Russ Columbo: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Tag: Reverted
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
 
(44 intermediate revisions by 17 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|American singer, violinist, and actor}}
{{short description|American singer, violinist, and actor}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| image = Russ Columbo.jpg
| image = Russ Columbo.jpg
Line 5: Line 6:
| landscape =
| landscape =
| background = solo_singer
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolpho Colombo
| birth_name = Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolfo Colombo
| alias =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1908|1|14}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1908|1|14}}
|birth_place = [[Camden, New Jersey]], U.S.
|birth_place = [[Camden, New Jersey]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1934|9|2|1908|1|14}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1934|9|2|1908|1|14}}
|death_place = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.
|death_place = Los Angeles, California
| genre = [[Jazz]], [[popular music]]
| genre = [[Jazz]], [[popular music]]
| occupation = Actor, singer, violinist
| occupation = Actor, singer, violinist
| instrument = [[Violin]], [[baritone]] voice
| instrument = Violin, [[baritone]] voice
| years_active = 1921–34
| years_active = 1928–1934
| label =
| label =
| associated_acts =
| associated_acts =
Line 20: Line 21:
}}
}}


'''Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolfo Colombo''' (January 14, 1908 – September 2, 1934), known as '''Russ Columbo''', was an American [[baritone]], songwriter, [[violin]]ist and actor. He is famous for romantic ballads such as his signature tune "You Call It Madness, But I Call It Love" and his own compositions "[[Prisoner of Love (1931 song)|Prisoner of Love]]" and "Too Beautiful For Words."
'''Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolfo Colombo''' (January 14, 1908 – September 2, 1934), known as '''Russ Columbo''', was an American [[baritone]], songwriter, violinist, and actor. He is famous for romantic ballads such as his signature tune "You Call It Madness, But I Call It Love" and his own compositions "[[Prisoner of Love (1931 song)|Prisoner of Love]]" and "Too Beautiful for Words".


==Early life==
==Early life==
Columbo was born in [[Camden, New Jersey]], the twelfth child of Italian immigrant parents Nicola and Giulia (Julia) Colombo. He attended Everett Grammar School and started playing the violin at a very young age, debuting professionally at the age of 13. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was 16, and he attended Belmont High School there. He left high school at age 17 to study violin under Calmon Luvovski and travel with various bands around the country. He sang and played violin in numerous [[nightclub]]s.
Columbo was born in [[Camden, New Jersey]], the 12th child of Italian immigrant parents Nicola and Giulia (Julia) Colombo. He attended Everett Grammar School and started playing the violin at a very young age, debuting professionally at the age of 13. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was 16, and he attended Belmont High School there. He left high school at age 17 to study violin under Calmon Luvovski and travel with various bands around the country. He sang and played violin in numerous [[nightclub]]s.


