Russ Columbo - All of Me (1931)

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.

However, the news was withheld from his mother by his brothers and sisters for ten years due to her previous heart condition that may be fatal if informed (She died in 1944). They used all manner of subterfuges of him still alive, including faked letters from him and records used to simulate his radio program.


Russ Columbo - All of Me (1931)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Russ
• Columbo
• 1931
• 30's

[genia106]

GOD! I love RUSS!

Thank you for this ultra-romantic RUSS!

[cincotti]

WONDERFUL !!!

[avdreader1]

count...My mom loved jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy. I miss her very much.

[avdreader1]

I have a copy on cassette of this. I like it!

[countessyasmin]

@livnfree930

Russ Columbo was my dad's favorite singer. It does bring back memories of my dad. I miss him terribly.

[alvaroriccardi]

Gran cantante y excelente interpretación de "All of me"

[livnfree930]

@countessyasmin I agree! He was a handsome man...and such a romantic singer!

[livnfree930]

Wow! Thank you so much for giving us this great old music and artists! I baked my apple pies late into the night listening to this soothing music! And I could see my parents alive again! Can't put a price on that!!

[countessyasmin]

What a handsome man, and a great singer. Died too young!!

[ctmale1956]

What a great singer and wonderful job he did on this song......

[rogharm]

love russ great voice and great minor key arrangement!********great  posting thank you ROGHARM