Wikipedia

Jerry Vale

Jerry Vale(bornGennaro Louis Vitaliano;July 8, 1930 – May 18, 2014) was an American traditional pop singer. During the 1950s and 1960s, he reached the top of the pop charts with his interpretations of romantic ballads, including a cover ofEddy Arnoldhit "You Don't Know Me"(1956) and "Have You Looked into Your Heart"(1964). Vale, who was of Italian descent, sang numerous songs in Italian, many of which were used in soundtracks by films ofMartin Scorsese.[1]

Jerry Vale
Jerry Vale 1965
Vale in 1965
Background information
Birth nameGennaro Louis Vitaliano
Born(1930-07-08)July 8, 1930
The Bronx,New York, U.S.
DiedMay 18, 2014(2014-05-18)(aged 83)
Palm Desert, California,U.S.
GenresEasy listening,traditional pop
Occupation(s)Singer

Vale showed his love of Italian music with his albums,I Have But One Heart(1962) andArrivederci, Roma(1963), full of Italian standards such as "Amore, Scusami","Ciao, Ciao, Bambina","Arrivederci, Roma",and"O Sole Mio".[2]His renditions of "Volare","Innamorata(Sweetheart) ", and"Al di là"became classic Italian-American songs.[3]

Early life

edit

Vale was born Gennaro Louis Vitaliano in theBronx, New York,to Italian immigrant parents,[1]and grew up in theWakefieldsection of the Bronx which at the time was composed mainly of Italian-American families.[4]In high school, to earn money, Vale took a job shining shoes in a barbershop, singing while he worked. His boss, Vito Veneziano, liked the sound so well that he paid for music lessons for the boy. Vale started singing in high school musicals and at a local nightclub. Still a teenager, he left school to work in a factory as an oiler alongside his father.[4][5]

Career

edit

Vale's early nightclub performances led to additional shows in the early 1950s, including one lasting for three years at the Enchanted Room, a club inYonkers, New York.When Paul Insetta (road manager for singerGuy Mitchelland hit songwriter) heard him there, he signed him to a management contract and further coached him. Insetta arranged for Vale to record somedemonstration recordsof songs he'd written, and he brought them toColumbia Records.Guy Mitchell introduced Vale toMitch Miller,then head ofA&Rat Columbia Records. Vale signed a recording contract, with Insetta as his manager for many years to come.

Jerry Vale appeared on theTed MackAmateur Hourin 1950 singing "It Isn't Fair".

Vale's first recording with the Columbia label, with accompaniment byPercy Faithand his band, was "You Can Never Give Me Back My Heart",[4]reached No. 29 on theBillboardHot 100chart, becoming Vale's first U.S. hit.

His version of "The Star-Spangled Banner",recorded in late 1963, was a fixture at many sporting events for years, and the gold record Vale received was displayed at theNational Baseball Hall of FameinCooperstown, New York.[2]Vale frequently sang the song atYankee Stadium.Additionally, he owned theDaytona Beach Admirals.

He sang theLate Night with David Lettermananthem "It's A Late Night World" on the program's eighth anniversary special in 1990. He made cameo appearances as himself in the 1990 filmGoodfellasand the 1995 filmCasino,both directed byMartin Scorsese.[5]

Vale reportedly suffered a stroke in 2002 and did not perform in his later years.[2]

Personal life

edit

In 1959, Vale married Rita Grapel, a burlesque dancer. His biographyA Singer's Life,by Richard Grudens, was published in 2000 by Celebrity Profiles.

Death

edit

Jerry Vale died of natural causes in his sleep on May 18, 2014, at his home inPalm Desert, California.[5]Vale was 83 years old. He and his wife had two children, Robert Vale and Pamela Vale Branch.[4]He is interred atForest Lawn Cemetery,inCathedral City, California.

edit

As an actor, Vale appeared as himself in the filmsGoodfellasandCasinoas well as in television series such asThe Sopranos,Midnight Caller,Who's The BossandGrowing Pains.[6][7]

In the2016Disneyanimated filmZootopia,Nick Wilde finds a CD by "JerryVole".[8]

Vale is portrayed bySteven Van Zandtin the 2019 filmThe Irishman.[9]

Honors

edit

In 1998, a Golden Palm Star on thePalm Springs Walk of Starswas dedicated to Vale.[10]

Discography

edit

See also

edit

Notes

edit
  1. ^abNoland, Claire (May 18, 2014)."Jerry Vale, singer who topped the charts in 1950s and '60s, dies at 83".Los Angeles Times.
  2. ^abcBarnes, Mike (May 18, 2014)."Crooner Jerry Vale Dies at 83".The Hollywood Reporter.
  3. ^"Jerry Vale Dead: Crooner Popular In The 1950s Dies At 83".The Huffington Post.May 19, 2014.
  4. ^abcdLanger, Emily (May 19, 2014)."Jerry Vale, popular crooner of the 1950s and '60s, dies at 83".The Washington Post.
  5. ^abcSouthall, Ashley (May 19, 2014)."Jerry Vale, Crooned Smoothly of Love, Is Dead at 83".The New York Times.
  6. ^"Jerry Vale, Singer of '50s and '60s Hits".People.Associated Press.September 23, 2016.RetrievedDecember 5,2016.
  7. ^Hill, Michael E. (November 11, 1990)."'The Big One'".The Washington Post.RetrievedOctober 25,2020.
  8. ^Patterson, John (March 21, 2016)."Zootropolis: Disney's latest finds a kinder alternative to Trump's America".The Guardian.London.RetrievedOctober 25,2020.
  9. ^LeDonne, Rob (December 13, 2019)."Who is Jerry Vale and why does Martin Scorsese love him so?".The New York Times.RetrievedOctober 25,2020.
  10. ^"Palm Springs Walk of Stars by date dedicated"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 13, 2012.RetrievedAugust 8,2012.

References

edit
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jerry_Vale&oldid=1236367206"