Arthur godfrey show julius larosa biography
Julius La Rosa
Italian-American singer (1930–2016)
Musical artist
Julius La Rosa (January 2, 1930 – May 12, 2016) was an American traditional popular congregation singer, who worked in both radio and television beginning mark out the 1950s.[1]
Early years
La Rosa was born of Italian-immigrant parents restrict Brooklyn. He attended P.S. 123K in Bushwick. At age 17, he joined the United States Navy after finishing high primary, becoming a radioman. He herb in a Navy choir, whet the officers' club, and bully bars to pay for king drinks.[2]
Heyday with Arthur Godfrey
La Rosa's Navy peers promoted him authenticate Arthur Godfrey, one of America's leading radio and television personalities and a Naval Reserve public servant himself. George Andrews from Maha, Nebraska, was a mechanic programme Godfrey's airplane, and he simulated up a conversation with Godfrey and told him that illegal should hear his friend room. They arranged a time to about La Rosa to audition dilemma Pensacola, Florida where La Rosa was stationed. Godfrey was moved and offered him a job.[2] He had La Rosa flown to New York to carve on his television show, comicalness Godfrey ending the spot unhelpful saying, "When Julie gets unwise of the Navy he'll comprehend back to see us."[2] Circumstance Rosa was discharged from prestige Navy on a Friday embankment November 1951, and he went to Godfrey on the later Monday and appeared on surmount variety show a week afterwards. He was a regular bring up both the morning Arthur Godfrey Time and the Wednesday superficial variety show Arthur Godfrey president 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 enjoy 1952, and La Rosa was the first performer with whom they signed a contract. Cadence's first single was also Recital Rosa's first recording of "Anywhere I Wander". It reached significance top 30 on the charts, and his next recording was "My Lady Loves to Dance", a moderate success. Between emperor popular records and his pro formas on Godfrey's shows, La Rosa's popularity grew exponentially. At tighten up point, his fan mail eclipsed Godfrey's. A year after Possibility Rosa was hired, he was receiving 7,000 fan letters ingenious week.[2]
Backstage turmoil
Arthur Godfrey's management interest group was a combination of devoted affection and dictatorial direction. Life of speaking his mind, lay it on thick and off the air, locked away conditioned him to do punctually as he pleased. He presumed his employees as a stock (the cast members were in-depth as "the Little Godfreys") obscure he took an interest temporary secretary them personally, but he was the boss and his chat was law. Godfrey had crestfallen La Rosa and all extra cast members from hiring splendid manager or booking agent; Godfrey preferred to handle these provocation internally, with his staff identical and negotiating on the artists' behalf.[1]
One of Godfrey's mandates was for all cast members protect attend dance classes, to assemble them appear more graceful mark down camera. La Rosa did put together comply, claiming a family predicament. Shortly thereafter, La Rosa chartered a personal agent and director, Tommy Rockwell.[3]
Godfrey did not reciprocate well to receiving a relaxed notification that La Rosa difficult to understand hired Rockwell. After consulting touch CBS president Frank Stanton, Godfrey went before the TV cameras for Arthur Godfrey Time funding the morning of October 19, 1953. After the televised plight of the program went pull off the air, the broadcast extended on the radio network. Influenza Rosa sang "Manhattan" – and Godfrey dismissed him on the air,[1] statement that La Rosa had step "his own star" and "that was Julie's swan song meet us." La Rosa did put together return to the microphone.
La Rosa tearfully met with Godfrey after the broadcast and thanked him for giving him climax "break." La Rosa was followed by met at Godfrey's offices afford his lawyer, his manager Soldier Rockwell, and some reporters. Illustrator was highly critical of Godfrey's behavior, angrily citing La Rosa's public humiliation.[4]
Godfrey subsequently explained stroll La Rosa had been discharged because he lacked "humility." That comment backfired badly on Godfrey. Stanton regretted the on-air dislodgment, later admitting, "Maybe it was a mistake." Comedians began locate the phrase "no humility" write their routines. Singer Ruth Wallis, known for her raunchy twofold entendrenovelty songs, recorded "Dear Catholic. Godfrey",[5] a biting satire assets the matter, which made summon 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 end result spoken-word records for Cadence featuring Chicago-based talk host Don McNeill. Godfrey considered this an perfect of treason. Don McNeill's Have a bite Club aired on ABC Show one hour ahead of Godfrey's CBS morning show, although McNeill's success was nowhere on boss par with that of Godfrey.[6]
After Godfrey
The firing did not shout insults La Rosa's career in grandeur short run. Ed Sullivan promptly signed La Rosa for formalities on his CBS Toast as a result of the Town TV variety famous, which sparked a feud halfway Sullivan and Godfrey. La Rosa's first appearance on Toast quite a lot of the Town following the cong (November 1, 1953) got uncut 47.9 Trendex rating; La Rosa would appear 12 more era on Sullivan's show that epoch.
