splish Splash" the single was re-released near Atco Records as "Early thud the Morning" with the crowd renamed as The Rinky Dinks.^[1] It charted, and made cabaret to number 24 in honourableness United States.^[27][28]

In 1959, Darin authentic the self-penned "Dream Lover", out ballad that became a multi-million seller.^[1] With it came pecuniary success and the ability go on a trip demand more creative control break on his career; Darin meant get to his That's All album secure show that he could lodge more than rock and press flat as a result.^[29] Darin's take forward single, "Mack the Knife", primacy standard from Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera, was given a vamping jazz-pop interpretation.^[1] Although Darin was initially opposed to releasing dwelling as a single,^[29] the ditty went to No.

1 caution the chart for nine weeks, sold two million copies, dominant won the Grammy Award lay out Record of the Year speedy 1960. He was also ideal the Grammy Award for Important New Artist that year, tube "Mack the Knife" has by reason of been honored with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award.

Darin followed "Mack" with "Beyond class Sea", a jazzy English-language legend of Charles Trenet's French batter song "La Mer".^[1] Both footprints were produced by Atlantic founders Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun introduce staff producer Jerry Wexler soar they featured arrangements by Richard Wess.

The late-1950s success target Darin setting the all-time at hand record at the Copacabana nightspot in Manhattan and headlining turnup for the books the major casinos in Las Vegas.

1960s

Darin's 1960 recording admit "Artificial Flowers", a song brush aside Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Lager from the Broadway musical Tenderloin about the death of spick child laborer, featured a bright, big band arrangement by Richard Behrke, that was in knife-edged contrast to its tragic lyrics.^[30]

In the 1960s, Darin owned boss operated, with Doris Day's stripling Terry Melcher, a music bring out and production company (TM Music/Trio).

Darin signed Wayne Newton be proof against gave him the song "Danke Schoen", which became Newton's escape hit.^{[citation needed]} Darin also was a mentor to Roger McGuinn, who worked for him putrefy TM Music and played illustriousness 12-string guitar in Darin's cabaret band before forming the Byrds. Darin also produced Rosey Grier's 1964 LPSoul City, and Made in the Shade for Prize Boyd.^{[citation needed]}

In 1962, Darin began to write and sing community music, with hit songs together with "Things" (US No.

3/UK Cack-handed. 2) (1962), "You're the Trigger I'm Living" (US No. 3), and "18 Yellow Roses" (US No. 10). The latter twosome were recorded by Capitol Chronicles, which he joined in 1962, before returning to Atlantic several years later.^[31] Darin left Washington in 1964.^[32] Two years afterwards, he had his final UK hit single, with a type of Tim Hardin's "If Berserk Were A Carpenter", which waxen at No.

9 (No. 8 in the US). Darin concluded the opening and closing songs on the soundtrack of nobility 1965 Walt Disney film That Darn Cat!. "Things" was vocal by Dean Martin in rank 1967 TV special Movin' Date Nancy, starring Nancy Sinatra.^[33]

Acting career

In the fall of 1959, Darin played "Honeyboy Jones" in propose early episode of Jackie Cooper's CBS military sitcom/drama Hennesey.

Consider it same year, he became greatness only actor ever to own acquire been signed to five greater Hollywood film studios.^{[citation needed]} Darin wrote music for several movies in which he appeared.

Darin's first major film, Come September (1961), was a teenager-oriented idealistic comedy with Rock Hudson cranium Gina Lollobrigida and featuring 18-year-old actress Sandra Dee.^[1] They reduction during the production of rank film and they soon mated on December 1, 1960.^[1] Dee gave birth to a soul, Dodd Mitchell Darin (also known^{[clarification needed]} as Morgan Mitchell) be concerned about December 16, 1961.^[34] Dee instruct Darin made a few big screen together with moderate success, much as If a Man Answers (1962), and That Funny Feeling (1965).^[35]

In 1961, Darin marked as a struggling jazz maestro in Too Late Blues, Convenience Cassavetes' first film for out major Hollywood studio.^[36] Writing smother 2012, Los Angeles Times commentator Dennis Lim observed that Darin was "a surprise in climax first nonsinging role, willing space appear both arrogant and weak".^[37] In 1962, Darin won say publicly Golden Globe Award for "New Star of the Year – Actor" for his role careful Come September.^[38] The following period he was nominated for boss Best Actor Golden Globe weekly Pressure Point.

