Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer, actor and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century, he recorded exclusively for RCA Victor for 44 years, after signing with the label in 1943. "Mr. C.", as he was nicknamed, sold millions of records and pioneered a weekly musical variety television show. His weekly television shows and seasonal specials were broadcast throughout the world. In the official RCA Records Billboard magazine memorial, his life was summed up in these few words: "50 years of music and a life well lived. An example to all."
Ray Charles was an American musician, singer, songwriter, vocal arranger and conductor who was best known as organizer and leader of the Ray Charles Singers who were featured on Perry Como's records and television shows for 35 years and were also known for a series of 30 choral record albums produced in the 1950s and 1960s for the Essex, MGM, Decca and Command labels.
Hugo & Luigi were an American record producing team, made up of songwriters and producers Luigi Creatore and Hugo Peretti, who shared an office in New York's Brill Building. Besides their working relationship, the two were cousins.
Hugo E. Peretti was an American songwriter and record producer.
Luigi Federico Creatore was an American songwriter and record producer.
We Get Letters is a 1957 album by Perry Como, his second RCA Victor 12" long-play album. The LP's concept is an album of requests from Como's television show, but forgoing the usual big-band sound of Mitchell Ayres' Orchestra and the Ray Charles Singers for a small group known as "Como's little Combo", with soft, breezy jazz arrangements by Joe Lipman. The album was recorded between June 1956 and February 1957.
Saturday Night with Mr. C was Perry Como's third RCA Victor 12" long-play album, and his first recorded in stereophonic sound. The album is structured as an extended version of the request section of his popular television show, beginning and ending with his theme songs "Dream Along With Me" and "You Are Never Far Away" and with his TV request theme, "We Get Letters" used twice in the album as an intro. At the time, Perry was seen on NBC's Saturday night schedule at 8 P.M. Eastern Time.
Como Swings was Perry Como's fifth RCA Victor 12" long-play album, released in 1959. The album's concept was one of lively swing arrangements by Joe Lipman of standards from the Great American Songbook. The album was, in part, recorded to showcase RCA Victor's new Living Stereo recording process and test the limits of the new technology.
Sing to Me Mr. C was Perry Como's Eighth RCA Victor 12" long-play album. Joe Lipman was the chief music arranger for the release.
By Request is Perry Como's Ninth RCA Victor 12" long-play album.
The Songs I Love was Perry Como's 11th RCA Victor 12" long-play album and the first featuring RCA Victor's Dynagroove technology.
Look to Your Heart is Perry Como's 16th RCA Victor 12" long-play album.
Seattle is Perry Como's 17th 12" long-play album released by RCA Records.The title track was Como's first Top 40 single in four years; RCA wanted to issue an album featuring the hit single, so this album was compiled consisting mostly of unreleased material from recording sessions held during the previous three years. This was Como's first true attempt at a contemporary 1960s sound. The album's opening track, "Happiness Comes, Happiness Goes", features distorted guitars and swirling organs.
Today was Perry Como's 29th and final album for RCA Records and of his 50-year music career. This is also the penultimate recording ever made by Perry Como, the last being for a Christmas special in 1994. This album is also significant in that it was the first and only album of Como's career to be released contemporaneously in both vinyl LP format and compact disc.
Season's Greetings from Perry Como, originally released in 1959, was Perry Como's sixth RCA Victor 12-inch long-play album and the fourth recorded in stereophonic sound, as well as his first major full-length Christmas album.
Perry Como was a prolific recording artist for the RCA Victor label between 1943 and 1987, and is credited with numerous gold records. Como had so many recordings achieve gold-record status that he refused to have many of them certified. Over the decades, Como is reported to have sold millions of records, including fifteen of his singles selling over a million copies but he commonly suppressed these figures.
And I Love You So was Perry Como's 21st 12" long-play album released by RCA Records.
Nicholas Perito was an American Hollywood composer and arranger and, for 40 years, the closest collaborator of singer Perry Como.
After Perry Como left the Ted Weems Orchestra in late 1942, he returned to his home in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania with the idea of going back to his barbering profession. Como had many offers before and after he was back in his home town. As he was preparing to sign a lease to re-open a barber shop, he received a telephone call from Tommy Rockwell, who was with General Artists Corporation. Rockwell, who also represented Ted Weems, offered Como a sustaining (non-sponsored) radio program on CBS and also to get him a recording contract. The offers made by Rockwell meant remaining in New York to perform with no more road tours as had been the case for many years when Como was with both Freddie Carlone and Ted Weems. On the advice of his wife, Roselle, Como agreed to go to New York as it meant he could continue working in the music business and not be separated from his family.
