Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Armando "Buddy" Greco (August 14, 1926 – January 10, 2017) was an American jazz and pop singer and pianist.

Buddy Greco was born Armando Greco in Philadelphia. His mother introduced him to piano at the age of four. At an early age he was singing and performing on radio and, during his teens, in Philadelphia clubs. When he was 16, he was hired by Benny Goodman and toured worldwide. He spent four years with Goodman's orchestra, singing, playing piano, and arranging. WIKIPEDIA Greco died on January 10, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada, aged 90 VIDEO: Few can match the lifelong extraordinary talent of Buddy Greco. His peers have called him a singer's singer and a musician's musician. He has been internationally recognized year after year as one of the top Jazz pianists and vocalists of our time. He has appeared on every major television show and venue in the United States and throughout the world.

He began playing the piano at the age of four. As a child radio personality and gifted pianist he was a performing veteran by the age of 18 when he recorded his first hit 'Oh Look At Her Ain't She Pretty'. It was enough to interest Benny Goodman. Buddy accepted Benny Goodman's offer of a job as pianist, singer/arranger, and traveled the world with the Benny Goodman Band for two years. 
Since then, Buddy has sold millions of records and received gold records for hits such as 'The Lady Is A Tramp', and 'Around The World'. He enjoys rare distinction of having made 65 albums and 100 singles ranging in style from Jazz to Country/Western and Pop music. 

To date, Buddy's particular favourite album is the one he made with the London Symphony Orchestra, which he arranged, conducted and played piano. 'Mac Arthur Park' dedicated to Buddy by it's composer, Jimmy Webb is Buddy's favourite composition and it is his symphonic instrumental which closes each of his shows. 

Buddy has been honoured by his hometown and was inducted into the Philadelphia Music Alliance's 'Walk Of Fame'. He has also gained acclaim for his musicianship and talent in the 'Encyclopedia of Great Jazz Singers and Musicians'. 
Sixty years after he worked for Benny Goodman at the London Palladium and forty years after a Royal Command Performance with The Beatles for the Queen of England, he is still in great demand. He recently concluded a tour that took him to 72 cities performing 72 unforgettable shows, which drew standing ovations to capacity crowds. 

He has produced, with his wife of 15 years, vocalist, Lezlie Anders, a stage show entitled 'FEVER! The Music of Miss Peggy Lee', which has met with critical acclaim, and opens in London's West End in the spring of 2010.

Tweets from Easy Music Radio.com