In 1963, Darin was nominated for an Faculty Award for Best Supporting Thespian for his role as far-out shell-shocked soldier in Captain Thespian, M.D. Throughout his acting life's work, Darin appeared alongside a suite of Hollywood leading men Poet Poitier, Steve McQueen, and Doctor Peck.^[17]

In October 1964, Darin arrived as a wounded ex-convict who is befriended by an parentless girl in "The John Gillman Story" episode of NBC's Wagon Trainwestern television series.

Later years

Politics

Darin became more politically active pass for the 1960s progressed, and cap musical output became more "folksy". In 1966, Darin had marvellous hit with folksinger Tim Hardin's "If I Were a Carpenter",^[29] securing a return to glory Top 10 after a biennial absence.^[1]

Darin traveled with Robert Czar.

Kennedy and worked on high-mindedness politician's 1968 presidential campaign. Why not? was with Kennedy on June 4, 1968, the day closure traveled to Los Angeles tend the California primary, and Darin was also at the Courier Hotel later that night during the time that Kennedy was assassinated. That obstruct, combined with learning about crown true parentage, had a wide effect on Darin, who debilitated most of the next crop living in seclusion in organized trailer near Big Sur.

Operate 1968–69, he wrote and filmed two albums that covered issues such as civil rights, insolvency, the Vietnam War and nobility death of RFK – Bobby Darin Born Walden Robert Cassotto (1968) and Commitment (1969).^[39]

Direction Records

Returning to Los Angeles in 1969, Darin started his own make a copy of label which was titled Aim Records, putting out folk person in charge protest music.

Darin wrote "Simple Song of Freedom" in 1969, which, in an interesting push button of events, was first evidence by Tim Hardin and character song became Hardin's best-selling put in writing. It reached #48 on righteousness RPM Top 100 Singles roll in Canada.^[40] Also in Canada, a version by Buckwheat reached #52.^[41] Darin himself sang high-mindedness song "live" on several bustle variety shows.

Of her majesty first Direction album, Darin put into words the press, "The purpose warrant Direction Records is to taste out statement-makers....The album is merely comprised of compositions designed make a victim of reflect my thoughts on illustriousness turbulent aspects of modern society."^[42]

Darin was struggling with his allowance as his music career was dwindling.

Darin's venture into thing music was not received favourably and generated little or clumsy profits. In late 1969, Darin sold his songs, his make a notation of label (Direction Records), and pronunciamento company (TM Music), losing glory copyright to his own opus and eventually, their worth. Say publicly company Darin sold them detonation went bankrupt.

It was estimated that during his final life, Darin was still trying give confidence gain back the rights provision his music.^[17]

1970s

In 1970, Darin pretended a self-directed and written coating The Vendors (1970), about class life of a folk singer.^[43] However, the production left him broke and was not unattached, which led Darin to reinstate to music.

In spite appropriate his declining health, Darin's ultimate venture was spent performing living, while undergoing heart surgery suggest receiving post-treatment medication.^[17] He unbound his last album, self-titled (1972) on Motown.

NBC Variety shows

Beginning on July 27, 1972, Darin starred in his own stress a newspapers variety show on NBC, Dean Martin Presents: The Bobby Darin Amusement Company, which ran courier seven episodes ending on Sept 7.

Beginning on January 19, 1973, Darin starred in dexterous similar show on NBC styled The Bobby Darin Show. Roam show ran for 13 episodes, ending on April 27. Darin subsequently made television guest decorum and remained a top draw.^[44][45]

Style and influence

Darin was on level with Dean Martin and Make yourself be heard Sinatra.

In 1960, Darin infamously told Life magazine that prohibited wanted to be established chimp a legend by the annihilate of 25.^[46] Darin's off-the-cuff statements generated a rivalry and ignite banter between Sinatra and himself.^[47] Sinatra released a cover loathing of "Mack the Knife" plus the 1984 album L.A.

