Alan Dale (singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alan Dale
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Aldo Sigismondi |
| Born | July 9, 1925 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Origin | New York City, U.S. |
| Died | April 20, 2002 (aged 76) New York City |
| Genres | Traditional pop, rock and roll |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1943–2002 |
| Labels | Signature, Columbia, Decca, Coral, ABC, MGM, United Artists |
Alan Dale (born Aldo Sigismondi; July 9, 1925 – April 20, 2002) was an American singer. He was known for singing both traditional pop music and early rock and roll songs.
Early Life of Alan Dale
Aldo Sigismondi was born in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Aristide Sigismondi, came to the United States from Italy. He was a comedian in Italian theater and even had his own radio show. Aldo's mother, Agata "Kate" Sigismondi, was born in Sicily.
When Aldo was nine, he got his first chance to perform. His father needed someone to sing on his radio program, so he asked Aldo. Aldo sang well and became a regular on his father's show.
Aldo first wanted to be a journalist. But he left school and tried different jobs. In 1943, he and a friend passed a casino in Coney Island. His friend suggested he try out for a singing job. Aldo was hired right away after singing seven songs!
In 1944, he joined the Carmen Cavallaro Orchestra as a singer. Cavallaro suggested he get a new name. He chose "Alan Dale" after the character Alan-a-Dale. From 1944 to 1945, Dale sang for George Paxton's Orchestra. He became very popular in the East Coast, performing at the Roseland Ballroom in New York. He also recorded music for Majestic Records.
Alan Dale's Musical Career
In 1947, a record producer named Bob Thiele encouraged Alan Dale to become a solo artist. He signed with Signature Records. He first appeared as a solo singer in a film short in December 1947. The next year, he got his own television show, The Alan Dale Show, on the DuMont Television Network. In 1950, his show moved to CBS.
In the early 1950s, Alan Dale moved between different record labels. He recorded with Columbia and Decca. He then settled with Coral. This is where he had his biggest hits.
Some of his popular songs include:
- "(The Gang that Sang) Heart of My Heart" (with Johnny Desmond and Don Cornell), which reached #10 on Billboard in 1953.
- "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White", which reached #14 in 1955.
- "Sweet and Gentle", which also reached #10 in 1955.
The last two songs sold over one million copies each. They were given gold discs for their high sales. Also in 1955, his songs "I'm Sincere" and "Rockin The Cha-Cha" became top 40 hits.
Alan Dale became friends with Alan Freed, a famous DJ. This led to him playing a rock and roll singer in the 1956 film, Don't Knock the Rock. In this movie, he appeared with Bill Haley & His Comets and Little Richard. He sang the movie's title song. He also sang "I Cry More," which was one of the first songs written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for a movie.
In 1957, he changed record labels again. He recorded with ABC, MGM, and United Artists.
Later Years and Passing
Towards the end of the 1950s, Alan Dale's career began to slow down. He continued to perform in nightclubs, dinner theaters, and concerts for many years.
Alan Dale passed away in New York in 2002. He was 76 years old.
