Singer. Born Michael John Roselli, he was one of the best tenor crooners of his time and one of the first artists to popularize Neapolitan music in America. He started singing at age 9 in local saloons and won first prize on the "Major Bowe's Amateur Hour" radio show at 14. After serving in the US Army during World War II, his first real break came when he was billed with Jimmy Durante at the Boston Theatre in 1946. He soon was performing at the most of prestigious venues in the US and in England, such as The Sands Las Vegas, Carnegie Hall New York, Cesars Atlantic City, Royal Albert Hall London and the Royal Palace. Signed to United Artists, over the coarse of his career, he recorded 36 best selling albums and appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show" three times. Some of his biggest hits included "Come Into My Life", "There Must Be A Way", "Mala Femmena" and "When Your Old Wedding Ring Was New", which appeared twice on the UK Singles Chart in the 1980s. At the time of his retirement in 2004, he was receiving $125,000 for a single performance based on the venue. He died of heart complications at age 85.
Singer. Born Michael John Roselli, he was one of the best tenor crooners of his time and one of the first artists to popularize Neapolitan music in America. He started singing at age 9 in local saloons and won first prize on the "Major Bowe's Amateur Hour" radio show at 14. After serving in the US Army during World War II, his first real break came when he was billed with Jimmy Durante at the Boston Theatre in 1946. He soon was performing at the most of prestigious venues in the US and in England, such as The Sands Las Vegas, Carnegie Hall New York, Cesars Atlantic City, Royal Albert Hall London and the Royal Palace. Signed to United Artists, over the coarse of his career, he recorded 36 best selling albums and appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show" three times. Some of his biggest hits included "Come Into My Life", "There Must Be A Way", "Mala Femmena" and "When Your Old Wedding Ring Was New", which appeared twice on the UK Singles Chart in the 1980s. At the time of his retirement in 2004, he was receiving $125,000 for a single performance based on the venue. He died of heart complications at age 85.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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