Andy Russell

Andy Russell September 16 1919April 16 1992 was an American popular vocalist specializing in traditional pop and Latin music He was born Andrés Rabago Pérez in the Boyle Heights area of East Los Angeles He was one of ten children eight boys two girls born to parents who were Mexican immigrants of Spanish descent Already as a teenager he had begun to perform as a vocalist and drummer with a local band headed by Don Ramon Cruz In the early forties he Anglicized his name Andy was obvious but Russell was after the singer Russ Columbo He became vocalist and drummer with the bands of Johnny Richards Gus Arnheim Sonny Dunham and Alvino Rey By 1944 he had become well enough regarded a pop vocalist to be featured on radio and in the next year had his Old Gold Show He also signed on with Capitol Records His first charted hit was Bésame Mucho Capitol 149 1944 The same year he had his biggest hit which became his signature tune Amor Capitol 156 with the flip side The Day After Forever from the film Broadway Rhythm He had two more hits that year What a Difference a Day Made Capitol 167 paired with Dont You Notice Anything New and I Dream of YouMagic Is Moonlight Capitol 175 He had another big hit in 1946 with I Cant Begin to Tell You Capitol 221 from the film The Dolly Sisters This became the fourth top ten seller in the country for Russell in less than two years and the big time was calling The next big hit came later in 1946 a twosided hit with Laughing on the Outside and They Say Its Wonderful from the Broadway show Annie Get Your Gun Capitol 252 His next hit was Pretending Capitol 271 backed with Who Do You Love was another topten seller He was also invited to Hollywood and screen tested for motion pictures In 1946 he appeared in The Stork Club and Breakfast In Hollywood He was on the soundtrack of Walt Disneys Make Mine Music and appeared in the picture Copacabana the next year In 1946 the people running the pop music radio program Your Hit Parade asked him to take the place of Frank Sinatra Sinatra returned in 1947 This led to increased popularity for the singer He died in Sun City Arizona He was buried in the Loma Vista Memorial Park in Fullerton California Description above from the Wikipedia article Andy Russell singer licensed under CCBYSA full list of contributors on Wikipedia