Jerry Vale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jerry Vale
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Vale in 1965
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gennaro Louis Vitaliano |
| Born | July 8, 1930 The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Died | May 18, 2014 (aged 83) Palm Desert, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Easy listening, Traditional pop |
| Occupation(s) | Vocalist |
Jerry Vale (born Gennaro Louis Vitaliano; July 8, 1930 – May 18, 2014) was an American singer and actor. He was famous for his romantic songs. He sang many popular ballads in the 1950s and 1960s. Some of his hits included "You Don't Know Me" (in 1956) and "Have You Looked into Your Heart" (in 1964).
Jerry Vale was proud of his Italian background. He sang many songs in Italian. Some of these songs were even used in movies by director Martin Scorsese. He released albums like I Have But One Heart (1962) and Arrivederci, Roma (1963). These albums were full of classic Italian songs. Some popular ones were "Amore, Scusami" and "O Sole Mio". His versions of "Volare" and "Al di là" became very well-known.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps
Jerry Vale was born Gennaro Louis Vitaliano in the Bronx, New York. His parents were immigrants from Italy. He grew up in a part of the Bronx called Wakefield. Many Italian-American families lived there at the time.
When he was in high school, Jerry worked shining shoes. He sang while he worked in a barbershop. His boss, Vito Veneziano, liked his singing very much. He even paid for Jerry to take music lessons. Jerry started singing in school plays and at a local nightclub. As a teenager, he left school to work in a factory with his father.
Becoming a Star
Jerry Vale's early singing at nightclubs led to more shows. In the early 1950s, he sang for three years at a club called the Enchanted Room. There, he met Paul Insetta, who managed famous singers. Paul Insetta helped Jerry improve his singing. He also arranged for Jerry to record some demo songs. These were sample recordings to show his talent.
Paul Insetta took these demos to Columbia Records. Another singer, Guy Mitchell, introduced Jerry Vale to Mitch Miller. Mitch Miller was in charge of finding new artists at Columbia Records. Jerry Vale signed a recording contract with Columbia. Paul Insetta continued to be his manager for many years.
In 1950, Jerry Vale appeared on a TV show called the Ted Mack Amateur Hour. He sang the song "It Isn't Fair" on the show.
His first song released by Columbia was "You Can Never Give Me Back My Heart." It reached number 29 on the Billboard music chart. This was his first big hit in the U.S.
His Music and Movies
Jerry Vale recorded "The Star-Spangled Banner" in 1963. This version was played at many sports events for years. The special gold record he received was even shown at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Jerry Vale often sang the song at Yankee Stadium. He also owned a baseball team called the Daytona Beach Admirals.
In 1990, he sang the theme song "It's A Late Night World" for the TV show Late Night with David Letterman. He also appeared in two movies directed by Martin Scorsese. He played himself in the films Goodfellas (1990) and Casino (1995).
His Family Life
In 1959, Jerry Vale married Rita Grapel. They had two children, Robert and Pamela. A book about his life, called A Singer's Life, was published in 2000.
Later Years and Passing
Jerry Vale passed away on May 18, 2014. He was 83 years old. He died at his home in Palm Desert, California. He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Cathedral City, California.
Awards and Recognition
In 1998, Jerry Vale received a Golden Palm Star. This star was placed on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. It honors famous people in Palm Springs, California.
What He Recorded
- Jerry Vale discography
See Also
In Spanish: Jerry Vale para niños
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart
