Bobby Darin, Too Short A Life
by Joe Pesole

Bobby was a child of the Depression, born May 14, 1936 in the Bronx, N.Y.  As a child, Bobby faced family turmoil, suffered through rheumatic fever, and had his first bouts with heart disease. This condition would plague the young Darin the rest of his life.
 
Bobby Darin was not an overnight success. He worked as a small-time record producer during the day, and sang in small clubs throughout the east, while continuing to write his own new material.

It was Bobby’s arrangement of a 1928 tune, from the popular musical, The Three-Penny Opera, that would help launch his career to superstardom. Darin was 23 when Mack the Knife was released. The 1959 song would change Bobby’s life, and become his signature tune, even 52 years later. “Mack” would stay at #1 for nine weeks, and in the top 10 for 22 weeks.

When he was 22, Bobby opened for George Burns in Tahoe and Vegas. Later as a Las Vegas headliner, Bobby would play to sold out audiences in three consecutive decades. This included the memorable Desert Inn sellouts in 1970-1971. His legendary shows at New York’s Copacabana nightclub saw night after night sellouts and produced a best-selling live album ("Darin at the Copa").

Like Frank Sinatra, Bobby would bring his natural talent and charisma to the “silver screen.” Darin made 13 films. In 1960, his first one, Come September was filmed in Rome. Darin’s co-star was his future wife, 16 year-old Sandra Dee. Like most young actors, Bobby’s movie performances opened to mixed reviews. The highlight of Bobby Darin’s acting career came with his 1963 Academy Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Captain Newman M.D.  Bobby didn’t win that Oscar, but his movie career would continue to rise.

Bobby Darin passed away December 20, 1973. He was only 37. Bobby’s short life was an ongoing battle with heart disease, family issues, and inner demons. What a career he had, and what a talented entertainer he was!

The “spirit” of Bobby Darin is still with us in Dennis Tufano’s As Long As I’m Singing.  For our friend Dennis Tufano, this is a labor of love, and not to be missed.

 

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Bobby Darin Chart Toppers
Top 10 Billboard Hits

Top Chart # Reached	Song Title	Written by Bobby Darin?	Year Released
1	Mack the Knife	No	1959
2	Dream Lover	Yes	1959
3	Splish Splash	Yes	1958
3	You're the Reason I'm Living	Yes	1962
3	Things	Yes	1961
6	Beyond the Sea	No	1959
8	If I Were A Carpenter	No	1966
9	Queen of the Hop	Yes	1958
10	18 Yellow Roses	Yes	1963

 

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Recommended Albums

Bobby Darin Live at the Flamingo
Fourteen tracks recorded live in Las Vegas, Nevada 11/9/63.
This gem was recorded two weeks before the death of President Kennedy.  Superlative version of My Funny Valentine, a staple in most Dennis Tufano shows. 

The Legendary Bobby Darin
Twenty-four tracks, including Bobby’s underappreciated Softly, as I Leave You, and a tough to find live version of Beyond the Sea recorded in 1973. 
These two songs are not to be missed. 

For the truly obsessed:
As Long As I'm Singing - The Bobby Darin Collection
The boxed set is comprised of four CDs encompassing Bobby Darin's
entire career, and the many genres he dared to cover.

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A Chronology

Year	Event
1936	Bobby was born Walden Robert Cassotto, Bronx, N.Y.
1956	First network television appearance, Tommy Dorsey show.
1958	Wrote, recorded and released Splish Splash
1959	Mack the Knife is released.  Nine weeks at #1.  Top 10 for 22 weeks.  Two Grammys, plus Song of the Year.
1960	Bobby’s first movie Come September is released.  He meets co-star and future wife Sandra Dee. They are married in December of 1960.
1960	“I want to be a legend by 25.”  It was Bobby’s infamous quote in a January 11th Life magazine feature article written by Shana Alexander.
1963	Nominated for an Oscar in Captain Newman M.D.
1967	Divorced from Sandra Dee.  Their son Dodd is an only child.
1968	Assassination of Bobby Kennedy, Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, CA.  Darin was on the scene as he was a tireless supporter of RFK.
1972	Bobby Darin’s Amusement Company TV show debuts on NBC. It began as a summer replacement for Dean Martin's variety show.
1973	Dec. 20, Bobby Darin dies following his second heart surgery to repair a faulty heart valve.  Gone too soon.
1990	Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
1998	PBS documentary Beyond the Sea is released
1999	Inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. Bobby's son Dodd accepts the award on his behalf.
2010	Grammy award for Lifetime Achievement. Once again Bobby's son accepts the award for his father.

Funstuff