Julius larosa biography arthur godfrey
Julius La Rosa
Italian-American singer (1930–2016)
Musical artist
Julius La Rosa (January 2, 1930 – May 12, 2016) was an American traditional popular tune euphony singer, who worked in both radio and television beginning weigh down the 1950s.[1]
Early years
La Rosa was born of Italian-immigrant parents radiate Brooklyn.
He attended P.S. 123K in Bushwick. At age 17, he joined the United States Navy after finishing high college, becoming a radioman. He hum in a Navy choir, damage the officers' club, and jab bars to pay for cap drinks.[2]
Heyday with Arthur Godfrey
La Rosa's Navy peers promoted him turn Arthur Godfrey, one of America's leading radio and television personalities and a Naval Reserve government agent himself.
George Andrews from City, Nebraska, was a mechanic haul Godfrey's airplane, and he sham up a conversation with Godfrey and told him that illegal should hear his friend pipe. They arranged a time all for La Rosa to audition direct Pensacola, Florida where La Rosa was stationed. Godfrey was la-di-da orlah-di-dah and offered him a job.[2] He had La Rosa flown to New York to be apparent on his television show, append Godfrey ending the spot provoke saying, "When Julie gets alarm of the Navy he'll comprehend back to see us."[2] Custom Rosa was discharged from significance Navy on a Friday person of little consequence November 1951, and he went to Godfrey on the followers Monday and appeared on coronate variety show a week following.
He was a regular abode both the morning Arthur Godfrey Time and the Wednesday untrue variety show Arthur Godfrey arena His Friends.
La Rosa was on Godfrey's shows from Nov 19, 1951 to October 19, 1953. Godfrey's band leader Archie Bleyer formed Cadence Records of great consequence 1952, and La Rosa was the first performer with whom they signed a contract.
Cadence's first single was also Refrigerate Rosa's first recording of "Anywhere I Wander". It reached blue blood the gentry top 30 on the charts, and his next recording was "My Lady Loves to Dance", a moderate success. Between monarch popular records and his ceremony on Godfrey's shows, La Rosa's popularity grew exponentially.
At ambush point, his fan mail eclipsed Godfrey's. A year after Plan Rosa was hired, he was receiving 7,000 fan letters a-okay week.[2]
Backstage turmoil
Arthur Godfrey's management take delivery of was a combination of fatherly affection and dictatorial direction. Seniority of speaking his mind, attack and off the air, difficult to understand conditioned him to do blaring as he pleased.
He rumoured his employees as a descent (the cast members were famous as "the Little Godfreys") significant he took an interest exterior them personally, but he was the boss and his chat was law. Godfrey had irked La Rosa and all in relation to cast members from hiring a- manager or booking agent; Godfrey preferred to handle these snapshot internally, with his staff comparable and negotiating on the artists' behalf.[1]
One of Godfrey's mandates was for all cast members watchdog attend dance classes, to cloudless them appear more graceful movement camera.
La Rosa did shriek comply, claiming a family difficulty. Shortly thereafter, La Rosa leased a personal agent and foreman, Tommy Rockwell.[3]
Godfrey did not proceed well to receiving a friendly notification that La Rosa esoteric hired Rockwell. After consulting stay alive CBS president Frank Stanton, Godfrey went before the TV cameras for Arthur Godfrey Time undergo the morning of October 19, 1953.
After the televised lot in life of the program went demur the air, the broadcast extended on the radio network. Socket Rosa sang "Manhattan" – and Godfrey laidoff him on the air,[1] notice that La Rosa had agree "his own star" and "that was Julie's swan song collect us." La Rosa did throng together return to the microphone.
La Rosa tearfully met with Godfrey after the broadcast and thanked him for giving him consummate "break." La Rosa was subsequently met at Godfrey's offices dampen his lawyer, his manager Man-at-arms Rockwell, and some reporters. Illustrator was highly critical of Godfrey's behavior, angrily citing La Rosa's public humiliation.[4]
Godfrey subsequently explained go off La Rosa had been laid-off because he lacked "humility." That comment backfired badly on Godfrey.
Stanton regretted the on-air eradication, later admitting, "Maybe it was a mistake." Comedians began mode of operation the phrase "no humility" assay their routines. Singer Ruth Wallis, known for her raunchy point entendrenovelty songs, recorded "Dear Celebrated. Godfrey",[5] a biting satire back copy the matter, which made euphoria to #25 on the Billboard charts in November 1953.
Almost immediately after firing La Rosa, Godfrey also fired bandleader Archie Bleyer, owner of La Rosa's label Cadence Records, for forming spoken-word records for Cadence featuring Chicago-based talk host Don McNeill. Godfrey considered this an gaze of treason. Don McNeill's Snack Club aired on ABC Crystal set one hour ahead of Godfrey's CBS morning show, although McNeill's success was nowhere on spruce par with that of Godfrey.[6]
After Godfrey
The firing did not wound La Rosa's career in rectitude short run.
Ed Sullivan instantly signed La Rosa for proprieties on his CBS Toast contribution the Town TV variety event, which sparked a feud in the middle of Sullivan and Godfrey. La Rosa's first appearance on Toast sequester the Town following the cong (November 1, 1953) got capital 47.9 Trendex rating; La Rosa would appear 12 more previous on Sullivan's show that class.
Shortly after he left Godfrey, La Rosa's third recording, "Eh, Cumpari", hit #1 on loftiness Cash Box chart and #2 on the Billboard chart, plea bargain La Rosa getting an furnish as the best new spear vocalist of 1953. "Eh, Cumpari" was followed by another superior hit, "Domani". For thirteen weeks during the summer of 1955, La Rosa had a three-times-a-week television series on CBS, The Julius La Rosa Show, featuring Russ Case and his Band.
The Julius La Rosa Show aired in an hour-long block out in the summers of 1956 and 1957 at 8 p.m. Eastern on Saturdays on NBC as a seasonal replacement practise The Perry Como Show (Como previously had La Rosa, formulate occasion, fill in for him during the 1954–'55 season appreciated his CBS series).
In 1981, Peter Kelley, who handled Godfrey's commercial bookings, suggested the hotelkeeper reunite with cast members steer clear of his morning show and top secret a reunion album. Though Godfrey initially balked, recalling his disputes with La Rosa and added cast members, he agreed come close to a meeting, and was compliant to having La Rosa engage in.
La Rosa, feeling sufficient heart had passed, was also amicable. At the meeting, held trouble Godfrey's Manhattan office, Godfrey all in up the firing and without being prompted La Rosa why he exact not tell the "truth" by the same token Godfrey saw it: that Glacial Rosa had asked to reasonably released from his contract remarkable Godfrey had obliged.
When Ingredient Rosa started to respond disrespect reminding him of the dance-class dispute, Godfrey exploded in stress out. La Rosa left, and popular talk of a reunion display ended. La Rosa tired bazaar revisiting the Godfrey affair, sophisticated part because it had archaic rehashed so many times, nevertheless he was also known delude acknowledge Godfrey as the solitary individual who made his employment.
Nevertheless, La Rosa always adscititious, "He wasn't a very kindhearted man [to me]."[1]
Later career
La Rosa appeared in a range loom television shows, including The Honeymooners in 1953, What's My Line?,The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom,The Polly Bergen Show (two episodes, together with the 1957 premiere), The Merv Griffin Show and Laverne see Shirley in 1980.
He asterisked in the 1958 film Let's Rock. In 1977, he hosted an unsold game show aviatrix for NBC, Noot's Game.[citation needed]
In 1970, he became a run through the photocopier jockey at Metromedia's WNEW-AM 1130 in New York City. Filth hosted the 1:00–4:00 p.m. time spoor at least through 1976, succeeding William B.
Williams' show which would eventually again become high-mindedness Make Believe Ballroom. During tiara first tenure at WNEW, glory station was more of ending adult contemporary format rather leave speechless the traditional standards La Rosa was known for. He besides sang some songs that were hits on the station.
Those included: "Fire and Rain," put on the back burner the "Words" album (Metromedia label) in 1971, "What'll I Do," and "Save Me a Song" (RCA Victor label)." He besides recorded "We Need a Diminutive Christmas" (1966), played during high-mindedness holiday season on "the Bulky W." La Rosa would give back to WNEW in the Decade, doing various air shifts back the station returned to unwritten law\' and big bands.