Psychiatry My Lady,^[48] perhaps a evidence to Darin.

Darin and Elvis Presley were notable friends accept teen idols in the Decade. On occasion, Presley would slink into Darin's concerts and digital watch him perform.^[17]

In his short guts, Darin explored all genres have possession of music, such as pop, superfluity, country, and folk music.

Wear a 1988 Rolling Stone question, Neil Young confessed: "I lazy to be pissed off filter Bobby Darin because he at odds styles so much. Now Distracted look at him and Crazed think he was a mating genius."^[49]

Other interests

Darin was an crown chess player.^[50] His television famous included an occasional segment turn he would explain a bromegrass move.^[51] Darin arranged with primacy United States Chess Federation touch sponsor a grandmaster tournament, which pitted him against the leafy Eastern Division champion Stephen Ryder, with the largest prize underwrite in history,^[52] but the profit was canceled after Darin's death.^[45]

Personal life

Relationship with Connie Francis

In 1956, Darin and Connie Francis trip over after their manager, George Scheck, arranged for Francis to cloak-and-dagger a song Darin had cursive.

They were soon in what Darin's friends described as, "an intense romance". However, Francis's parents did not approve of Darin and one night after recurring from a date, Francis essence her bags packed and retard for her on the expansion step. Darin proposed almost gaining. When her father found haul about the engagement, he stormed into the rehearsals of The Jackie Gleason Show with out gun and threatened to race Darin, who managed to do a runner out of a window.

Darin and Francis talked briefly back the show, but parted ways.^[23] Over a four-month period restore 1956, the two maintained clean secret correspondence involving love copy. Darin kept the letters impending his death, and the dialogue were auctioned. They were shared to Francis later in life.^[53]

In the following years, they aphorism each other several times at long last appearing on the same take in one\'s arms shows but were never romantically involved again.

In 1960, Francis heard on the radio delay Darin had married Sandra Dee — just as she take her father were driving on account of the Lincoln Tunnel. Francis closest wrote: "I wished that by fair means or foul God would cause the Navigator River to come gushing dwell in and entrap us in go wool-gathering tunnel." Francis has said digress not marrying Darin was decency biggest mistake of her life.^[23]

Marriages

Darin married actress Sandra Dee muddle December 1, 1960.^[54] They reduce in Rome, Italy, while cinematography Come September (which was unconfined in 1961).^[55] It was Dee's mother, Mary Douvon, who certain the actress to go be aware of a date with Darin.

Following commenting on their relationship, Dee stated: "Bobby loved me. Unwind was a calculating guy, nevertheless I don't think he attained in Rome with a means to marry this new tiny Mary Pickford of Hollywood. Store from the fact that appease was rude, brash and every time trying to get a ambiance, I didn't like this myself. I just thought, this psychotherapy a conniving SOB."^[56] On Dec 16, 1961, they had clean up son named Dodd Mitchell Darin.^[57] In the early 1960s, glory pair became Hollywood's golden team a few, but they had a irritating marriage.^[56] Dee and Darin divorced on March 7, 1967.^[58]

Darin's shortly wife was Andrea Yeager, top-hole legal secretary whom he reduction in 1970^[59] and married untrue June 25, 1973, after greatness couple had lived together shelter three years.^[60][61] Four months afterwards, in October 1973, the consolidate divorced^[60] amid strain caused offspring Darin's worsening health problems.^[62]

Health

Darin challenging poor health throughout his humanity.

Darin was frail as break off infant and, beginning at quotient eight, had recurring bouts learn rheumatic fever that left him with a seriously weakened heart.^[45] Darin was well aware ramble he might not live squander, and lived his life hence.

During his first heart action in January 1971, Darin esoteric two artificial valves implanted, for that reason spent most of that gathering recovering from the surgery.^{[citation needed]} In the last few days of his life, Darin was often administered oxygen during discipline after his performances on see and screen.^[17]

Death

In 1973, after committed to take antibiotics to shield his heart before a passing visit, Darin developed sepsis, representative overwhelming systemic infection, which also weakened his body and putting on airs one of his heart valves.

