242:. In 1947, at the age of 14, he moved to Toronto with his parents and brother Marc, where he entered Central Tech to study architecture and building construction. He changed the focus of his studies to radio, and in 1952, at the age of 19, secured a position at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in the engineering department as a radio operator while concurrently studying voice with Dr. Ernesto Vinci at the University of Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music.
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as a replacement for Ed Cobb, the original bass singer. In 1969, he and Bruce
Belland, the Four Preps's original lead singer, concentrated on a folk/comedy act as the duo of Belland & Somerville. As such, they appeared in concert with Henry Mancini and Johnny Mathis and were regulars on
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It contained many original songs and characters and received critical acclaim in the U.S. and Canada. The
Diamonds have been honored and inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame, The Doo Wop Hall of Fame, The Rockabilly Hall of Fame and are recipients of Canada's Juno Award.
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during the fall of 1953, Somerville met by chance an unnamed quartet (Stan Fisher, Ted
Kowalski, Phil Levitt and Bill Reed) and soon became their vocal coach. Later that year when Fisher opted for college, Dave became the group’s lead singer. That quartet became The Diamonds.
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in New York City. In
February 1956 with the recommendation of Cleveland’s genius DJ, Dr. Bill Randle, they signed a long-term contract with Mercury Records. Somerville performed eight years with The Diamonds, singing lead on all sixteen of their
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In 1972, Somerville formed the group WW Fancy, which also included Keith
Barbour and Gail Jensen as members. In the late 1980s, he again sang with original members of The Diamonds and also returned to The Four Preps with Bruce Belland,
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selections, peaking with the song "Little Darlin';" for eight weeks, this selection remained at #2 on the charts, becoming the third best selling single record of 1957. Multiple appearances on
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214:(October 2, 1933 – July 14, 2015) was a Canadian singer operating primarily in the United States, best known as the co-founder, and original lead singer, of
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as his teacher, and made numerous guest-starring appearances, often credited as "David Troy", on various television programs.
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agency. As such, he did extensive voice-over work and was heard in hundreds of radio, television and cable advertisements.
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prime-time comedy series. As songwriters, Bruce and Dave co-wrote "The
Troublemaker," which became the title track of two
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In 1967, Somerville's only child from his marriage to Corns, David
Orlando Somerville, was born.
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albums; and the duo sang in a later roster of the Four Preps with Jim Pike of The
Lettermen.
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and Jim Yester of The
Association. In 1972, Somerville sang background vocals along with
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694:"Dave Somerville, Lead Singer of the Doo-Wop Group The Diamonds, Dies at 81"
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Television, which became a highly successful television series for
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increased Dave's visibility. In August 1961, he left The
Diamonds.
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After leaving the Diamonds, Somerville married Judy Corns of
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Fall Guy, Featured, Co-Wrote Theme, Glen Larson Productions
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During this period, Somerville also studied acting, with
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Two Dreams Met, Spence Baldwin, Theatre 206, Los Angeles
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Mike Douglas Show, Guest Star, Mike Douglas Productions
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American Bandstand, Guest Star, Dick Clark Productions
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Around this time, he became one of the clients of the
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Magic Moments, The Best of 50s Pop, Star, PBS Special
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On August 1, 1955, the group tied for first place on
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586:The Doberman Gang, Principle, Rosamond Productions
513:Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo, Co-Star, Universal
646:"Rock And Roll Lullaby by B.J. Thomas Songfacts"
672:"The Diamonds' Dave Somerville dies at age 81"
583:A Sign of the Times, Star, Orsatti Productions
627:2006, Inducted into the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame.
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789:Deaths from pancreatic cancer in California
599:Dew Drop Inn Sam, Cast Theatre, Los Angeles
320:The 1960s, including the "David Troy" years
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774:Canadian expatriates in the United States
522:McCloud, Co-Star, Glen Larson Productions
452:On The 1957 Rock & Roll Greyhound Bus
106:Learn how and when to remove this message
486:Somerville died of pancreatic cancer in
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555:Smothers Bros. Special, Guest Star, NBC
804:The Royal Conservatory of Music alumni
552:Henry Mancini Special, Guest Star, NBC
490:, on July 14, 2015, at the age of 81.
444:The Cosmic Adventures of Diamond Dave.
442:His first children's album was titled
769:Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees
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737:Greg Morris' Tribute to The Diamonds
670:Falcone, Dana Rose (July 16, 2015).
519:Rooster, Principle, 20th Century Fox
405:The (Ballad of the) Unknown Stuntman
44:adding citations to reliable sources
534:Merv Griffin Show, Guest Star, KTTV
507:Automan, Featured, 20th Century Fox
604:Awards as a member of The Diamonds
546:Tony Bennett Show, Guest Star, NBC
525:Star Trek TOS, Featured, Paramount
343:, which has since merged with the
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549:Midnight Special, Guest Star, NBC
263:Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
620:October 2004, Inducted into the
558:Spider-Man, principal, Universal
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784:Canadian male television actors
516:The Gathering, Star, Metromedia
31:needs additional citations for
692:Barnes, Mike (July 17, 2015).
450:Somerville's last stage show,
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580:The Big Beat, Star, Universal
567:Doo Wop 51, Star, PBS Special
540:Tonight Show, Guest Star, NBC
531:Steve Allen, Guest Star, NBC
615:Canadian Music Hall of Fame
561:Perry Como, Guest Star, NBC
537:Billboard Awards, Star, CBS
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528:Tim Conway Show, Star, CBS
347:to become the present-day
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779:Canadian male film actors
732:Fan site for The Diamonds
504:Double Dare, Co-Star, NBC
488:Santa Barbara, California
315:Career after the Diamonds
257:Formation of the Diamonds
172:Santa Barbara, California
794:Male actors from Ontario
622:Vocal Group Hall of Fame
349:William Morris-Endeavor
246:Years with the Diamonds
613:and inducted into the
345:Endeavor Talent Agency
261:In the hallway of the
799:Musicians from Guelph
398:Rock and Roll Lullaby
354:In 1967, Dave joined
341:William Morris Agency
212:David Troy Somerville
133:David Troy Somerville
696:. Hollywood Reporter
458:& The Crickets,
40:improve this article
464:The Everly Brothers
403:Somerville's song "
326:Evansville, Indiana
238:, 50 miles west of
742:2014-10-04 at the
292:American Bandstand
650:www.songfacts.com
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38:Please help
33:verification
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764:2015 deaths
759:1933 births
494:Filmography
468:Chuck Berry
460:Fats Domino
456:Buddy Holly
409:Glen Larson
330:David Troy.
307:Steve Allen
753:Categories
700:2016-02-16
678:2016-02-22
632:References
611:Juno Award
499:Television
420:Lee Majors
363:Tim Conway
299:Perry Como
270:Prominence
179:Occupation
144:1933-10-02
129:Birth name
66:newspapers
418:starring
285:Billboard
222:Biography
740:Archived
674:. EW.com
236:Rockwood
226:Born in
157:, Canada
655:28 June
386:Ed Cobb
240:Toronto
232:Ontario
191:Website
155:Ontario
80:scholar
474:Family
466:, and
428:ABC-TV
422:, for
369:CBS-TV
303:, and
228:Guelph
182:Singer
151:Guelph
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575:Films
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