==Career==
==Career==


===Films===
===Films===
By 1928, at the age of 20, Columbo began to participate in motion pictures, including a [[Vitaphone]] short in which Columbo appeared as a member of [[Gus Arnheim]] and His Orchestra. Columbo had his own orchestra in 1931 and Benny Goodman, the big band orchestra leader, and drummer, Gene Krupa, worked for Russ Columbo, when they were first starting out in the business and toured around the East coast and Midwest. At the time of his death, Columbo had just completed work on the film ''[[Wake Up and Dream (1934 film)|Wake Up and Dream]]''; he was on his way to stardom when his life was cut short.<ref name="News">{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rvtPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5lQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2128%2C119596|title=Bullet Fired Accidentally Kills Singer|date=September 3, 1934|work=The Evening Independent|access-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref> Among Columbo's other films are: ''Woman to Woman'' (with [[Betty Compton]]), ''[[Wolf Song]]'' (with [[Lupe Vélez]]), ''[[The Texan (1930 film)|The Texan]]'' (with [[Gary Cooper]]), and ''[[Broadway Through a Keyhole|Broadway Thru a Keyhole]]''.<ref name="Croon"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mBYvAAAAIBAJ&pg=5076,498226&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Theatre Offerings for Next Week: At the Princess|date=November 4, 1933 |work=Montreal Gazette|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref>
By 1928, at the age of 20, Columbo began to participate in motion pictures, including a [[Vitaphone]] short in which Columbo appeared as a member of [[Gus Arnheim]] and His Orchestra. Eventually, he obtained some feature work in front of the camera, but he slowed down his activities in cinema to pursue other interests. At the time of his death, Columbo had just completed work on the film ''[[Wake Up and Dream (1934 film)|Wake Up and Dream]]''; he was on his way to stardom when his life was cut short.<ref name="News">{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rvtPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5lQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2128%2C119596|title=Bullet Fired Accidentally Kills Singer|date=September 3, 1934|work=The Evening Independent|access-date=January 1, 2021}}</ref> Among Columbo's other films are: ''Woman to Woman'' (with [[Betty Compton]]), ''[[Wolf Song]]'' (with [[Lupe Vélez]]), ''[[The Texan (1930 film)|The Texan]]'' (with [[Gary Cooper]]), and ''[[Broadway Through a Keyhole|Broadway Thru a Keyhole]]''.<ref name="Croon"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mBYvAAAAIBAJ&pg=5076,498226&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Theatre Offerings for Next Week: At the Princess|date=November 4, 1933 |work=Montreal Gazette|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref>


===Musician===
===Musician===
Columbo performed seven vocals while with Arnheim as a member of the string section, six for [[Okeh Records]] and only one for Victor ("A Peach of a Pair") on June 18, 1930, a few months before [[Bing Crosby]] joined the band along with [[Al Rinker]] and [[Harry Barris]] as "The Rhythm Boys".
Columbo performed seven vocals while with Arnheim as a member of the string section, six for [[Okeh Records]] and only one for Victor ("A Peach of a Pair") on June 18, 1930, a few months before [[Bing Crosby]] joined the band along with [[Al Rinker]] and [[Harry Barris]] as "The Rhythm Boys".


