Buddy Greco | |
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 Greco in 1962 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Armando Joseph Greco |
| Born | (1926-08-14)August 14, 1926 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | January 10, 2017(2017-01-10) (aged 90) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
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| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1942–2017 |
| Labels | |
| Website | buddygreco |
Armando Joseph "Buddy"Greco (August 14, 1926 – January 10, 2017) was an American jazz and pop singer and pianist who had a long career in the US and UK. His recordings have sold millions, including "Oh Look A-There Ain't She Pretty", "Up, Up and Away", and "Around the World".[1] His most successful single was "The Lady Is a Tramp", which sold over one million copies.[2] During his career, he recorded over sixty albums. He conducted theLondon Symphony Orchestra and performed for QueenElizabeth II and withthe Beatles.[1]
Buddy Greco was born Armando Joseph Greco to an Italian-American family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Giuseppe "Joseph" Greco and Carmela Greco (born Piedimonte), who was originally fromRipabottoni inMolise, Italy. His mother introduced him to piano at age four. As a child he sang on the radio, and as a teen performed in nightclubs in Philadelphia. At age 16, he was hired by bandleaderBenny Goodman and spent four years touring the world with the Goodman orchestra, playing piano, singing, andarranging.[1][3][4][5] In 1951 Greco started his recording career, signing with labels such asCoral,Kapp,Epic, andReprise.
In 1967 he hosted the CBS television seriesAway We Go with comedianGeorge Carlin. Guests includedBuddy Rich andCarmen McRae. He had a role in the filmThe Girl Who Knew Too Much.[1] In 1969 he formed a duo with jazz guitaristRon Escheté.[6]
Greco met his fifth and last wife, Lezlie Anders, while she was performing in Las Vegas. Working as his supporting act, she met Greco on the stage of theDesert Inn. After marrying, they worked and toured together.[7] In 1992, he performed in Las Vegas at the Starlight Room at Stars' Desert Inn. This engagement ushered in the second phase of his career. The following year he was added to the Philadelphia Music Alliance's Walk of Fame. Shortly after, he toured Italy, France, Australia, and England.[8]
While living in Palm Springs, Greco opened a small club. The walls were decorated with pictures of Greco, theRat Pack, and other celebrity friends. He performed there often, and it became a popular place for celebrities to dine. After closing it, he moved to England.[9] While living inPalm Desert, California, he continued to appear at his club inCathedral City, California,[10] until it closed in August 2009.
In 2004, he and Anders were headliners withThe Fabulous Palm Springs Follies at thePlaza Theatre in Palm Springs, California.[11][12]
Greco became acquainted with Great Britain in 1949. He spent many years performing in Britain's clubs. He moved toEssex, keeping his Palm Springs, California, property as a vacation home.[5] In 2008, he and Anders toured the UK. They performed with theBBC Big Band and atRonnie Scott's Jazz Club in London. In August of that year, he was the first Las Vegas headliner to star at a British casino when he performed at the Circus Casino, Star City,Birmingham. In April 2010, he performed a tribute toFrank Sinatra forBBC Radio 2 with the 42-pieceBBC Concert Orchestra. He toured the UK with theSwinging Las Vegas Legends show beginning in July 2010.
In 2010, Greco and his wife produced the stage showFever! The Music of Miss Peggy Lee, which met with critical acclaim at its LondonWest End opening. Greco played piano and conducted the orchestra while Anders sang. The show received positive reviews in the U.S.[7] On New Year's Eve 2011, he made a guest appearance atHootenanny hosted byJools Holland, singing "Fly Me to the Moon".
In 2012, he toured the UK in smaller venues, including Thameside Theatre Stage,[13] and The Broadway in Essex.[14]
Greco died on January 10, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 90.[15]
Greco had an album released byScepter which Tom Murray of theCalgary Herald referred to 48 years later as "a strange and beautiful mutant of its time".[16] The album wasLet the Sunshine In. It included the songs "Let the Sunshine In", "Everybody Gets to Go to the Moon", "You're My World", "Spinning Wheel", "Never Give You Up", and "Like a Rolling Stone".[16]
| Year | Title | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | US AC | ||
| 1947 | "Ooh! Look-A There, Ain't She Pretty" | 15 | — |
| 1951 | "I Ran All the Way Home" | 30 | — |
| 1960 | "The Lady Is a Tramp"A | — | — |
| 1961 | "Around the World" | 109 | — |
| 1962 | "Mr. Lonely" | 64 | — |
| 1965 | "That Darn Cat" | — | 36 |
| "I Can't Begin to Tell You" | 132 | 27 | |
| 1966 | "Put Yourself in My Place" | — | 24 |
| "Walking on New Grass" | — | 21 | |
| 1967 | "Love's Gonna Live Here Again" | — | 19 |
| "There She Goes" | — | 14 | |
| 1972 | "From Atlanta to Goodbye" | — | 34 |
