175:, the 12th child of Italian immigrant parents Nicola and Giulia (Julia) Colombo. He attended Everett Grammar School and started playing the violin at a very young age, debuting professionally at the age of 13. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was 16, and he attended Belmont High School there. He left high school at age 17 to study violin under Calmon Luvovski and travel with various bands around the country. He sang and played violin in numerous
435:
44:
430:
Columbo's mother was hospitalized in serious condition from a heart attack at the time of the accident; the news was withheld from her by his brothers and sisters for the remaining 10 years of her life. Owing to her previous heart condition, it was feared that the news would prove fatal to her (she
322:
Columbo composed the songs "Prisoner of Love" and "You Call It
Madness (But I Call It Love)" with Con Conrad, Gladys Du Bois, and Paul Gregory; "Too Beautiful For Words", recorded by the Teddy Joyce Orchestra in 1935; "When You're in Love", "My Love", and "Let's Pretend There's a Moon", recorded by
413:
I was absent-mindedly fooling around with one of the guns. It was of a dueling design and works with a cap and trigger. I was pulling back the trigger and clicking it time after time. I had a match in my hand and when I clicked, apparently the match caught in between the hammer and the firing pin.
422:
made an unsuccessful attempt to remove the ball from
Columbo's brain; he died less than six hours after the shooting. Columbo's death was ruled an accident and Brown was exonerated from blame. His funeral Mass was attended by numerous Hollywood actors, including Bing Crosby and
200:
and His
Orchestra. Eventually, he obtained some feature work in front of the camera, but he slowed down his activities in cinema to pursue other interests. At the time of his death, Columbo had just completed work on the film
311:. Columbo disliked the label, but it caught on with the general public. It gained popular credence, despite its initial use as a term of derision for the singers employing their low, soothing voices in
268:
Columbo ran a nightclub for a while, the Club
Pyramid, but gave it up when his manager told him he had star potential. In 1931, he traveled to New York City with his manager, songwriter
1090:
431:
died in 1944). They used all manner of subterfuge to give the impression that
Columbo was still alive, including faked letters from him and records used to simulate his radio program.
1100:
409:, while Columbo was visiting him at home. Brown had a collection of firearms, and the two men were examining various pieces. Quoting Brown's description of the accident:
159:, songwriter, violinist, and actor. He is famous for romantic ballads such as his signature tune "You Call It Madness, But I Call It Love" and his own compositions "
1029:
288:
and began seeing her. Conrad did his best to break the relationship up with a series of publicity-created "ruse romances" involving
Columbo and actresses such as
1125:
1075:
1110:
1105:
1115:
1095:
1055:
1135:
1120:
458:
1130:
975:
419:
443:
844:
818:
766:
688:
662:
616:
560:
1080:
1065:
792:
740:
714:
586:
1085:
999:
956:
936:
922:
908:
894:
1070:
531:
280:
records, and tremendous popularity with legions of mostly female fans. Not long after arriving in New York, Columbo met actress
641:
203:
332:
160:
499:
296:; it succeeded. (Dorothy Dell died in an auto accident in June 1934—just months before Columbo's own fatal accident.)
1060:
237:
427:, who was to have had dinner with Columbo the evening of the accident and who was romantically involved with him.
1021:
405:
On Sunday, September 2, 1934, Columbo was shot under peculiar circumstances by a longtime friend, photographer
504:
227:
1050:
1045:
457:
was serving as
Columbo's private secretary at the time of his death and was later called upon by the
447:
387:
478:
360:
960:
172:
78:
485:, which he recorded with the group Clang. Columbo is one of the historical figures named in the
1004:
1016:
981:
971:
952:
932:
918:
904:
890:
406:
393:
381:
316:
249:
Columbo performed seven vocals while with
Arnheim as a member of the string section, six for
207:; he was on his way to stardom when his life was cut short. Among Columbo's other films are:
1024:
Survey of
American Popular Music by Frank Hoffmann (modified for the web by Robert Birkline)
454:
285:
869:
192:
By 1928, at the age of 20, Columbo began to participate in motion pictures, including a
424:
418:
The ball ricocheted off a nearby table and hit
Columbo above the left eye. Surgeons at
372:
356:
1039:
490:
336:
312:
222:
212:
107:
253:
and only one for Victor ("A Peach of a Pair") on June 18, 1930, a few months before
494:
486:
364:
281:
262:
250:
434:
915:
Russ Columbo: The Amazing Life and Mysterious Death of a Hollywood Singing Legend
1007:
376:
340:
324:
304:
300:
289:
254:
232:
197:
385:
with his recording. James Brown had a top-20 pop hit and performed the song on
470:
368:
348:
328:
293:
277:
269:
1000:
Good introduction to Columbo--some basic facts implemented into this article
985:
352:
344:
258:
217:
193:
176:
17:
315:
songs. Similarly, to reinforce his romantic appeal, he was called "Radio's
43:
942:
Time Capsule 1944; a History of the Year Condensed from the Pages of Time
308:
156:
126:
1012:
461:
to testify and identify Columbo's remains at the subsequent inquest.