Columbo did not run the Club Pyramid. It was owned by his older brother, Albert Colombo and William H. Niendorf, who he helped by lending his name in the papers to promote the club. Columbo was discovered by Con Conrad at the Cocoanut Grove. He would later have a falling out with the manager in New York due to mismanagement of his career and the court would rule in his favor "with prejudice" against the manager. (source Tony Toran's biography: Prisoner of Love) <ref name="Croon">{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p_wjAAAAIBAJ&pg=5345,2605998&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Russ Columbo Doesn't Croon|date=November 1, 1931|work=Milwaukee Journal|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref> In 1931, he traveled to [[New York City]] with his manager, songwriter [[Con Conrad]]. Conrad secured a late-night radio slot with [[NBC]]. This led to numerous engagements, a recording contract with [[RCA Victor]] records, and tremendous popularity with legions of mostly female fans. Not long after arriving in New York, Columbo met actress [[Dorothy Dell]] at an audition for the [[Ziegfeld Follies]] and began seeing her. Conrad did his best to break the relationship up with a series of publicity-created "ruse romance" involving Columbo and actress [[Greta Garbo]]. As for [[Pola Negri]], for whom he worked for playing the violin during filming when he was eighteen years-old, she helped him find work as an extra. It was he who announced the death of Valentino to the star. He later vouch for a fact that when she fainted "it was from shock", not an act. <ref name="Kilgallen">{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CTYuAAAAIBAJ&pg=2794,1043529&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Voice of Broadway|date=June 5, 1941|author=Kilgallen, Dorothy|work=The Miami News|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref> (Dorothy Dell died in an auto accident in June 1934—just months before Columbo's own fatal accident.) Columbo also dated in New York City, June Knight, when he was working at the Paramount Theater in Brooklyn, during the period in his career known as The Battle of The Baritones, involving Bing Crosby, which was created by Paramount promoters in order to draw more people to their theaters. Columbo would set a record for the most sold-out performances that lasted for a quarter of a century at the theater. He hosted at the famous Waldorf Astoria, where he sometimes performed (author EB White wrote about this), a party for over two-hundred reporters to celebrate his success.(source: various newspapers including the Philidelphia Gazette).
Columbo ran a nightclub for a while, the Club Pyramid, but gave it up when his manager told him he had star potential.<ref name="Croon">{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p_wjAAAAIBAJ&pg=5345,2605998&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Russ Columbo Doesn't Croon|date=November 1, 1931|work=Milwaukee Journal|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref> In 1931, he traveled to New York City with his manager, songwriter [[Con Conrad]], who secured a late-night radio slot with [[NBC]]. This led to numerous engagements, a recording contract with [[RCA Victor]] records, and tremendous popularity with legions of mostly female fans. Not long after arriving in New York, Columbo met actress [[Dorothy Dell]] at an audition for the [[Ziegfeld Follies]] and began seeing her. Conrad did his best to break the relationship up with a series of publicity-created "ruse romances" involving Columbo and actresses such as [[Greta Garbo]] and [[Pola Negri]]; it succeeded.<ref name="Kilgallen">{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CTYuAAAAIBAJ&pg=2794,1043529&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Voice of Broadway|date=June 5, 1941|author=Kilgallen, Dorothy|work=The Miami News|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref> (Dorothy Dell died in an auto accident in June 1934—just months before Columbo's own fatal accident.)


