Bobby Darin, the singer, songwriter and actor, died 41 years ago today at the age of 37. Born Walden Robert Cassotto in The Bronx, Darin got his start as a Brill Building songwriter along with his high school friend Don Kirshner where he wrote songs for Connie Francis and other performers. He was also a multi-instrumentalist playing piano, drums and guitar. Darin’s first hit as a solo artist with Splish Splash in 1958. In the 1960s, Darin owned and operated — with Terry Melcher, Doris Days son — a music publishing and production company. He signed Wayne Newton and gave him the song Danke Schoen that became Newtons breakout hit. Darin also was a mentor to Roger McGuinn, who worked for him at his company and played the 12-string guitar in Darins nightclub band before forming The Byrds. Throughout his solo career Darin had eight Top10 Hits on the Billboard hot 100, and one #1 with Mack The Knife. He was inducted in to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. In 1973, after failing to take antibiotics to protect his heart before a dental visit, Darin developed an overwhelming systemic infection (sepsis). This further weakened his body and affected one of his heart valves. On December 11, he checked himself into Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for another round of open-heart surgery to repair the two artificial heart valves he had received in January, 1971. On the evening of December 19, a five-man surgical team worked for over six hours to repair his damaged heart. Darin died shortly after the surgery ended in the recovery room on the early morning hours of December 20, 1973, without regaining consciousness. Here, Darin performs Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say” in 1966.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 10:42:05 +0000
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