Vic Damone was one of the great crooners of the traditional pop era. With a smooth baritone voice and impeccable phrasing, he became one of the most admired vocalists of the late 1940s and 1950s. Although he never enjoyed the pop culture fame of Frank Sinatra or Tony Bennett, Damone earned respect from critics, peers, and fans alike. His hits, including “You’re Breaking My Heart,” “On the Street Where You Live,” and “My Truly, Truly Fair,” remain beloved standards.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Vito Rocco Farinola (Vic Damone) |
| Birthdate | June 12, 1928 |
| Death | February 11, 2018 |
| Genres | Traditional Pop, Big Band, Easy Listening |
| Notable Hits | “You’re Breaking My Heart” (#1), “My Truly, Truly Fair,” “On the Street Where You Live,” “Again,” “Ebb Tide,” “My Heart Cries for You” |
| Labels | Mercury, Columbia, Capitol, Warner Bros. |
| Other Roles | TV Host, Film Actor, Las Vegas Headliner |
| Career Span | 1947–2002 |
| Total Songs Recorded | Over 2,000 |
| Awards & Honors | Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, praise from Frank Sinatra |
Early Life and Musical Influences
Vic Damone was born Vito Rocco Farinola on June 12, 1928, in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were Italian immigrants. He took the stage name “Damone” from his mother’s maiden name.
As a teenager, Damone was heavily influenced by Frank Sinatra, whose smooth vocal style he admired. He began taking singing lessons and eventually landed a job as an elevator operator at the Paramount Theater in Manhattan, where he met Perry Como. Impressed by Damone’s voice, Como referred him to a local bandleader.
Damone’s break came when he won Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, a popular television talent show. This led to a recording contract with Mercury Records.
Mercury Records Era (1947–1953)
Damone’s debut single, “I Have But One Heart,” was a success, reaching #7 on the Billboard chart in 1947. Over the next several years, he became a regular presence on the charts:
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“You Do” (#7)
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“Again” (#6)
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“You’re Breaking My Heart” (#1)
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“My Bolero” (#10)
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“My Truly, Truly Fair” (#4)
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“April in Portugal” (#10)
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“Ebb Tide” (#10)
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“My Heart Cries for You” (#4)
His recordings consistently blended orchestral arrangements with heartfelt vocal performances. In 1951, he signed a film contract with MGM and appeared in musicals like Rich, Young and Pretty and The Strip.
In 1952, Damone was drafted into the U.S. Army. While he served, Mercury continued releasing his unreleased material, including “Here in My Heart” (#8) and “Take My Heart” (#30).
Return from Military Service
Damone resumed his career after his discharge in 1953. He continued charting hits like:
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“Sugar” (#13)
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“Eternally (The Song from Limelight)” (#12)
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“Tell Me You Love Me” (#21)
He also appeared in several Hollywood films during the mid-1950s, including Athena, Deep in My Heart, and Kismet.
Columbia Records and Television Success
By 1956, Damone’s popularity began to wane as rock and roll started to dominate. Mercury dropped him, and he signed with Columbia Records.
That year, he had a major hit with “On the Street Where You Live,” which reached #4 in the U.S. and #1 in the U.K. His LP That Towering Feeling! made it into the Top 20 Billboard albums.
He also hosted The Vic Damone Show, a short-lived variety series from 1956 to 1957. Despite the change in musical trends, Damone remained relevant by focusing on adult contemporary listeners.
Capitol and Warner Bros. Years
After Columbia, Damone moved to Capitol Records, which had just lost Frank Sinatra. There, he recorded well-received albums such as:
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Linger Awhile with Vic Damone
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The Lively Ones
Although these projects charted on Billboard’s Top 100 albums, they failed to attract younger audiences. In 1965, he joined Warner Bros., where he released his final Top 40 pop hit, “You Were Only Fooling (While I Was Falling in Love)” (#30 pop, #8 adult contemporary).
By the late 1960s, his days as a chart-topping artist were essentially over.
Las Vegas Stardom and Financial Recovery
In 1971, Damone reinvented himself as a live performer. He debuted on the Las Vegas stage and quickly became one of the top draws on the casino circuit. This second act helped him recover from bankruptcy and re-establish his career.
Throughout the 1970s and ’80s, Damone toured extensively across the U.S. and abroad, particularly in the United Kingdom, where his fanbase remained strong.
Career Revival and Legacy
In the 1980s, a resurgence in traditional pop music gave Damone new opportunities. He continued recording and released his final studio album in 2002. Over the years, his earlier albums were reissued and repackaged for new audiences.
He also embraced the digital era, launching his official website and Facebook page to stay connected with fans.
Damone reportedly recorded over 2,000 songs in his lifetime. Even Frank Sinatra, known for being tough on fellow vocalists, once said, “Vic Damone has the best set of pipes in the business.”
Damone passed away on February 11, 2018, but his music still resonates with lovers of the classic American songbook.