February 6, 2007, San Diego, California, United States
Spouse
Marcia Ann Kline, Nan Grey, That Lucky Old Sun, Rawhide, High Moon
Fact
Was first and primarily a popular singer. With songs on the charts as late as the 1970s he was most popular during the late 1940s and early 1950s when he had several top 20 hits.
Frankie Laine, born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio on March 30, 1913, was an American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spanned nearly 75 years. Often described as “one of the great voices of the 20th century”, Laine was a versatile singer who was successful in a wide range of genres, including pop, jazz, country, and western. His signature style was a mixture of smooth crooning and powerful belting, which he used to great effect on songs like “That’s My Desire”, “Mule Train”, and “Rawhide”.
Laine was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Italian immigrants. He began his singing career in the 1930s as a member of the Harmonicats, a popular harmonica-based group. He soon began working as a solo artist, and his first big hit came in 1945 with “That’s My Desire”. Over the next few years, Laine had a string of hits, including “Mule Train”, “Jezebel”, and “High Noon”. He also began appearing in films, most notably in the 1952 western classic High Noon.
In the late 1950s, Laine’s career began to slow down somewhat, but he made a comeback in the 1960s with a series of successful albums and singles, including “The Impossible Dream” and “Theme from Rawhide”. He continued to perform and record into the 21st century, and his final album, Frankie Laine: The Platinum Collection, was released in 2006.
Laine was married three times and had four children. His first marriage, to actress Nan Grey, ended in divorce. His second marriage, to actress Marjorie Lane, lasted until her death in 1974. His third marriage, to model Anita Ekberg, lasted from 1976 until her death in 1984.
Laine died on February 6, 2007, at the age of 93. At the time of his death, he was survived by his fourth wife, Peggy Lee.
Frankie Laine was one of the most popular and successful singers of the 20th century. He enjoyed a long and successful career that spanned nearly 75 years. He was a versatile singer who was equally at home singing pop, jazz, country, or western songs. He was known for his smooth crooning style and his powerful belting voice. Some of his most popular songs include “That’s My Desire”, “Mule Train”, “Jezebel”, and “High Noon”.
General Info
Full Name
Frankie Laine
Died
February 6, 2007, San Diego, California, United States
Profession
Actor, Singer, Songwriter, That Lucky Old Sun, Rawhide, High Moon
Nationality
American
Family
Spouse
Marcia Ann Kline, Nan Grey, That Lucky Old Sun, Rawhide, High Moon
Children
Jan Steiger
Parents
John Lo Vecchio, Anna Lo Vecchio, That Lucky Old Sun, Rawhide, High Moon
Siblings
Phil Lo Vecchio
Accomplishments
Awards
Grammy Hall of Fame
Nominations
NME Award for World's Outstanding Popular Singer, NME Award for Favourite US Male Singer, Primetime Emmy Award for Best Male Singer, That Lucky Old Sun, Rawhide, High Moon
Movies
He Laughed Last, Bring Your Smile Along, Sunny Side of the Street, When You're Smiling, Frankie Laine: European Concert, Moments to Remember: The Golden Hits of the '50s and '60s, Frankie Laine: Live at the Orleans
[(from an interview for the book "Off the Record: An Oral History of Popular Music"] . . . if I had it to do over again, there is one thing I would change. I would make it [success] happen maybe ten years sooner. Ten years is a good stretch of scuffling. But I scuffled for 17 years before it happened and 17 is a bit much.
2
[in a 1987 interview] When people nowadays say that [Elvis Presley] was the first white guy to sound black, I have to shake my head; what can you do? At the time of "That's My Desire", they were saying that I was the only white guy around who sounded black.
3
In my leaner days I failed many an audition because, I was told, I sounded "too black" . . . I'm certain the confusion was the direct result of the music that influenced me while I was developing my style. I guess I became the first of the so-called blue-eyed soul singers.
Facts
#
Fact
1
Was first and primarily a popular singer. With songs on the charts as late as the 1970s he was most popular during the late 1940s and early 1950s when he had several top 20 hits.
2
A businessman as well as a singer, Laine owned the Frankie Laine Rambler auto dealership in the Los Angeles Area in the 1960s. Rambler was a model manufactured by Nash Motors, which eventually changed its name to American Motors Corporation, now defunct.
3
Sang the theme song for the TV series, Rawhide (1959), which ran on CBS-TV from 1959 to 1965.
4
One of his dance partners during the Depression marathons was jazz vocalist Anita O'Day. Red Skelton was an M.C.
