Don Cornell
Encyclopedia
Don Cornell was an American
singer prominent mainly in the 1940s and 1950s noted for his smooth but robust baritone voice.
Born Luigi Varlaro in The Bronx
, New York
, Cornell got his start with trumpet
er Red Nichols
and bandleader
Sammy Kaye
before going solo
. He sold over 50 million records
. Among his hits
were "It Isn't Fair
," "I'm Yours
," "I'll Walk Alone
," and "Hold My Hand
." His version of "Hold My Hand" sold over one million copies, and topped the UK Singles Chart
in 1954. In 1993, he was inducted into the Big Band Hall of Fame. He was also a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon International Fraternity
.
He was among the top headliners, appearing on the nightclub circuit during the 1950s, when there were numerous such venues across the nation. When headlining at the Beverly Hills Supper Club, Southgate, Kentucky
– in metropolitan Cincinnati – he appeared many times on the popular Ruth Lyons
noon television program. He also hosted the show during some of Ms. Lyons' periodic absences.
In 1979, Cornell moved to Florida
. He died in Aventura
, Florida, from emphysema
and diabetes at the age of 84.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer prominent mainly in the 1940s and 1950s noted for his smooth but robust baritone voice.
Born Luigi Varlaro in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Cornell got his start with trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
er Red Nichols
Red Nichols
Ernest Loring "Red" Nichols was an American jazz cornettist, composer, and jazz bandleader.Over his long career, Nichols recorded in a wide variety of musical styles, and critic Steve Leggett describes him as "an expert cornet player, a solid improviser, and apparently a workaholic, since he is...
and bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
Sammy Kaye
Sammy Kaye
Sammy Kaye , born Samuel Zarnocay, Jr., was an American bandleader and songwriter, whose tag line, "Swing and sway with Sammy Kaye", became one of the most famous of the Big Band Era.-Biography:...
before going solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
. He sold over 50 million records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
. Among his hits
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
were "It Isn't Fair
It Isn't Fair
"It Isn't Fair" is a popular song written by Richard Himber, Frank Warshauer, and Sylvester Sprigato and published in 1933. The song became a pop standard; the best-known version was done by Don Cornell and the Sammy Kaye orchestra. This recording was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog...
," "I'm Yours
I'm Yours (1952 song)
"I'm Yours" is a 1952 popular song by Robert Mellin. Recordings of it were made by Eddie Fisher , Don Cornell, The Four Aces, and Toni Arden....
," "I'll Walk Alone
I'll Walk Alone
"I'll Walk Alone" is a 1944 popular song with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Sammy Cahn. The song, like others that came out during the World War II years such as "Till Then," reflects the enforced separation of couples caused by the war...
," and "Hold My Hand
Hold My Hand (1953 song)
"Hold My Hand" is a popular song, written by Jack Lawrence and Richard Myers. It was written in 1950 but only published in 1953.The hit version in 1953 was a recording by Don Cornell. The song was featured in the film, Susan Slept Here, and was nominated for the 1954 Academy Award for Best Song...
." His version of "Hold My Hand" sold over one million copies, and topped the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1954. In 1993, he was inducted into the Big Band Hall of Fame. He was also a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon International Fraternity
Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon is a college fraternity founded on January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University with chapters in the United States, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent...
.
He was among the top headliners, appearing on the nightclub circuit during the 1950s, when there were numerous such venues across the nation. When headlining at the Beverly Hills Supper Club, Southgate, Kentucky
Southgate, Kentucky
Southgate is a city in Campbell County, Kentucky, United States, a part of metropolitan Cincinnati, Ohio. The population was 3,472 at the 2000 census.-History:...
– in metropolitan Cincinnati – he appeared many times on the popular Ruth Lyons
Ruth Lyons (broadcaster)
Ruth Lyons, was a pioneer radio and television broadcaster in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is said Ruth Lyons accidentally invented the daytime TV talk show...
noon television program. He also hosted the show during some of Ms. Lyons' periodic absences.
In 1979, Cornell moved to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. He died in Aventura
Aventura, Florida
Aventura is a planned, suburban city located in northeastern Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name is from the Spanish word for "adventure", and was named "Aventura" after one of the developers of the original group of condominiums in the area remarked to the others, "What an adventure this is...
, Florida, from emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
and diabetes at the age of 84.
Hit records
| Year | Single | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
||
| 1942 | "I Left My Heart At the Stagedoor Canteen"(with Sammy Kaye) | 3 | |
| "I Came Here To Talk For Joe"(with Sammy Kaye) | 8 | ||
| 1947 | "That's My Desire"(with Sammy Kaye) | 2 | |
| "The Red Silk Stockings and Green Perfume"(with Sammy Kaye) | 8 | ||
| "The Little Old Mill"(with Sammy Kaye) | 24 | ||
| "Serenade of the Bells"(with Sammy Kaye) | 3 | ||
| "Hand In Hand"(with Sammy Kaye & Laura Leslie) | 21 | ||
| "I'll Hate Myself In the Morning"(with Sammy Kaye & Laura Leslie) | 20 | ||
| 1948 | "I Love You, Yes I Do"(with Sammy Kaye) | 10 | |
| "Tell Me a Story"(with Sammy Kaye) | 8 | ||
| "Down Among the Sheltering Palms"(with Sammy Kaye) | 14 | ||
| 1949 | "Careless Hands"(with Sammy Kaye) | 3 | |
| "Kiss Me Sweet"(with Sammy Kaye & Laura Leslie) | 29 | ||
| "Room Full of Roses"(with Sammy Kaye) | 2 | ||
| "Baby, It's Cold Outside"(with Sammy Kaye & Laura Leslie) | 12 | ||
| "It Isn't Fair"(with Sammy Kaye) | 2 | ||
| 1950 | "I Need You So" | 28 | |
| 1952 | "I'll Walk Alone" | 5 | |
| "I'm Yours" | 3 | ||
| "This Is the Beginning of the End" | 20 | ||
| "You'll Never Get Away"(with Teresa Brewer) | 17 | ||
| "I" | 7 | ||
| 1953 | "S'posin'" | 28 | |
| "She Loves Me" | 23 | ||
| "Please Play Our Song" | 18 | ||
| "Heart of My Heart"(with Alan Dale & Johnny Desmond) | 10 | ||
| "You're On Trial" | 24 | ||
| 1954 | "Size 12" | 23 | |
| "Believe In Me" | 22 | ||
| "Hold My Hand" | 2 | 1 | |
| 1955 | "Most of All" | 14 | |
| "The Door Is Still Open To My Heart" | flip | ||
| "Stranger In Paradise" | 19 | ||
| "The Bible Tells Me So" | 7 | ||
| "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" | 26 | ||
| "Young Abe Lincoln" | 25 | ||
| 1956 | "Teenage Meeting" | 80 | |
| "Rock Island Line" | 59 | ||
| "See Saw" | 57 | ||
| 1957 | "Mama Guitar" | 47 | |
External links
- The Powerhouse: Don Cornell, article on The Interlude Era site.
- Don Cornell at the IMDB
- Photo