438:
Crypt of Russ Columbo in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Glendale
299:
The type of singing that was popularized by the likes of Columbo,
493:". Columbo is one of the three famous crooners named in the 1932
966:
Rasmussen, Cecilia (1998). "No Juliet for the 'Romeo of Song'".
103:
961:
https://www.fantasticfiction.com/a/beverly-adam/two-lovers.htm
276:. This led to numerous engagements, a recording contract with
273:
968:
L.A. Unconventional: The Men and Women Who Did L.A. Their Way
949:
Two Lovers: the love story of Carole Lombard and Russ Columbo
414:
There was an explosion. Russ slid to the side of his chair.
929:
You Call It Madness : The Sensuous Song of the Croon
887:
A Prisoner of Love - The Definitive Story of Russ Columbo
507:'s artistic name was adapted from Columbo's first name.
151:(January 14, 1908 – September 2, 1934), known as
793:"Timely Closeups From Hollywood: Columbo Ceremonial"
133:
121:
113:
99:
85:
65:
55:
50:
34:
970:. Los Angeles: Los Angeles Times. pp. 97–98.
587:"Theatre Offerings for Next Week: At the Princess"
477:. In 1995, 61 years after Columbo's death, singer
845:"Death of Russ Columbo's Mother Ends Tender Hoax"
1091:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
741:"Coroner's Jury Hears Story of Colombo's Death"
196:short in which Columbo appeared as a member of
819:"Mrs. Columbo is Not Yet Aware of Son's Death"
1101:Firearm accident victims in the United States
8:
483:Prisoner of Love (A Tribute to Russ Columbo)
610:
608:
272:, who secured a late-night radio slot with
335:" is a standard that has been recorded by
42:
31:
1005:Some reviews of a Russ Columbo book from
532:"Bullet Fired Accidentally Kills Singer"
433:
555:
553:
516:
663:"Russ Columbo Dies By Accidental Shot"
526:
524:
522:
520:
901:Russ Columbo and the Crooner Mystique
379:. Perry Como had a number-one hit on
27:American singer, violinist, and actor
7:
689:"Russ Columbo Is Accidentally Slain"
615:Kilgallen, Dorothy (June 5, 1941).
459:Los Angeles County Coroner's Office
149:Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolfo Colombo
61:Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolfo Colombo
1126:20th-century American male singers
1076:American people of Italian descent
917:. Silver Tone Publications, 2001.
25:
1111:20th-century American male actors
1106:Musicians from Camden, New Jersey
715:"Columbo's Death Held Accidental"
163:" and "Too Beautiful for Words".
1116:20th-century American violinists
959:2022 edition. International ed:
899:Lanza, Joseph and Dennis Penna.
473:recorded a tribute album titled
1096:Deaths by firearm in California
1056:Accidental deaths in California
1:
1136:Traditional pop music singers
1121:20th-century American singers
651:. New York. December 5, 1931.
1131:American male jazz musicians
767:"Other Columbo Gun Unloaded"
561:"Russ Columbo Doesn't Croon"
889:. Bear Manor Media, 2006,
870:Camden People, Russ Columbo
500:Crosby, Columbo, and Vallee
257:joined the band along with
1152:
1081:American male pop singers
1066:American male film actors
481:released an album titled
444:Forest Lawn Memorial Park
391:and in the concert movie
41:
1086:American male violinists
944:. Time-Life Books, 1967.
371:on vocals, Bing Crosby,
117:Actor, singer, violinist
1071:American jazz musicians
719:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
536:The Evening Independent
442:Columbo is interred in
420:Good Samaritan Hospital
331:; and "Hello Sister". "
284:at an audition for the
238:Broadway Thru a Keyhole
95:Los Angeles, California
903:. Feral House, 2002.
823:The Ososso Argus-Press
745:Berkeley Daily Gazette
439:
416:
265:as "The Rhythm Boys".