5
He was awarded 2 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6385 Hollywood Boulevard and for Television at 1645 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
6
Tex Ritter sang the title song from High Noon (1952) but Laine's recording reached No. 5 in the Billboard charts, besting Ritter's version, which peaked at No. 12.
Earned more than 20 gold records, and sold over 100 million records.
12
Son of Sicilian immigrants.
13
His big breakthrough came when Hoagy Carmichael heard him sing in a Los Angeles nightclub.
14
He had 2 stepchildren from Nan Grey's first marriage.
15
When Mel Brooks advertised in the show business trade papers for a "Frankie Laine-type" voice to sing the title song for Blazing Saddles (1974), he expected a good imitation of the real Laine. Instead, Laine himself showed at Brooks' office two days later, ready to do the job. He got the job and sang the Oscar-nominated title song again at the Academy Awards the following year.
Pictures
Movies
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo
1979-1981
TV Series singer - 38 episodes
Rango
1967
TV Series singer - 17 episodes
Rawhide
1959-1965
TV Series singer - 217 episodes
Gunslinger
1961
TV Series singer - 4 episodes
The Adventures of Champion
1955
TV Series vocalist - 4 episodes
Thunder in the East
1951
band: vocals - uncredited
The Kid from Brooklyn
1946
singing voice: "fatso" - uncredited
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Who's Doing the Dishes?
2016
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Pop Charts Britannia: 60 Years of the Top 10
2012
TV Movie documentary performer: "I Believe"
The Footy Show
2011
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Mafia II
2010
Video Game performer: "JEZEBEL"
Banda sonora
2009
TV Series performer - 1 episode
That's Amore!: Italian-American Favorites
2008
TV Movie performer: "That's My Desire" - uncredited
Mad Men
2007
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Hollywoodland
2006
performer: "On the Sunny Side of the Street"
Cold Case
2004
TV Series performer - 1 episode
A Dirty Shame
2004
performer: "Tell Me A Story"
Chopper
2000
performer: "Don't Fence Me In"
Little Voice
1998
performer: "Rawhide"
The Beatles Anthology
1995
TV Mini-Series documentary performer: "Jezebel"
Bye Bye Love
1995
performer: "Rawhide"
Tohuwabohu
1995
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Jennifer 8
1992
performer: "High Noon Do Not Forsake Me"
Mac
1992
performer: "MULE TRAIN"
Whore
1991
performer: "LOVE OF LOVES" / writer: "LOVE OF LOVES"
Men Don't Leave
1990
performer: "RAWHIDE"
Cannon and Ball
1982
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Raging Bull
1980
performer: "That's My Desire" 1947
The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo
1979
TV Series performer: "The Ballad of Sheriff Lobo"
Going Steady
1979
performer: "My Little One"
House Calls
1978
performer: "On the sunny side of the street"
Lemon Popsicle
1978
performer: "My Little One"
All This and World War II
1976
Documentary performer: "Maxwell's Silver Hammer"
The 47th Annual Academy Awards
1975
TV Special performer: "Benji's Theme I Feel Love", "Blazing Saddles", "We May Never Love Like This Again"
Blazing Saddles
1974
performer: "Blazing Saddles"
The Last Picture Show
1971
performer: "Rose, Rose, I Love You" - uncredited
Music Scene
1969
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Rango
1967
TV Series performer: "Rango"
The Mike Douglas Show
1964
TV Series performer - 2 episodes
Gunslinger
1961
TV Series performer: Theme song
The 32nd Annual Academy Awards
1960
TV Special performer: "The Hanging Tree"
The Steve Allen Plymouth Show
1959
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Make Room for Daddy
1959
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Rawhide
1959
TV Series "Rawhide Theme"
Bullwhip
1958
performer: "Bullwhip"
The Frank Sinatra Show
1958
TV Series writer - 1 episode
3:10 to Yuma
1957
performer: "3:10 to Yuma"
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
1957
performer: "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" 1957
He Laughed Last
1956
performer: "Save Your Sorrow For Tomorrow", "Danny Boy"
Meet Me in Las Vegas
1956
performer: "Hell Hath No Fury"
Bring Your Smile Along
1955