The type of singing that was popularized by the likes of Columbo, [[Rudy Vallee]], and [[Bing Crosby]] is called [[crooning]]. Columbo disliked the label, but it caught on with the general public. It gained popular credence, despite its initial use as a term of derision for the singers employing their low, soothing voices in [[romantic love|romantic]] songs. Similarly, to reinforce his romantic appeal, he was called "Radio's [[Rudolph Valentino|Valentino]]".<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Radio-Guide/1931/Radio-Guide-1931-12-05.pdf |title=Radio's Valentino |journal=Radio Guide |location=New York |date=December 5, 1931 }}</ref>
The type of singing that was popularized by the likes of Columbo, [[Rudy Vallee]], and [[Bing Crosby]] is called [[crooning]]. Columbo disliked the label, but it caught on with the general public. It gained popular credence, despite its initial use as a term of derision for the singers employing their low, soothing voices in [[romantic love|romantic]] songs. Similarly, to reinforce his romantic appeal, he was called "Radio's [[Rudolph Valentino|Valentino]]".<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Radio-Guide/1931/Radio-Guide-1931-12-05.pdf |title=Radio's Valentino |journal=Radio Guide |location=New York |date=December 5, 1931 }}</ref>


Columbo composed the song "Prisoner of Love". The music for teh song was composed by Russ Columbo and the lyrics were by Leo Robin and Clarence Gaskill. "You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love)" was composed with Con Conrad, Gladys Du Bois, and Paul Gregory; "Too Beautiful For Words", which he wrote for his fiancee, Carole Lombard, was recorded in his motion picture in which Columbo stared: Wake Up And Dream in 1934. According to reporter, Sonia Lee of Movie Screen magazine, in 1934, Carole Lombard said, "We would have married." The article discusses for a full page her romance with Columbo and how Lombard had been helping him with his career. Columbo also co-stared in Broadway Thru a Keyhole, written by Walter Winchell, with co-star Constance Cummings. In the movie musical, Moulin Rouge, Columbo was featured with Constance Bennett in the song "Coffee in the Morning, and Kisses in the Night". Columbo wrote "When You're in Love", "My Love", and "Let's Pretend There's a Moon", recorded by [[Fats Waller]] and [[Tab Hunter]] which
Columbo composed the songs "Prisoner of Love" and "You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love)" with Con Conrad, Gladys Du Bois, and Paul Gregory; "Too Beautiful For Words", recorded by the Teddy Joyce Orchestra in 1935; "When You're in Love", "My Love", and "Let's Pretend There's a Moon", recorded by [[Fats Waller]] and [[Tab Hunter]]; and "Hello Sister". "[[Prisoner of Love (1931 song)|Prisoner of Love]]" is a standard that has been recorded by [[Frank Sinatra]], [[Jo Stafford]], [[Art Tatum]], [[Perry Como]], the [[Ink Spots]], [[Mildred Bailey]], [[Tiny Tim (musician)|Tiny Tim]], [[Teddy Wilson]] with [[Lena Horne]] on vocals, Bing Crosby, [[Billy Eckstine]], and [[James Brown]]. Perry Como had a number-one hit on ''[[Billboard Hot 100|Billboard]]'' with his recording. James Brown had a top-20 pop hit and performed the song on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' and in the concert movie ''[[The T.A.M.I. Show]]'' (1964).
were also featured in his movie Wake Up And Dream; Columbo wrote the music for the movie "Hello Sister" and appeared as the star in the double-reel short movie feature, "That Goes Double", in which he portrays two look alike characters. "[[Prisoner of Love (1931 song)|Prisoner of Love]]" is a standard that has been recorded by [[Frank Sinatra]], [[Jo Stafford]], [[Art Tatum]], [[Perry Como]], the [[Ink Spots]], [[Mildred Bailey]], [[Tiny Tim (musician)|Tiny Tim]], [[Teddy Wilson]] with [[Lena Horne]] on vocals, Bing Crosby, [[Billy Eckstine]], and [[James Brown]]. Perry Como had a No. 1 hit on ''[[Billboard Hot 100|Billboard]]'' with his recording. James Brown had a Top 20 pop hit and performed the song on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' and in the concert movie ''[[The T.A.M.I. Show]]'' (1964).


==Death==
==Death==
On Sunday, September 2, 1934, Columbo was shot under peculiar circumstances by his longtime friend photographer [[Lansing Brown]] while Columbo was visiting him at home. Brown had a collection of firearms, and the two men were examining various pieces. Quoting Brown's description of the accident:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2vUtAAAAIBAJ&pg=6031,2312618&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Russ Columbo Dies By Accidental Shot|date=September 3, 1934|work=The Miami News|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref>
On Sunday, September 2, 1934, Columbo was shot under peculiar circumstances by his longtime friend, photographer [[Lansing Brown]], while Columbo was visiting him at home. Brown had a collection of firearms, and the two men were examining various pieces. Quoting Brown's description of the accident:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2vUtAAAAIBAJ&pg=6031,2312618&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Russ Columbo Dies By Accidental Shot|date=September 3, 1934|work=The Miami News|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref>
<blockquote>I was absent-mindedly fooling around with one of the guns. It was of a dueling design and works with a cap and trigger. I was pulling back the trigger and clicking it time after time. I had a match in my hand and when I clicked, apparently the match caught in between the hammer and the firing pin. There was an explosion. Russ slid to the side of his chair.</blockquote>
<blockquote>I was absent-mindedly fooling around with one of the guns. It was of a dueling design and works with a cap and trigger. I was pulling back the trigger and clicking it time after time. I had a match in my hand and when I clicked, apparently the match caught in between the hammer and the firing pin. There was an explosion. Russ slid to the side of his chair.</blockquote>