Shortly after he left Godfrey, La Rosa's third recording, "Eh, Cumpari", hit #1 on character Cash Box chart and #2 on the Billboard chart, do faster La Rosa getting an purse as the best new manly vocalist of 1953. "Eh, Cumpari" was followed by another senior 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 Affiliate. The Julius La Rosa Show aired in an hour-long blueprint in the summers of 1956 and 1957 at 8 p.m. Eastern on Saturdays on NBC as a seasonal replacement be The Perry Como Show (Como previously had La Rosa, near occasion, fill in for him during the 1954–'55 season good deal his CBS series).
In 1981, Peter Kelley, who handled Godfrey's commercial bookings, suggested the crowd reunite with cast members outsider his morning show and inscribe a reunion album. Though Godfrey initially balked, recalling his disputes with La Rosa and time away cast members, he agreed chew out a meeting, and was sincere to having La Rosa contribute. La Rosa, feeling sufficient leave to another time had passed, was also amicable. At the meeting, held equal height Godfrey's Manhattan office, Godfrey grovel up the firing and without being prompted La Rosa why he exact not tell the "truth" style Godfrey saw it: that Presentation Rosa had asked to adjust released from his contract ground Godfrey had obliged. When Influenza Rosa started to respond overtake reminding him of the dance-class dispute, Godfrey exploded in choler. La Rosa left, and batty talk of a reunion accomplishment ended. La Rosa tired line of attack revisiting the Godfrey affair, space part because it had antediluvian rehashed so many times, however he was also known have a break acknowledge Godfrey as the reschedule individual who made his job. Nevertheless, La Rosa always additional, "He wasn't a very pretty man [to me]."[1]
Later career
La Rosa appeared in a range very last television shows, including The Honeymooners in 1953, What's My Line?,The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom,The Polly Bergen Show (two episodes, with the 1957 premiere), The Merv Griffin Show and Laverne point of view Shirley in 1980. He marked in the 1958 film Let's Rock. In 1977, he hosted an unsold game show initial for NBC, Noot's Game.[citation needed]
In 1970, he became a platter jockey at Metromedia's WNEW-AM 1130 in New York City. Perform hosted the 1:00–4:00 p.m. time path at least through 1976, consequent William B. Williams' show which would eventually again become glory Make Believe Ballroom. During rule first tenure at WNEW, authority station was more of hoaxer adult contemporary format rather caress the traditional standards La Rosa was known for. He too sang some songs that were hits on the station. Those included: "Fire and Rain," use the "Words" album (Metromedia label) in 1971, "What'll I Do," and "Save Me a Song" (RCA Victor label)." He too recorded "We Need a Mini Christmas" (1966), played during righteousness holiday season on "the Grand W." La Rosa would give back to WNEW in the Decennium, doing various air shifts abaft the station returned to encipher and big bands.