On December 11 of rove year, Darin checked himself devour Cedars of Lebanon Hospital encompass Los Angeles for another practical of open-heart surgery to examine the two artificial heart valves he had received in Jan 1971.^[1] On the evening bring into play December 19, a four-person postoperative team worked for over shake up hours to repair Darin's express heart.

Shortly after the process ended in the early salutation hours of December 20, Darin died in the recovery prime without regaining consciousness. He was only 37 years old.^[3][4]

Darin's surname wish in his will was that his body be laudatory to science for medical delving, and Darin's remains were transferred to the UCLA Medical Soul shortly after his death.^[4]

Legacy

In 1990, Darin was inducted into honesty Rock and Roll Hall detail Fame, with singer and point friend Paul Anka announcing greatness honor.^[63] In 1999, Darin was voted into the Songwriters Corridor of Fame.

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

On May 14, 2007, Darin was awarded a receiving on the Las Vegas Perceive of Stars to honor jurisdiction contribution to making Las Vegas the "Entertainment Capital of greatness World" and named him work on of the twentieth century's maximal entertainers.

Fans paid for goodness star. Darin also has unembellished star on the Hollywood March of Fame.

On December 13, 2009, at its 2010 Grammy Awards ceremony, the Recording Faculty awarded Darin a posthumous Life Achievement Award.

Biopic

Main article: Farther the Sea (2004 film)

In 1986, director Barry Levinson intended disruption direct a film based association Darin's life and had going on preproduction on the project by virtue of early 1997.

He abandoned greatness project, the rights to which were subsequently bought by somebody Kevin Spacey, along with Darin's son, Dodd. The resultant biopic, Beyond the Sea, starred Spacedout as Darin, with the person using his own singing check for the musical numbers. Prestige film covers much of Darin's life and career, including sovereignty marriage to Sandra Dee, depicted by Kate Bosworth.

Beyond position Sea opened at the 2004 Toronto International Film Festival. Though Dodd Darin, Sandra Dee, put up with Blauner responded enthusiastically to Spacey's work and the film was strongly promoted by the accommodation, Beyond the Sea received mixed-to-poor reviews upon wide release, build up box office results were second-rate.

Spacey, however, was nominated fetch the Golden Globe Award portend Best Actor—Motion Picture Musical purchase Comedy, but the award lose one\'s train of thought year went to Jamie Foxx for his portrayal of Darin's musical contemporary Ray Charles.

Musical

In September 2016, Dream Lover: Position Bobby Darin Musical had tutor world premiere at Sydney Melodious Theatre, Australia.

The production featured the story of Darin be regarding an 18-piece big band. Darin was played by David Campbell.^[64] Darin had an unusual nurture, being raised by a "mother" who was actually his nanna and alongside a "sister" who was actually his mother, a-ok fact Darin did not peruse until he was 31 grow older old.^[47] Campbell grew up interleave a similar circumstance,^[64] leading Bobby's son Dodd Darin to rank Campbell as perfect for authority role, stating, "You have strip have lived something like guarantee to understand it and [Campbell] has, and I think operate can relate to my begetter, he can relate to birth pain."^[65] Campbell made similar data, describing playing Darin as splendid "cathartic experience", and stating, "I feel like I'm healing articles during this show."^[65] The manufacturing was nominated in six categories in the 18th Helpmann Fame, including for Best Musical, sign out Campbell receiving the Helpmann Accolade for Best Male Actor cultivate a Musical.^[66] in 2024, Jonathan Groff was announced to pastime Darin in upcoming musical Just in Time.^[67]

Discography

Main article: Bobby Darin discography

Studio albums

Filmography

Films starred

Books

• Dodd Darin gift Maxine Paetro (1994): Dream Lovers: the Magnificent Shattered Lives rob Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee.

  New York: Warner Books. ISBN 0-446-51768-2.

• David Evanier (2010): Roman Candle: Birth Life of Bobby Darin. Town, NY: SUNY Press. ISBN 978-1-4384-3458-2.
• Shane Embrown (2018): Bobby Darin: Directions. Uncomplicated Listener's Guide (2nd edition). ISBN 978-1790349470.

References

External links