Famed 50s singer Frankie Laine dies

[Maddy McCall]

Frankie Laine, the big-voiced singer whose string of hits made him one of the most popular entertainers of the 1950s, died today. He was 93.

Laine died of heart failure at Mercy Hospital in San Diego, Jimmy Marino, Laine’s producer of more than a dozen years, told The Associated Press.

“He was one of the greatest singers around,” Marino said. “He was one of the last Italian crooners type.”

With songs such as “That’s My Desire,” “Mule Train,” “Jezebel,” “I Believe” and “That Lucky Old Sun,” Laine was a regular feature of the Top Ten in the years just before rock ’n’ roll ushered in a new era of popular music.

Somewhat younger listeners may remember him best for singing the theme to the television show “Rawhide,” which ran from 1959 to 1966, and the theme for the 1974 movie “Blazing Saddles.”

He sold more than 100 million records and earned more than 20 gold records. His latest album was 2004's “Nashville Connection.”


http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070206/ENT/70206044

[wildhorses]

1. may he follow the wild goose

:patriot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y5WXROJNXg

[Poiuyt]

2. He was great at old cowboy songs

[wildhorses]

3. here is a smidgeon of rawhide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9INsNmT1qU

[RebelOne]

7. Here's one of my favorites -- High Noon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n86WXkd1ns

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear Maddy.........

Oh, I remember hearing him in my childhood......

RIP, my dear Frankie Laine.....

[KamaAina]

5. How do you handle a hungry man?

The Man-Handler! (no, not Snickers, you goons :P )

[WCGreen]

6. He was based out of Cleveland for a long time and

my old man claimed they use to drink together right after the war...

When I was a kid I thought he was talking about Frankie Valie...

[bmbmd]

8. Head 'em up

move 'em out.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

9. RIP Frankie

I used to listen to his version of "Rose Rose I Love You" several times when I was in college -I have many fond memories of listening to his wonderful voice and style of singing

Thank you Frankie -you brought much happiness to my life through your music and I will never forget you

[RFKHumphreyObama]

10. He also seems to have been a social activist with an interest in civil rights

From Wikipedia:

Along with opening the door for many R&B performers, Laine played a significant role in the equal rights movements of the 1950s and 60s. When Nat King Cole's television show was unable to get a sponsor, Laine crossed the color line, becoming the first white artist to appear as a guest (foregoing his usual salary of $10,000.00 as Cole's show only paid scale). Many other top white singers followed suit, including Tony Bennett and Rosemary Clooney, but Cole's show still couldn't get enough sponsors to continue.

In the following decade, Frankie Laine joined several African American artists who gave a free concert for Martin Luther King's supporters during their Selma to Montgomery marches on Washington DC.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankie_Laine#Social_Activism

[JitterbugPerfume]

11. I have one of his CDs

It was given to me by oneighty <sigh>

May they both rest in peace and love

[ForrestGump]

12. This is sad news

:-(

When I was a little kid, I used to sit on my rocking horse (it was a cool, white one, with real hair for its mane) and wear my white cowboy hat while I listened to his Hell Bent For Leather LP, which is the first LP I remember our family having. I always loved the man's voice, but those cowboy songs are what I most associate with him. Those were some cool songs, and to this day I love them all.




Rest In Peace, you strong-voiced Italian Cowboy.

[southlandshari]

13. Awww....

One of my all-time favorite pics of you, Gump, is of you as a little kid riding that rocking horse with that big old white cowboy hat on your head!

I don't know Laine's music, but I pray for his loved ones at the time of his passing.

[ForrestGump]

15. Baby!

Yew swait thaing, yew.....


Okay. I'll stop talking like the Big Bopper.

It is great to see you, though...it's been too long...and not (for a change) in the double-entendre sense.



Hi, Shari.

:hug:

Nice moon pies.


And nice signature picture.


:loveya:

[southlandshari]

16. it's good to see you, too, darlin'

:hug:

Lest we hijack what should be a thread of great reverance, I'll be on the lookout for you elsewhere around the forums, Gump!

;)

[Gato Moteado]

14. he went to the same high school that i attended

lane tech in chicago

[enigmatic]

17. A story about Frankie

Kinda sorta:

http://www.morticom.com/coincidencesentrys.htm

"Noel Mcabe, of Derby, was listening to the Frankie Lane record, 'Cry of the wild goose', when suddenly a Canadian goose crashed through his bedroom window, and two others fell outside!"

RIP, Frankie.

[southlandshari]

18. Why am I not surprised...

that you would know something like that?

:hi:

[Evoman]

19. Why the fuck are we talking about Frankie Laine...there are people dying in Iraq.

Ha..just kidding. I used to like listening to the old 40s/50s music when I was a kid (almost singularly among my peers). Old Frankie Laine lived a long life...RIP, good sir.

Edit: I'm not one for country/cowboy music, but Laine was an exception.