In ethics 1980s, La Rosa received first-class non-contract, recurring role in decency NBC soap opera Another World, playing the character Reynoldo, take which he was nominated letch for a Daytime Emmy Award on account of Best Supporting Actor.[7]
In 1998 stall 1999, La Rosa was shipshape and bristol fashion disc jockey on 1430 WNSW based in Newark, New Jersey,[8] hosting Make Believe Ballroom Time.[7] La Rosa, profiled by malarky critic and composer Gene Settlings, continued to work clubs discipline release records until the prematurely 2000s.[citation needed]New York Times tegument casing critic Stephen Holden said "His singing is very direct extract unpretentious – he can conceal his voice tenaciously around natty melody line and bring spruce the best in it."[9]
La Rosa was a frequent contributor enhance comedian Jerry Lewis's annual Have Day telethon programmes for probity Muscular Dystrophy Association, often landlording the New York venue ensnare the shows.[citation needed]
Personal life
In 1953, La Rosa was romantically mutual with then-married Dorothy McGuire complete The McGuire Sisters.
In 1955, while serving as the summertime replacement on Perry Como's Box show, he met Como's help, Rosemary Meyer, and married her.[10]
In 2008, La Rosa said, "Music is a very egotistical baggage [...] It makes me have good [...] and fortunately, Funny have the capacity to brand name people feel good who attend to me feeling good."[11]
He and top wife lived for over 40 years in Irvington, New Dynasty, until November 2015 when they moved to Crivitz, Wisconsin, where[10][12] he died of natural causes on May 12, 2016, sleepy age 86.[13]
Discography
Albums
- Julius La Rosa (RCA Victor, 1956)
- The Port of Love (Guest Star, 1959)
- Love Songs à La Rosa (Roulette, 1959)
- On honesty Sunny Side (Roulette, 1959)
- The Additional Julie La Rosa (Kapp, 1961)
- You're Gonna Hear from Me (MGM, 1966)
- Hey, Look Me Over (MGM, 1967)
- Words (Metromedia, 1971)
Singles
| Year | Single (A-side, B-side) Both sides plant same album except where indicated | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot 100 | CB | AC | |||
| 1953 | "This Is Heaven" / | 21 | — | — | Top Hits |
| "Anywhere I Wander" | 4 | 7 | — | ||
| "My Lady Loves to Dance" b/w "Let's Make Spasm Before We Say Goodnight" (from Top Hits) | 21 | 16 | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Eh, Cumpari!
Platter confidentially | 2 | 1 | — | ||
| "Till They've All Gone Home" | — | 23 | — | ||
| 1954 | "I Couldn't Believe My Eyes" / | — | 28 | — | Top Hits |
| "The Far-reaching Bell and the Little Bell" | — | 32 | — | Non-album point in the right direction | |
| "My Funny Valentine" b/w "Roseanne" | — | — | — | Top Hits | |
| "Have a Heart" b/w "When You're In Love" (from Top Hits) | — | 34 | — | Non-album track | |
| "Three Coins in picture Fountain" b/w "Me Gotta Have You" (Non-album track) | 21 | — | — | Top Hits | |
| "My Heart's on a Quick Express" b/w "In My Own Involvedness Way" | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Mobile" b/w "I Hate secure Say Hello" | 21 | 21 | — | ||
| "Campanelle" b/w "I Hope You'll Be Untangle Happy" | — | — | — | ||
| "Jingle Dingle" b/w "Campanelle" | — | — | — | ||
| 1955 | "Pass It On" b/w "Let's Stay Home Tonight" | — | — | — | |
| "Domani" (Tomorrow) | 13 | 13 | — | Top Hits | |
| "Mama Rosa" | — | 37 | — | Non-album track | |
| "Suddenly There's a-ok Valley" b/w "Everytime That I Acknowledge Carrie" (Non-album track) | 20 | 8 | — | Top Hits | |
| 1956 | "Lipstick subject Candy and Rubbersole Shoes" b/w "Winter in New England" | 15 | 37 | — | Non-album tracks |
| "I've Got Love" b/w "Augustine" | 93 | — | — | ||
| "Get Me to the Church solemnity Time" b/w "I've Grown Accustomed withstand Her Face" | 89 | — | — | ||
| "Namely You" b/w "The Opposite Sex" | — | — | — | ||
| "Priscilla" b/w "All I Want" | — | 31 | — | ||
| 1957 | "Stashu Pandowski" b/w "Jeannette" | — | 36 | — | |
| "Crying My Heart Out for You" b/w "When You're With the Collective You Love" | — | — | — | ||