The ball ricocheted off a nearby table and hit Columbo above the left eye. Surgeons at [[Good Samaritan Hospital (Los Angeles)|Good Samaritan Hospital]] made an unsuccessful attempt to remove the ball from Columbo's brain; he died less than six hours after the shooting.<ref name="News"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jiktAAAAIBAJ&pg=4064,2026386&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Russ Columbo Is Accidentally Slain|date=September 4, 1934|work=The Rock Hill Herald|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref> Columbo's death was ruled an accident and Brown was exonerated from blame.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4jcxAAAAIBAJ&pg=2996,468329&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Columbo's Death Held Accidental|date=September 6, 1934|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=djMyAAAAIBAJ&pg=2883,326998&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Coroner's Jury Hears Story of Colombo's Death|date=September 5, 1934|work=Berkeley Daily Gazette|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref> His funeral Mass was attended by numerous Hollywood actors, including [[Bing Crosby]] and [[Carole Lombard]], who was to have had dinner with Columbo the evening of the accident and who was romantically involved with him.<ref name="News"/><ref name="Kilgallen"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4_UtAAAAIBAJ&pg=5251,2577281&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Other Columbo Gun Unloaded|date=September 5, 1934|work=The Miami News|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IU41AAAAIBAJ&pg=991,5779445&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Timely Closeups From Hollywood: Columbo Ceremonial|date=September 6, 1934|work=The Day|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref>
The ball ricocheted off a nearby table and hit Columbo above the left eye. Surgeons at [[Good Samaritan Hospital (Los Angeles)|Good Samaritan Hospital]] made an unsuccessful attempt to remove the ball from Columbo's brain; he died less than six hours after the shooting.<ref name="News"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jiktAAAAIBAJ&pg=4064,2026386&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Russ Columbo Is Accidentally Slain|date=September 4, 1934|work=The Rock Hill Herald|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref> Columbo's death was ruled an accident and Brown was exonerated from blame.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4jcxAAAAIBAJ&pg=2996,468329&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Columbo's Death Held Accidental|date=September 6, 1934|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=djMyAAAAIBAJ&pg=2883,326998&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Coroner's Jury Hears Story of Colombo's Death|date=September 5, 1934|work=Berkeley Daily Gazette|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref> His funeral Mass was attended by numerous Hollywood actors, including Bing Crosby and [[Carole Lombard]], who was to have had dinner with Columbo the evening of the accident and who was romantically involved with him.<ref name="News"/><ref name="Kilgallen"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4_UtAAAAIBAJ&pg=5251,2577281&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Other Columbo Gun Unloaded|date=September 5, 1934|work=The Miami News|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IU41AAAAIBAJ&pg=991,5779445&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Timely Closeups From Hollywood: Columbo Ceremonial|date=September 6, 1934|work=The Day|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref>


Columbo's mother was hospitalized in serious condition from a heart attack at the time of the accident; the news was withheld from her by his brothers and sisters for the remaining ten years of her life.<ref name="News"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CikyAAAAIBAJ&pg=5073,5428372&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Mrs. Columbo is Not Yet Aware of Son's Death|date=September 4, 1934|work=The Ososso Argus-Press|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref> Owing to her previous heart condition, it was feared that the news would prove fatal to her (she died in 1944). They used all manner of subterfuge to give the impression that Columbo was still alive, including faked letters from him and records used to simulate his radio program.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GkQyAAAAIBAJ&pg=2527,6619221&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Death of Russ Columbo's Mother Ends Tender Hoax|date=August 31, 1944|work=The Miami News|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref>
Columbo's mother was hospitalized in serious condition from a heart attack at the time of the accident; the news was withheld from her by his brothers and sisters for the remaining 10 years of her life.<ref name="News"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CikyAAAAIBAJ&pg=5073,5428372&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Mrs. Columbo is Not Yet Aware of Son's Death|date=September 4, 1934|work=The Ososso Argus-Press|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref> Owing to her previous heart condition, it was feared that the news would prove fatal to her (she died in 1944). They used all manner of subterfuge to give the impression that Columbo was still alive, including faked letters from him and records used to simulate his radio program.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GkQyAAAAIBAJ&pg=2527,6619221&dq=russ+columbo&hl=en|title=Death of Russ Columbo's Mother Ends Tender Hoax|date=August 31, 1944|work=The Miami News|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref>


[[File:Russ Columbo Grave.JPG|thumb|200px|Crypt of Russ Columbo in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Glendale]]
[[File:Russ Columbo Grave.JPG|thumb|200px|Crypt of Russ Columbo in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Glendale]]
Line 55: Line 55:


==In popular culture==
==In popular culture==
In 1958, singer [[Jerry Vale]] recorded a tribute album titled ''I Remember Russ''. In 1995, 61 years after Columbo's death, singer [[Tiny Tim (musician)|Tiny Tim]] released an album in tribute to Columbo, titled ''Prisoner of Love (A Tribute to Russ Columbo)'', which he recorded with the group Clang.
In 1958, singer [[Jerry Vale]] recorded a tribute album titled ''I Remember Russ''. In 1995, 61 years after Columbo's death, singer [[Tiny Tim (musician)|Tiny Tim]] released an album titled ''Prisoner of Love (A Tribute to Russ Columbo)'', which he recorded with the group Clang. Columbo is one of the historical figures named in the [[Neil Diamond]] composition "[[Done Too Soon]]". Columbo is one of the three famous crooners named in the 1932 [[Looney Tunes]] cartoon ''[[Crosby, Columbo, and Vallee]]''.
Crooner [[Andy_Russell_(singer)|Andy Russell]]'s artistic name was adapted from Columbo's first name.


==References==
Columbo is one of the historical figures named in the [[Neil Diamond]] composition "Done Too Soon".
{{reflist}}

Columbo is one of the three famous crooners named in the 1932 [[Looney Tunes]] cartoon ''[[Crosby, Columbo, and Vallee]]''.


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
Line 67: Line 67:
*Kaye, Lenny. ''You Call It Madness : The Sensuous Song of the Croon''. Villard, 2004. {{ISBN|0-679-46308-9}}
*Kaye, Lenny. ''You Call It Madness : The Sensuous Song of the Croon''. Villard, 2004. {{ISBN|0-679-46308-9}}
*''Time Capsule 1944; a History of the Year Condensed from the Pages of Time''. Time-Life Books, 1967.
*''Time Capsule 1944; a History of the Year Condensed from the Pages of Time''. Time-Life Books, 1967.
*Adam, Beverly. ''Two Lovers:the love story of Carole Lombard and Russ Columbo''. Createspace, 2016, {{ISBN|97815234-025-1-9}}
*Adam, Beverly. ''Two Lovers: the love story of Carole Lombard and Russ Columbo''. Createspace, 2016, {{ISBN|1-5327-5671-2}} 2022 edition. International ed: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/a/beverly-adam/two-lovers.htm

==References==
{{reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
Line 78: Line 75:
*{{IMDb name|id=0173375|name=Russ Columbo}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0173375|name=Russ Columbo}}
* [http://www.shsu.edu/~lis_fwh/book/roots_of_rock/support/crooner/Columbo2.htm Russ Columbo, from ''Survey of American Popular Music by Frank Hoffmann (modified for the web by Robert Birkline)'']
* [http://www.shsu.edu/~lis_fwh/book/roots_of_rock/support/crooner/Columbo2.htm Russ Columbo, from ''Survey of American Popular Music by Frank Hoffmann (modified for the web by Robert Birkline)'']
*[https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images1/1/0212/05/russ-columbo-vintage-1940s-original_1_16715badfe03d0137f3da852cffd0ef9.jpg signed portrait](archived)


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
Line 96: Line 94:
[[Category:Musicians from Camden, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Musicians from Camden, New Jersey]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century violinists]]
[[Category:20th-century American violinists]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male singers]]

Latest revision as of 23:15, 4 May 2024

Russ Columbo
Background information
Birth nameRuggiero Eugenio di Rodolfo Colombo
Born(1908-01-14)January 14, 1908
Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedSeptember 2, 1934(1934-09-02) (aged 26)
Los Angeles, California
GenresJazz, popular music
Occupation(s)Actor, singer, violinist
Instrument(s)Violin, baritone voice
Years active1928–1934

Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolfo Colombo (January 14, 1908 – September 2, 1934), known as Russ Columbo, was an American baritone, songwriter, violinist, and actor. He is famous for romantic ballads such as his signature tune "You Call It Madness, But I Call It Love" and his own compositions "Prisoner of Love" and "Too Beautiful for Words".

