Frankie Laine, dead at 93

Frankie Laine, last of the Italian crooners, dies at 93
FRANKIE Laine, the big-voiced crooner who had a string of hits in the 1950s, has died. He was 93.

On the back of songs such as Mule Train, Jezebel, I Believe and That Lucky Old Sun, he became one of America's most popular singers on the eve of rock 'n' roll.



He also sang the themes to the 1960s television series Rawhide and the 1974 Mel Brooks film Blazing Saddles.

Laine died of heart failure at the Mercy Hospital in San Diego, California, said Jimmy Marino, his producer for many years. "He was one of the greatest singers around," Mr Marino said. "He was one of the last Italian crooner types."

Laine was born Frank LoVecchio on 30 March, 1913, in the heart of Chicago's Little Italy, the son of a barber who had emigrated from Sicily. He struggled to make ends meet, even working as a marathon dancer, before breaking through with That's My Desire in 1947.

He had a series of top ten hits and sold more than 100 million records. He briefly had his own variety show in the United States in the 1950s. Laine released his last album, Nashville Connection, in 2004.

His family said in a statement: "He will be forever remembered for the beautiful music he brought into this world, his wit and sense of humour, along with the love he shared with so many."

He is survived by his second wife, Marcia, and two daughters.