Russ Columbo - You're My Everything (1932)

Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolpho Colombo (Jan.14,1908 - Sept.2,1934), better known as Russ Columbo

was an American singer, violinist and actor, most famous for his signature tune, "You Call It Madness, But I Call It Love," and the legend surrounding his early death.

Columbo was born in Camden, New Jersey, the twelfth child of Italian immigrant parents, Nicola and Giulia (Julia) Colombo. He started playing the violin while still very young, and debuted professionally at the age of 13. He left high school at 17 to travel with various bands around the country. He sang and played violin in numerous nightclubs.

By 1928, at the age of 20, Columbo began to participate in motion pictures, including a Vitaphone short in which Columbo appeared with Gus Arnheim and His Orchestra. Eventually, he did obtain some feature work in front of the camera, but he slowed down his activities in cinema to pursue other interests.

Columbo tried to run a nightclub for a while, but the venture was unsuccessful. In 1931, he traveled to New York with his manager, songwriter Con Conrad. Conrad secured a late-night radio slot with NBC. This led to numerous engagements, a recording contract with RCA Victor records, and tremendous popularity with legions of mostly female fans. The type of singing that was popularized by the likes of Columbo, Rudy Vallee, and Bing Crosby is called crooning. 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 romantic songs.

On September 2, 1934, Columbo was shot under peculiar circumstances by his longtime friend, photographer Lansing Brown. Columbo was visiting him at the studio one day. In lighting a cigarette, Brown lit the match by striking it against the wooden stock of an antique French dueling pistol. The flame set off a long-forgotten charge in the pistol chamber containing a lead ball. The ball ricocheted off a nearby table and hit Columbo in the left eye, killing him almost instantly. Columbo's death was ruled an accident, and Brown exonerated from blame. His funeral mass was attended by numerous Hollywood luminaries, including Bing Crosby and Carole Lombard.


Russ Columbo - You're My Everything (1932)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Russ
• Columbo
• 1932
• 20s
• 30s

[davidglow3]

He should have stuck to his real name....it slips of the tongue just so easiliy

[pettyduo1957]

Boy won't everyone at my funeral be surprised when they hear this verson by Russ? He is a year older than me but I remember hearing him as a little girl. Everyone knows that my husband and I love to dance to Carmen Cavellero's version but I will bet you none of them will know who this is. Thanks for keeping him on You Tube.

[marysu147]

At my age of 82...Russ Columbo does bring tears...what an original and lovely voice...truly,

and such a short life....Bigal in Ventura

[DigitalDiscusVideo]

Check out The Russ Columbo Society at RussColumbodotcom. You're cordially invited to join us by clicking "LIKE" on our Facebook page (link on our website). Our two main goals are to keep Russ' music alive and to gain for him a well deserved and long overdue star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. To this end, we have the support of Mr. Hugh M. Hefner (a great fan of both Russ Columbo and Carole Lombard), among others. Please join us!

[carrotjuse]

@davidglow3 Yes. It sounds so much more romantic than Russ.

[dholm5058]

What a thrill to listen to a truly great , but forgotten singer from the GOLDEN AGE OF MUSIC. No one sings this like Russ, with depth of feeling and beautiful arrangement. SUPERB!!!!

[rogharm]

great russ voice and great musical arrangement. great post ROGHARM

[Masquerade03]

Superb!