Early life[edit]

Columbo was born in Camden, New Jersey, the 12th child of Italian immigrant parents Nicola and Giulia (Julia) Colombo. He attended Everett Grammar School and started playing the violin at a very young age, debuting professionally at the age of 13. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was 16, and he attended Belmont High School there. He left high school at age 17 to study violin under Calmon Luvovski and travel with various bands around the country. He sang and played violin in numerous nightclubs.

Career[edit]

Films[edit]

By 1928, at the age of 20, Columbo began to participate in motion pictures, including a Vitaphone short in which Columbo appeared as a member of Gus Arnheim and His Orchestra. Eventually, he obtained some feature work in front of the camera, but he slowed down his activities in cinema to pursue other interests. At the time of his death, Columbo had just completed work on the film Wake Up and Dream; he was on his way to stardom when his life was cut short.[1] Among Columbo's other films are: Woman to Woman (with Betty Compton), Wolf Song (with Lupe Vélez), The Texan (with Gary Cooper), and Broadway Thru a Keyhole.[2][3]

Musician[edit]

Columbo performed seven vocals while with Arnheim as a member of the string section, six for Okeh Records and only one for Victor ("A Peach of a Pair") on June 18, 1930, a few months before Bing Crosby joined the band along with Al Rinker and Harry Barris as "The Rhythm Boys".

Columbo ran a nightclub for a while, the Club Pyramid, but gave it up when his manager told him he had star potential.[2] In 1931, he traveled to New York City with his manager, songwriter Con Conrad, who secured a late-night radio slot with NBC. This led to numerous engagements, a recording contract with RCA Victor records, and tremendous popularity with legions of mostly female fans. Not long after arriving in New York, Columbo met actress Dorothy Dell at an audition for the Ziegfeld Follies and began seeing her. Conrad did his best to break the relationship up with a series of publicity-created "ruse romances" involving Columbo and actresses such as Greta Garbo and Pola Negri; it succeeded.[4] (Dorothy Dell died in an auto accident in June 1934—just months before Columbo's own fatal accident.)

The type of singing that was popularized by the likes of Columbo, Rudy Vallee, and Bing Crosby is called crooning. Columbo disliked the label, but it caught on with the general public. It gained popular credence, despite its initial use as a term of derision for the singers employing their low, soothing voices in romantic songs. Similarly, to reinforce his romantic appeal, he was called "Radio's Valentino".[5]

Columbo composed the songs "Prisoner of Love" and "You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love)" with Con Conrad, Gladys Du Bois, and Paul Gregory; "Too Beautiful For Words", recorded by the Teddy Joyce Orchestra in 1935; "When You're in Love", "My Love", and "Let's Pretend There's a Moon", recorded by Fats Waller and Tab Hunter; and "Hello Sister". "Prisoner of Love" is a standard that has been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Jo Stafford, Art Tatum, Perry Como, the Ink Spots, Mildred Bailey, Tiny Tim, Teddy Wilson with Lena Horne on vocals, Bing Crosby, Billy Eckstine, and James Brown. Perry Como had a number-one hit on Billboard with his recording. James Brown had a top-20 pop hit and performed the song on The Ed Sullivan Show and in the concert movie The T.A.M.I. Show (1964).

Death[edit]

On Sunday, September 2, 1934, Columbo was shot under peculiar circumstances by his longtime friend, photographer Lansing Brown, while Columbo was visiting him at home. Brown had a collection of firearms, and the two men were examining various pieces. Quoting Brown's description of the accident:[6]

I was absent-mindedly fooling around with one of the guns. It was of a dueling design and works with a cap and trigger. I was pulling back the trigger and clicking it time after time. I had a match in my hand and when I clicked, apparently the match caught in between the hammer and the firing pin. There was an explosion. Russ slid to the side of his chair.

