Vic Damone

Vic Damone (born Vito Rocco Farinola; June 12, 1928 – February 11, 2018) was an American traditional pop and big band singer and actor. He was best known for his performances of songs such as the number one hit "You're Breaking My Heart", and other hits such as "On the Street Where You Live" (from My Fair Lady) and "I Have But One Heart".

He was born June 12, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York to Rocco and Domenica (Damone) Farinola. He was raised in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

When his father was injured at work, Damone had to drop out of Lafayette High School. He worked as an usher and elevator operator at the Paramount Theater in Manhattan.

Damone met Perry Como while at the Paramount Theater. Damone stopped the elevator between floors and sang for him. Como was impressed and referred him to a friend for an audition.

He began his career at the New York radio station WHN when he was 17, singing on the Gloom Dodgers show, which provided light entertainment to fans of the Brooklyn Dodgers. He changed his name (using his mother's maiden name) at the suggestion of a regular on the show, comedian Morey Amsterdam.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.