performer: "Bring Your Smile Along", "When A Girl Is Beautiful", "If Spring Never Comes", "Italian Mother Song Mama Mia", "Side By Side", "Mama Mia", "The Gandy Dancers' Ball"
Strange Lady in Town
1955
performer: "Strange Lady in Town"
Man Without a Star
1955
"Man Without A Star"
Blowing Wild
1953
performer: "Blowing Wild" The Ballad of Black Gold
Castle in the Air
1952
performer: "Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams", "The Girl In The Wood", "Wonderful Wasn't It", "There's A Rainbow Round My Shoulder"
Sunny Side of the Street
1951
performer: "On The Sunny Side Of The Street", "I'm Gonna Live Till I Die", "I May Be Wrong But I Think You're Wonderful"
The Frank Sinatra Show
1951
TV Series performer - 1 episode
When You're Smiling
1950
performer: "When You're Smiling", "Georgia On My Mind"
Make Believe Ballroom
1949
performer: "On The Sunny Side Of The Street"
The Kid from Brooklyn
1946
performer: "Hey! What's Your Name?" 1946
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Burke's Law
1963
TV Series
Kelly Rogers
Bachelor Father
1961
TV Series
Rawhide
1960
TV Series
Ralph Bartlet
Make Room for Daddy
1959
TV Series
Frankie Laine
Perry Mason
1959
TV Series
Danny Ross
Rock 'Em Cowboy
1958
Short
Frankie Laine
He Laughed Last
1956
Gino Lupo
Meet Me in Las Vegas
1956
Frankie Laine
Bring Your Smile Along
1955
Jerry Dennis
Castle in the Air
1952
Frankie Laine
All Star Revue
1952
TV Series
Guest Vocalist
Sunny Side of the Street
1951
Singer Frankie Laine
When You're Smiling
1950
Frankie Laine
Make Believe Ballroom
1949
Singer Frankie Laine
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Adventures of Champion
1955
TV Series vocalist - 1 episode
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Last Picture Show
1971
for their music we thank: courtesy of Columbia Records
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
That's Amore!: Italian-American Favorites
2008
TV Movie
Himself
Moments to Remember: My Music
2006
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
2006
Video documentary
Himself
Walk on By: The Story of Popular Song
2001
TV Series documentary
Himself
E! True Hollywood Story
1996
TV Series documentary
Himself
Looks Familiar
1982
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Cannon and Ball
1982
TV Series
Himself - Musical Guest
London Night Out
1981
TV Series
Himself
American Bandstand's 30th Anniversary Special
1981
TV Movie
Himself
The People's Command Performance
1978
TV Special
Himself
Celebrity Bowling
1973-1977
TV Series
Himself
The Hollywood Squares
1977
TV Series
Guest Appearance
The Lynne Gordon Show
1977
TV Series
Himself
Dinah!
1975
TV Series
Himself
The 47th Annual Academy Awards
1975
TV Special
Himself - Performer: Blazing Saddles and Performer: We May Never Love Like This Again & Benji's Theme (I Feel Love)
The Mike Douglas Show
1964-1974
TV Series
Himself - Vocalist / Himself - Co-Host / Himself
Hee Haw
1973
TV Series
Himself - Special Guest
The Hollywood Palace
1970
TV Series
Himself - Singer
Music Scene
1969
TV Series
Himself - Musical Guest
The David Frost Show
1969
TV Series
Himself
Della
1969
TV Series
Himself
The Joey Bishop Show
1967-1969
TV Series
Himself
The Ed Sullivan Show
1950-1968
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Singer
The Pat Boone Show
1967
TV Series
Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962-1966
TV Series
Himself - Guest / Himself
The Merv Griffin Show
1965
TV Series
Himself
That Regis Philbin Show
1965
TV Series
Himself
What's My Line?
1952-1960
TV Series
Himself - Mystery Guest
The 32nd Annual Academy Awards
1960
TV Special
Himself - Presenter
The Steve Allen Plymouth Show
1957-1959
TV Series
Himself - Singer / Himself - Vocalist
The Garry Moore Show
1958-1959
TV Series
Himself - Guest Host / Himself
The All-Star Christmas Show
1958
TV Movie
Himself
The Milton Berle Show
1958
TV Series
Himself
The Big Record
1958
TV Series
Himself
Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium
1957
TV Series
Himself
The Nat King Cole Show
1957
TV Series
Himself - Singer
Person to Person
1957
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Walter Winchell Show
1956
TV Series
Himself
Frankie Laine Time
1955-1956
TV Series
Himself - Host
Shower of Stars
1955-1956
TV Series
Himself, Frankie Laine / Himself - Singer / Himself - Guest Vocalist / ...