The ball ricocheted off a nearby table and hit Columbo above the left eye. Surgeons at Good Samaritan Hospital made an unsuccessful attempt to remove the ball from Columbo's brain; he died less than six hours after the shooting.[1][7] Columbo's death was ruled an accident and Brown was exonerated from blame.[8][9] His funeral Mass was attended by numerous Hollywood actors, including Bing Crosby and Carole Lombard, who was to have had dinner with Columbo the evening of the accident and who was romantically involved with him.[1][4][10][11]

Columbo's mother was hospitalized in serious condition from a heart attack at the time of the accident; the news was withheld from her by his brothers and sisters for the remaining 10 years of her life.[1][12] Owing to her previous heart condition, it was feared that the news would prove fatal to her (she died in 1944). They used all manner of subterfuge to give the impression that Columbo was still alive, including faked letters from him and records used to simulate his radio program.[13]

Crypt of Russ Columbo in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Glendale

Columbo is interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Actress Virginia Brissac was serving as Columbo's private secretary at the time of his death and was later called upon by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office to testify and identify Columbo's remains at the subsequent inquest.[14]

In popular culture[edit]

In 1958, singer Jerry Vale recorded a tribute album titled I Remember Russ. In 1995, 61 years after Columbo's death, singer Tiny Tim released an album titled Prisoner of Love (A Tribute to Russ Columbo), which he recorded with the group Clang. Columbo is one of the historical figures named in the Neil Diamond composition "Done Too Soon". Columbo is one of the three famous crooners named in the 1932 Looney Tunes cartoon Crosby, Columbo, and Vallee. Crooner Andy Russell's artistic name was adapted from Columbo's first name.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Bullet Fired Accidentally Kills Singer". The Evening Independent. September 3, 1934. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Russ Columbo Doesn't Croon". Milwaukee Journal. November 1, 1931. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  3. ^ "Theatre Offerings for Next Week: At the Princess". Montreal Gazette. November 4, 1933. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  4. ^ a b Kilgallen, Dorothy (June 5, 1941). "Voice of Broadway". The Miami News. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  5. ^ "Radio's Valentino" (PDF). Radio Guide. New York. December 5, 1931.
  6. ^ "Russ Columbo Dies By Accidental Shot". The Miami News. September 3, 1934. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  7. ^ "Russ Columbo Is Accidentally Slain". The Rock Hill Herald. September 4, 1934. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  8. ^ "Columbo's Death Held Accidental". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 6, 1934. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  9. ^ "Coroner's Jury Hears Story of Colombo's Death". Berkeley Daily Gazette. September 5, 1934. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  10. ^ "Other Columbo Gun Unloaded". The Miami News. September 5, 1934. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  11. ^ "Timely Closeups From Hollywood: Columbo Ceremonial". The Day. September 6, 1934. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  12. ^ "Mrs. Columbo is Not Yet Aware of Son's Death". The Ososso Argus-Press. September 4, 1934. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  13. ^ "Death of Russ Columbo's Mother Ends Tender Hoax". The Miami News. August 31, 1944. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  14. ^ Camden People, Russ Columbo accessed 5.7.13

Further reading[edit]

  • Toran, Tony. A Prisoner of Love - The Definitive Story of Russ Columbo. Bear Manor Media, 2006, ISBN 1-59393-055-0
  • Lanza, Joseph and Dennis Penna. Russ Columbo and the Crooner Mystique. Feral House, 2002. ISBN 0-922915-80-6
  • Miano, Lou, Russ Columbo: The Amazing Life and Mysterious Death of a Hollywood Singing Legend. Silver Tone Publications, 2001. ISBN 0-9677970-1-2
  • Kaye, Lenny. You Call It Madness : The Sensuous Song of the Croon. Villard, 2004. ISBN 0-679-46308-9
  • Time Capsule 1944; a History of the Year Condensed from the Pages of Time. Time-Life Books, 1967.
  • Adam, Beverly. Two Lovers: the love story of Carole Lombard and Russ Columbo. Createspace, 2016, ISBN 1-5327-5671-2 2022 edition. International ed: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/a/beverly-adam/two-lovers.htm

External links[edit]