51:Background information
951:. Createspace, 2016,
437:
411:
693:The Rock Hill Herald
448:Glendale, California
388:The Ed Sullivan Show
171:Columbo was born in
1022:Russ Columbo, from
825:. September 4, 1934
799:. September 6, 1934
773:. September 5, 1934
747:. September 5, 1934
721:. September 6, 1934
695:. September 4, 1934
669:. September 3, 1934
642:"Radio's Valentino"
617:"Voice of Broadway"
538:. September 3, 1934
593:. November 4, 1933
567:. November 1, 1931
465:In popular culture
440:
173:Camden, New Jersey
155:, was an American
79:Camden, New Jersey
1061:American crooners
977:978-1-883792-23-7
931:. Villard, 2004.
851:. August 31, 1944
565:Milwaukee Journal
407:Lansing Brown Jr.
394:The T.A.M.I. Show
204:Wake Up and Dream
143:
142:
89:September 2, 1934
16:(Redirected from
1143:
989:
873:
867:
861:
860:
858:
856:
841:
835:
834:
832:
830:
815:
809:
808:
806:
804:
789:
783:
782:
780:
778:
763:
757:
756:
754:
752:
737:
731:
730:
728:
726:
711:
705:
704:
702:
700:
685:
679:
678:
676:
674:
659:
653:
652:
646:
638:
632:
631:
629:
627:
612:
603:
602:
600:
598:
591:Montreal Gazette
583:
577:
576:
574:
572:
557:
548:
547:
545:
543:
528:
469:In 1958, singer
455:Virginia Brissac
333:Prisoner of Love
286:Ziegfeld Follies
161:Prisoner of Love
136:
92:
76:January 14, 1908
75:
73:
58:
46:
32:
21:
1151:
1150:
1146:
1145:
1144:
1142:
1141:
1140:
1036:
1035:
1030:signed portrait
996:
978:
965:
947:Adam, Beverly.
882:
880:Further reading
877:
876:
872:accessed 5.7.13
868:
864:
854:
852:
843:
842:
838:
828:
826:
817:
816:
812:
802:
800:
791:
790:
786:
776:
774:
765:
764:
760:
750:
748:
739:
738:
734:
724:
722:
713:
712:
708:
698:
696:
687:
686:
682:
672:
670:
661:
660:
656:
644:
640:
639:
635:
625:
623:
614:
613:
606:
596:
594:
585:
584:
580:
570:
568:
559:
558:
551:
541:
539:
530:
529:
518:
513:
475:I Remember Russ
467:
403:
247:
190:
185:
169:
146:
134:
94:
90:
77:
71:
69:
56:
37:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1149:
1147:
1139:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1123:
1118:
1113:
1108:
1103:
1098:
1093:
1088:
1083:
1078:
1073:
1068:
1063:
1058:
1053:
1048:
1038:
1037:
1034:
1033:
1027:
1019:
1010:
1002:
995:
994:External links
992:
991:
990:
976:
963:
945:
939:
925:
911:
897:
881:
878:
875:
874:
862:
849:The Miami News
836:
810:
784:
771:The Miami News
758:
732:
706:
680:
667:The Miami News
654:
633:
621:The Miami News
604:
578:
549:
515:
514:
512:
509:
466:
463:
425:Carole Lombard
402:
399:
373:Billy Eckstine
357:Mildred Bailey
246:
243:
209:Woman to Woman
189:
186:
184:
181:
168:
165:
145:Musical artist
144:
141:
140:
137:
131:
130:
123:
119:
118:
115:
111:
110:
101:
97:
96:
93:(aged 26)
87:
83:
82:
67:
63:
62:
59:
53:
52:
48:
47:
39:
38:
35:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1148:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1127:
1124:
1122:
1119:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1109:
1107:
1104:
1102:
1099:
1097:
1094:
1092:
1089:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1079:
1077:
1074:
1072:
1069:
1067:
1064:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1052:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1043:
1041:
1031:
1028:
1026:
1025:
1020:
1018:
1014:
1011:
1009:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
997:
993:
987:
983:
979:
973:
969:
964:
962:
958:
957:1-5327-5671-2
954:
950:
946:
943:
940:
938:
937:0-679-46308-9
934:
930:
927:Kaye, Lenny.
926:
924:
923:0-9677970-1-2
920:
916:
912:
910:
909:0-922915-80-6
906:
902:
898:
896:
895:1-59393-055-0
892:
888:
885:Toran, Tony.
