I am listening to a recording of NBC's Big Show from the 1950s. One of the artists on the show is Frankie Laine who sings a couple of ballads. Is this the same Frankie Laine who I associate with the theme from Rawhide? If so, what can anyone tell me about his career??

Go to: www.frankielaine.com  Smiley

Frankie Laine was born March 13, 1913 in Chicago. His real name was Francis Paul Lo Vechio and he lived in Chicago's Little Italy. Frankie was the oldest of eight children born to Sicilian immigrants John and Anna Lo Vechhio, who had come from Monreale, Sicily near Palermo.
Frankie Laine first hit it big with his record of "THAT'S MY DESIRE." At the time, he had a very energetic singing style utilizing animated arm movements to emphasize the song's lyrics. He did a cover disc of Vaughn Monroe's "Mule Train" and made it a hit as well. He was a natural choice after that to lend his talents to western ballads.... he sang the movie theme to "Strange Lady in Town," and it was not too much longer that he did the theme for the TV series "Rawhide." For the main tho, Frankie has always been a pop singer of songs. Some of Laine's finest hits include That’s My Desire (1947), Mule Train (1949), Jezebel, Cry of the Wild Goose (1950), On Sunny Side Of The Street (1951), I Believe (1953) and Moonlight Gambler in 1957. He sang the title song for the hit TV series Rawhide that starred Clint Eastwood in the early 1960s. He co-wrote We'll Be Together Again. At the present time,he makes his home in San Diego, California.

I had the pleasure of meeting Frankie Laine in the late 70s. I was in Toronto at the OLA Convention (Ontario Lacrosse Association) The convention was being held at the Royal York Hotel, in Toronto.
At that time the Royal York was the Grand Dame of hotels. Frankie was appearing in the "Imperial Room" at the Royal York for a weeks engagement. All the top entertainers of the day appeared at the Imperial Room. It was one of their favourite places to appear.
If you were a registered guest at the hotel which we were, all you had to do was show proof and you get a table to see Frankie perform. At that time they gave two performances, an evening and a late show. I had difficulty talking the gentleman I was with to take me to the show. He finally relented and we went towards the Imperial Room. People were coming out from the 1st show. I saw someone who I knew, we exchanged greetings and he went and got enough hotel staff to carry me up the steps wheelchair and all up to the Imperial Room. I spoke with Mr. Louis Janetta, the Head Maitre'd and he personally wheeled me to an excellent table location where we would have no difficulty seeing the performance. My friend was awestruck. He couldn't believe it. He asked, you know Louis Janetta? Not personally I replied but we had met briefly a few years earlier. Louis had a fantastic memory for names and faces.
We ordered some refreshements as you weren't allowed to order any when the performance was in progress. I happened to turn my head and 3 tables away from us Frankie Laine was sitting there by himself sipping a snifter of brandy. I've been told that brandy soothes the vocal chords and relaxes them. Imagine 3 tables away from the fabulous Frankie Laine.
The show started with Jezebel, Lucky Old Sun, The Wild Goose etc. He then started doing the western themes, "The Gunfight from the OK Corral," "3:10 to Yuma", "Mule Train." At this point my friend finally realized who Frankie Laine was. He recognized the songs but didn't know who sang them.
To make a long story short, he sang all his hits. At the end of the show they announced that Frankie would be out in the lobby selling LPs for $10.00 personally autographed. The proceeds were going to Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto.
We lined up waiting our turn. I had $10.00 bill in my hand. My turn came, shook Frankie's hand and told him how much I enjoyed the show. I asked him to autograph the album after telling him my name. I went to hand him the money and he said to me, "Put your money in your pocket pal, this one's on me. I thanked him and my friend's mouth dropped open.
My friend said to me afterwards, you could stick your head in a bucket of s--t and come up smelling like a rose. My friend is glad I talked him into going, he enjoyed it.
I have fond memories of that night and Frankie's kindness to me. I think of it often. I still have the LP in mint condition. Oh for those days of yesteryear. God bless ya!! Frankie.
I wish I could be in San Diego in March to help Frankie celebrate his 90th birthday.

From my 1969 Guinness Book of Records -- the most severe dance marthon took place in Atlantic City, New Jersey. A couple named Frankie Lo Vacchio and Ruthie Smith danced (with 15 min breaks every hour) from May 27----Oct 19, 1932. This man later started singing and changed his name to Frankie Laine!

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