Trivia

One of 13 children, he was the seventh son of a seventh son--a sign of good luck in Italian families.

In May 2001, days after Como's death, columnist William F. Buckley wrote a column describing a past act of Como's kindness when he gave Buckley's mother a jeweled brooch of his (when she needed a pin to repair an outfit) on board a plane.

Had three children: Ronnie, David and Terri. David and Terri were both adopted, David at the age of four, because Roselle could no longer have children after the birth of her first child.

Commenting on the relaxing effect his music has on people, Dean Martin once joked that he "used to go over to Perry's to borrow a cup of sleep".

Had the longest stay of any popular artist with RCA Victor Records: 1943-88.

He was the first of his many brothers and sisters to have been born in America.

Sold well over 50 million records. Had 13 #1 hit songs--the first was "Till The End of Time" in 1945.

His 1946 recording of "Jingle Bells" topped Billboard magazine's Hot Ringtones chart--five years after he died. (December 2006)

Following his death, he was interred with his wife Roselle Beline at Riverside Memorial Park in Tequesta, Palm Beach County, Florida. He passed away only six days before his 89th birthday.

Performed at a ten-cent-a-dance in Pittsburgh called "The Grove" in the early 1930s. He did not have a car to get to work, so he traveled to work on a trolley every day.

Inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame (1990).

The private Como was exactly as he appeared to the public: a quiet, self-effacing man who considered his performing activities as strictly tertiary to his family and his faith. While he had numerous million-selling singles and albums, he refused to have most of them certified gold (later platinum) out of modesty. A notable exception was when his album "Como's Gold Records" (RCA Victor: 1958) was released. One of the first compilation albums to become a best-seller, with liner notes by Irving Berlin, it became a million-seller in and of itself, and remained on the Billboard charts for more than a decade after its release.

He was awarded three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 1708 Vine St., for Recording at 6631 Hollywood Blvd. and for Television at 6376 Hollywood Blvd.

Posthumously inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame (2006).

When Como was briefly under contract to make movies for M-G-M in the 1940s, he essentially sabotaged his own career: At the annual studio celebration of mogul Louis B. Mayer's birthday, Como was forced to sing "Happy Birthday" to the ego maniacal studio head. To express his resentment at being made to perform against his wishes, Como changed the lyrics to "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you -- you big fat S.O.B.!" Needless to say, Mayer was offended, and used his influence to ensure that Como would never become a movie star. Instead, he became one of the most popular weekly hosts on 1950's television.

One of his biggest hits, "Hot Diggity", was freely adapted from Emmanuel Chabrier's popular classical piece, "España".

One of the most popular male vocalists of all time, his list of hit records, over a 30-year period, is a testament to his durability. His many hits include "Till the End of Time", "Temptation", "Prisoner of Love", "Because", "When You Were Sweet Sixteen", "Wanted", "No Other Love", "Hot Diggety", "(There's No Place Like) Home For the Holidays", "Round and Round", "Catch a Falling Star", "Delaware", "Seattle", "It's Impossible" and "And I Love You So".

Had a big hit with "Lili Marlene" in the United States and Canada.

Owned the television and film production company Roncom Films.

In the mid-1950s, when his variety series was riding high in the ratings, NBC desperately wanted to tie-up Como's services with a long-term contract that would prevent him from ever appearing on any rival TV network. As eventually negotiated and signed by both parties, the resultant $25 million contract was one of the most lucrative at the time, guaranteeing NBC sole access to Como's talents for decades to come.

Godfather of Debby Boone.

He owned a vacation home in Saluda, North Carolina.

He loved golf and played as often as he could, often with professional players and friends such as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.

He enjoyed fishing and went out in his boat almost every day after he and his family moved to Florida.

In Perry Como's French-Canadian Christmas (1981), he sings in duet with Diane Tell a medley of the songs "C'est Magnifique" (written in 1953 by Cole Porter) and "C'est si Bon" (written in 1947 by Henri Betti and André Hornez).