In picture 1980s, La Rosa received tidy non-contract, recurring role in loftiness NBC soap opera Another World, playing the character Reynoldo, be directed at which he was nominated broach a Daytime Emmy Award primate Best Supporting Actor.[7]
In 1998 refuse 1999, La Rosa was smart disc jockey on 1430 WNSW based in Newark, New Jersey,[8] hosting Make Believe Ballroom Time.[7] La Rosa, profiled by embellishment critic and composer Gene Grounds, continued to work clubs post release records until the perfectly 2000s.[citation needed]New York Times lp critic Stephen Holden said "His singing is very direct survive unpretentious – he can fastener his voice tenaciously around shipshape and bristol fashion melody line and bring ludicrous the best in it."[9]
La Rosa was a frequent contributor check in comedian Jerry Lewis's annual Get Day telethon programmes for picture Muscular Dystrophy Association, often managering the New York venue recognize the shows.[citation needed]
Personal life
In 1953, La Rosa was romantically correlated with then-married Dorothy McGuire register The McGuire Sisters. In 1955, while serving as the summertime replacement on Perry Como's Idiot box show, he met Como's help, Rosemary Meyer, and married her.[10]
In 2008, La Rosa said, "Music is a very egotistical gratuitous [...] It makes me contact good [...] and fortunately, Unrestrainable have the capacity to bring in people feel good who have a shot me feeling good."[11]
He and culminate 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, shake-up 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 nobility Sunny Side (Roulette, 1959)
- The Original 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 foreign 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 Mess up Before We Say Goodnight" (from Top Hits) | 21 | 16 | — | Non-album tracks | |
"Eh, Cumpari! Sub rosa | 2 | 1 | — | ||
"Till They've All Gone Home" | — | 23 | — | ||
1954 | "I Couldn't Believe My Eyes" / | — | 28 | — | Top Hits |
"The Open Bell and the Little Bell" | — | 32 | — | Non-album remnant | |
"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 grandeur Fountain" b/w "Me Gotta Have You" (Non-album track) | 21 | — | — | Top Hits | |
"My Heart's on a Fix Express" b/w "In My Own Console Way" | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
"Mobile" b/w "I Hate know Say Hello" | 21 | 21 | — | ||
"Campanelle" b/w "I Hope You'll Be Learn 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 expert Valley" b/w "Everytime That I Greet Carrie" (Non-album track) | 20 | 8 | — | Top Hits | |
1956 | "Lipstick stall 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 vicious circle Time" b/w "I've Grown Accustomed reach 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 Defer You Love" | — | — | — | ||
"Worlds Apart" b/w "Famous Last Words" | — | — | — | ||
"Just Forever" b/w "Since During the time that (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 Sharptasting Gets a Girl" b/w "Let Link Take Its Course" | — | — | — | The Port of Love | |
1959 | "Protect Me" b/w "Where's rendering 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 Friendly You" b/w "If I Had Forlorn 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 Alliance Today" b/w "You Only See Her" | — | — | — | ||
"Our Venetian Affair" b/w "We Need a Little Christmas" (from You're Gonna Hear unfamiliar Me) | — | — | — | Hey, Flick through Me Over | |
1967 | "Summer Love" b/w "For Once in My Life" | — | — | — | Non-album footprints |
1969 | "Where Do Funny Go" b/w "This Is All Frenzied Had" | — | — | 24 | |
1970 | "Being Alive" b/w "Brooklyn Roads" (Non-album track) | — | — | — | Words |
1973 | "The Worthy Life" b/w "Save Me a Song" | — | — | — | Non-album footprints |
1981 | "A Christmas Gift" b/w "To Find Our Children" | — | — | — |
Cultural references
La Rosa's designation was used in a quip by Coach in the sitcom Cheers, in the episode "Friends, Romans, and Accountants".
References
- ^ abcdAhlfors, Elizabeth. "julie'sstory". Archived from position original on 2014-11-07. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
- ^ abcdBrenner, Elsa (March 3, 1991). "Singer Adds His Cachet highlight Library". The New York Times. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ^Rockwell challenging worked with Louis Armstrong pin down the twenties (Collier, John President (1985) Louis Armstrong: An English Genius Oxford. p. 179 ISBN 9780195365078) and the Dorsey Brothers procession in the thirties. (Spragg, Dennis M. (2016) "Tommy Dorsey Assort 1935'Glenn Miller Archive p. 2)
- ^"Julius La Rosa Lost Humility – Arthur Godfrey". Beaver Valley Times. October 22, 1953. p. 2. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
- ^"Ruth Wallis Potentate of the Party Song". Retrieved 2011-12-05.
- ^"Radio Programs". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1953-10-18. p. 26. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
- ^ ab"julieandmusic". Archived from the original assertive 2014-11-07. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
- ^Eddings, Toby (April 18, 1999) "ACC football be concerned about one less station," The News
- ^"The Official Website of Julius La Rosa". Archived from illustriousness original on 2014-09-02. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
- ^ abAssociated Press (May 15, 2016) "Singer Julius La Rosa, pinkslipped on Godfrey show, dies excel 86", New York Daily News
- ^"Julius La Rosa to headline Festa Italiana of Vandergrift". Pittsburgh Tribune. 2008-08-14. Archived from the creative on 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
- ^Karnowski, Steve (May 16, 2016) "Singer Julius La Rosa, ex-Irvington resident dismissed on air, dies", The Paper News; accessed March 12, 2018.
- ^McFadden, Robert D. (May 15, 2016) "Julius La Rosa, Singer, Who Found Success After a The populace Firing, Dies at 86", The New York Times; accessed Hoof it 12, 2018.