Perry Como

Name at birth: Pierino Ronald Como

Perry Como became a singing star in the 1940s, a crooner in the style of Bing Crosby. A string of hits up through the late 1950s had him on the top of the charts — second only to Crosby — and then Como slid into a career on television, where he became known for nearly annual Christmas specials up through 1994. Como’s big hits included his signature song, “Catch A Falling Star,” as well as “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” and “Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes.” He was also known for the occasional novelty song, such as “Hot Diggity” or “Magic Moments.” One of thirteen children, Como started working as a barber when he was a teenager, and was making a profession of it while also singing in local venues . He married and moved to Cleveland in 1933 and by 1936 was touring as a singer with the Ted Weems Orchestra. From there it was a hop, skip and a jump to a record deal, a career in radio, hit records and a brief flirtation with Hollywood. His NBC radio show ran from 1948 until 1963, gradually becoming a TV spot that led to a string of specials through the 1960s for Kraft Music Hall. Known for his gentleman-in-a-cardigan persona on and off screen, Perry Como’s TV Christmas specials then became a network tradition, running until 1986. His singing career was forever in the shadow of bigger stars Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, but Como had an exceptional television career and was famously a devoted family man. Como’s hits included “Till The End of Time”, “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays,” “Prisoner of Love,” “When You Were Sweet Sixteen” and “It’s Impossible.”