Guide to the Perry Como Collection, 1955-1994

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Descriptive Summary

Biography of Perry Como

Scope and Content

Organization of the Collection

Arrangement of the Collection

Restrictions

Index Terms

Administrative Information

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Biography of Perry Como

Perry Como (Pierino Como) was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, on May 18, 1912. He is the seventh of 13 children born to his Italian immigrant parents, Pietro and Lucia Como, and the first to be a citizen of the U.S. by birth. Como began as a barber in Canonsburg at the age of 14 and built a very good business earning $125 per week net profit.

In 1933, while vacationing in Cleveland, Ohio, with friends, they encouraged him to audition for the Freddy Carlone band. A week later he was offered a job with the band at $28 per week. His family encouraged him to try the singing business, so he closed his barbershop and went to Cleveland. On July 31, 1933, he married his childhood sweetheart, Roselle Belline. In 1937, he joined the Ted Weems Band where he earned $50 per week. With the Weems Band he toured, was "vocalist" on records for the Decca label, and made his radio debut. When the Weems Band broke up in 1942, Como returned to Canonsburg expecting to resume his barber business. However, General Artists Corporation contacted him, and he was offered his own radio show for $100 per week and an RCA Victor recording contract. By 1943, Perry Como was a New York personality and a "star".

Throughout the 1940's and 1950's Como had 42 Top Ten hits, appeared in 4 movies ("Something for the Boys", "Doll Face", "If I'm Lucky", and "Words and Music". Chesterfield Cigarettes was Como's first radio sponsor, and sponsored his radio shows on NBC and CBS until 1955. In 1955, he began his career in television. He hosted NBC's Saturday night variety show, "Perry Como Show" from 1955 to 1963. The first year he won an Emmy and the Peabody, Christopher, and Golden Mike awards. After 1963, he went into semi-exile, although he continued to record and do Christmas TV specials.

During his career, he hosted and performed on television series from 1948 to 1963; hosted TV specials until 1992; recorded 22 albums, and 147 singles.

Perry and Roselle Como had three children, Ronald born 1940, David (adopted) born 1946, and Terri (adopted) born 1947. They raised their family in Long Island, New York. They have 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. On July 31, 1998, Perry and Roselle celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. On August 12, 1998, Roselle died suddenly of a heart attack. She was 84. On May 15, 1999, for his 87th birthday, a statue of Perry Como was dedicated in his hometown of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Perry Como now lives a quiet life at their home in Jupiter, Florida.

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Scope and Content

Collection contains approximately 217 boxes containing program scripts, musical scores and arrangements, awards, 45 rpm records, published music books and pamphlets, sheet music.

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Arrangement of the Collection

Arranged by TV show and specials scripts; scores and parts for TV specials, albums, and individual songs; and miscellaneous including awards, personal memorabilia, audio-visual materials, phonograph records, and oversize materials.

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Restrictions

Access

Open for study and not-for-profit performance.

Publication Rights

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the American Music Research Center.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Perry Como Collection, American Music Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder.

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Series Description

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