Would you tell us about the life and career of Perry Como?
—Jim K., Arkansas
The smooth-voiced singer was born in Canonsburg, Pa. (pop. 8,607), in 1912, and began working as a barber at age 14. He always loved music, so he sang to his customers in the shop before making music his career. Starting out in the 1930s as a vocalist with big bands led by Freddy Carlone and Ted Weems, Como went on to a six-decade solo career and sold 100 million records, with the help of hits such as Till the End of Time, Some Enchanted Evening and Goodbye Sue. He won a Grammy in 1958 and five Emmy awards for his TV variety show. The father of three died at his home in Jupiter, Fla. (pop. 39,328), in 2001 at age 88, three years after his wife of 65 years, Roselle, died.
