Russ Columbo and the Crooner Mystique - Softcover

Lanza, Joseph; Penna, Dennis

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0922915806 ISBN 13: 9780922915804

Publisher: Feral House, 2002

Synopsis

The Hollywood Babylon-like story of the short-lived, Valentino-like crooner.

About this title

From Booklist:

A dashing Hollywood figure rather resembling Rudolph Valentino, crooner Russ Columbo once rivaled Bing Crosby. But he was killed by a tragic, accidental shooting--wasn't he? Lanza and Penna ask that and more in this lushly illustrated book about a filmland sensation of his time. Columbo got started in Hollywood as a violin prodigy, providing mood music for actors performing in silent films, but achieved the height of success as a slick, mustachioed singer. His fatal gunshot wounds were inflicted by Lansing Brown, with whom Columbo--get ready for this--"shared a camaraderie more profound than any euphemisms at the time could describe and far deeper than shallow customs of 'male bonding' usually encourage." All that, and healthy doses of Carole Lombard, Pola Negri, and other larger-than-life stars, too! Lanza and Penna's rather ethereal style seems fully appropriate for evoking the old Hollywood setting of their story, which fans of semiforgotten movie lore and death in questionable circumstances should absolutely love. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review:

A humdinger of a book that zings along ... like a crooner ballad on wheels. A hell of a good read. -- Ian Whitcomb, author, crooner, composer

An inspiration to ... wonderful singers like Perry Como. He had a much prettier face than Crosby and a prettier sound. -- Frankie Avalon

Exceptionally vivid, colorful, appreciative ... one of the best books about a singer that I have ever read ... very attractive ... well-written. -- Classic Images Magazine, February 2003

Lushly illustrated ... evoking the old Hollywood setting of [the authors'] story, which fans ... should absolutely love. -- Mike Tribby, Booklist

The wonderful flow of the writing combined with ... *new* facts and photos make this... A first class book! -- Vince Giordano: leader, Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks / BMG Archivist

This is the most comprehensive and deeply researched biography of the "Vocal Valentino" or "Romeo of Radio" ever written. -- Bob Deal, Memory Lane, Spring 2003

About this edition

• Publisher: Feral House
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0922915806
• ISBN 13: 9780922915804
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288