884:
883:
879:
871:
866:
863:
850:
846:
840:
837:
824:
820:
814:
811:
798:
794:
788:
785:
772:
768:
762:
759:
746:
742:
736:
733:
720:
716:
710:
707:
694:
690:
684:
681:
668:
664:
658:
655:
650:
643:
637:
634:
622:
618:
611:
609:
605:
592:
588:
582:
579:
566:
562:
556:
554:
550:
537:
533:
527:
525:
523:
521:
517:
510:
508:
506:
502:
501:
496:
492:
491:Done Too Soon
489:composition "
488:
484:
480:
476:
472:
464:
462:
460:
456:
451:
449:
445:
436:
432:
428:
426:
421:
415:
410:
408:
400:
398:
396:
395:
390:
389:
384:
383:
378:
374:
370:
366:
362:
358:
354:
350:
346:
342:
338:
337:Frank Sinatra
334:
330:
326:
320:
318:
314:
310:
306:
302:
297:
295:
291:
287:
283:
279:
275:
271:
266:
264:
260:
256:
252:
244:
242:
240:
239:
234:
230:
229:
224:
220:
219:
214:
213:Betty Compton
210:
206:
205:
199:
195:
187:
182:
180:
178:
174:
166:
164:
162:
158:
154:
150:
138:
132:
128:
124:
122:Instrument(s)
120:
116:
114:Occupation(s)
112:
109:
108:popular music
105:
102:
98:
88:
84:
80:
68:
64:
60:
54:
49:
45:
40:
33:
30:
19:
1023:
1013:Russ Columbo
967:
948:
941:
928:
914:
913:Miano, Lou,
900:
886:
865:
853:. Retrieved
848:
839:
827:. Retrieved
822:
813:
801:. Retrieved
796:
787:
775:. Retrieved
770:
761:
749:. Retrieved
744:
735:
723:. Retrieved
718:
709:
697:. Retrieved
692:
683:
671:. Retrieved
666:
657:
648:
636:
624:. Retrieved
620:
595:. Retrieved
590:
581:
569:. Retrieved
564:
540:. Retrieved
535:
505:Andy Russell
498:
495:Looney Tunes
487:Neil Diamond
482:
474:
468:
452:
441:
429:
417:
412:
404:
392:
386:
380:
365:Teddy Wilson
321:
298:
282:Dorothy Dell
267:
263:Harry Barris
251:Okeh Records
248:
236:
226:
216:
208:
202:
191:
170:
153:Russ Columbo
152:
148:
147:
135:Years active
91:(1934-09-02)
36:Russ Columbo
29:
18:Russ Colombo
1051:1934 deaths
1046:1908 births
1008:Feral House
649:Radio Guide
377:James Brown
341:Jo Stafford
325:Fats Waller
305:Bing Crosby
301:Rudy Vallee
290:Greta Garbo
255:Bing Crosby
233:Gary Cooper
198:Gus Arnheim
1040:Categories
1032:(archived)
542:January 1,
511:References
503:. Crooner
471:Jerry Vale
369:Lena Horne
349:Perry Como
329:Tab Hunter
307:is called
294:Pola Negri
278:RCA Victor
270:Con Conrad
223:Lupe Vélez
177:nightclubs
167:Early life
72:1908-01-14
57:Birth name
382:Billboard
353:Ink Spots
345:Art Tatum
317:Valentino
259:Al Rinker
228:The Texan
218:Wolf Song
194:Vitaphone
139:1928–1934
986:40701771
855:June 24,
829:June 24,
803:June 24,
777:June 24,
751:June 24,
725:June 24,
699:June 24,
673:June 24,
626:June 24,
597:June 24,
571:June 24,
497:cartoon
479:Tiny Tim
453:Actress
397:(1964).
361:Tiny Tim
313:romantic
309:crooning
245:Musician
157:baritone
127:baritone
125:Violin,
797:The Day
235:), and
984:
974:
955:
935:
921:
907:
893:
375:, and
351:, the
303:, and
231:(with
221:(with
211:(with
183:Career
100:Genres
81:, U.S.
645:(PDF)
401:Death
367:with
188:Films
129:voice
1017:IMDb
982:OCLC
972:ISBN
953:ISBN
933:ISBN
919:ISBN
905:ISBN
891:ISBN
857:2010
831:2010
805:2010
779:2010
753:2010
727:2010
701:2010
675:2010
628:2010
599:2010
573:2010
544:2021
327:and
292:and
261:and
104:Jazz
86:Died
66:Born
1015:at
446:in
319:".
274:NBC
225:),
215:),
1042::
980:.
847:.
821:.
795:.
769:.
743:.
717:.
691:.
665:.
647:.
619:.
607:^
589:.
563:.
552:^
534:.
519:^
450:.
363:,
359:,
355:,
347:,
343:,
339:,
241:.
179:.
106:,
988:.
859:.
833:.
807:.
781:.
755:.
729:.
703:.
677:.
630:.
601:.
575:.
546:.
74:)
70:(
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.