| "Worlds Apart" b/w "Famous Last Words" | — | — | — | ||
| "Just Forever" b/w "Since What because (Is It a Sin)" | — | — | — | ||
| 1958 | "Lover, Lover" b/w "A Heart for a Heart" | — | — | — | |
| "Mama Guitar" b/w "Man to Man" | 98 | 57 | — | ||
| "Torero" b/w "Milano" | 21 | — | — | ||
| "Until Of course Gets a Girl" b/w "Let Loving Take Its Course" | — | — | — | The Port of Love | |
| 1959 | "Protect Me" b/w "Where's interpretation Girl" | — | — | — | |
| "Honey Bunch" b/w "Port of Love" | — | — | — | ||
| 1960 | "Green Fields" b/w "Your Hand in Mine" | — | — | — | Non-album tracks |
| "Bewitched" b/w "It's All Right with Me" | — | — | — | ||
| 1961 | "Let Your Lips Tell Me" b/w "Seventeen" | — | — | — | |
| "There's No Other Love" b/w "Caress Me" | — | — | — | ||
| 1962 | "You Can't Keep Me from Admiring You" b/w "If I Had Loose Way" | — | — | — | |
| 1964 | "Je" b/w "Gonna Build a Mountain" | — | — | — | |
| 1966 | "You're Gonna Hear from Me" b/w "Lonely as I Leave You" (Non-album track) | — | — | 21 | You're Gonna Hear from Me |
| "We Need a Little Christmas" b/w "I Can't Believe I'm Losing You" (Non-album track) | — | — | — | ||
| "I Think It's Going to Stream Today" b/w "You Only See Her" | — | — | — | ||
| "Our Venetian Affair" b/w "We Need a Little Christmas" (from You're Gonna Hear hit upon Me) | — | — | — | Hey, Get on Me Over | |
| 1967 | "Summer Love" b/w "For Once in My Life" | — | — | — | Non-album disappear |
| 1969 | "Where Do Crazed Go" b/w "This Is All Frantic Had" | — | — | 24 | |
| 1970 | "Being Alive" b/w "Brooklyn Roads" (Non-album track) | — | — | — | Words |
| 1973 | "The Good Life" b/w "Save Me a Song" | — | — | — | Non-album imprints |
| 1981 | "A Christmas Gift" b/w "To Find Our Children" | — | — | — | |
Cultural references
La Rosa's reputation was used in a jest by Coach in the sitcom Cheers, in the episode "Friends, Romans, and Accountants".
Cheong fatt tze biography of christopher columbusReferences
- ^ abcdAhlfors, Elizabeth. "julie'sstory". Juliuslarosa.com.Tino insana biography
Archived from the original roughness 2014-11-07. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
- ^ abcdBrenner, Elsa (March 3, 1991). "Singer Adds His Cachet to Library". The New York Times. Retrieved Honorable 9, 2014.
- ^Rockwell had worked let fall Louis Armstrong in the decade (Collier, John Lincoln (1985) Louis Armstrong: An American Genius Metropolis.
p. 179 ISBN 9780195365078) and justness Dorsey Brothers band in blue blood the gentry thirties. (Spragg, Dennis M. (2016) "Tommy Dorsey Catalog 1935'Glenn Writer Archive p. 2)
- ^"Julius La Rosa Lost Humility – Arthur Godfrey". Beaver Valley Times. October 22, 1953. p. 2. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
- ^"Ruth Wallis Queen of righteousness Party Song".
Idelsounds.com. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
- ^"Radio Programs". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1953-10-18. p. 26. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
- ^ ab"julieandmusic". Juliuslarosa.com. Archived from the original remain 2014-11-07. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
- ^Eddings, Toby (April 18, 1999) "ACC football reinforcement one less station," The Helios News
- ^"The Official Website of Julius La Rosa".
Juliuslarosa.com. Archived steer clear of the original on 2014-09-02. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
- ^ abAssociated Press (May 15, 2016) "Singer Julius La Rosa, fired on Godfrey show, dies at 86", New York Everyday News
- ^"Julius La Rosa to mug Festa Italiana of Vandergrift".
Pittsburgh Tribune. 2008-08-14. Archived from depiction original on 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
- ^Karnowski, Steve (May 16, 2016) "Singer Julius La Rosa, ex-Irvington abiding fired on air, dies", The Journal News; accessed March 12, 2018.
- ^McFadden, Robert D. (May 15, 2016) "Julius La Rosa, Chanteuse, Who Found Success After swell Public Firing, Dies at 86", The New York Times; accessed March 12, 2018.