Magic Moments: The Perry Como Story

Radio producer Long debuts with a serviceable recap of the career of singer Perry Como (1912–2001). Born to Italian immigrants in small-town Canonsburg, Pa., Como grew up influenced by the crooning styles of Russ Columbo and Bing Crosby. His career got off to a rocky start; after he joined the Ted Weems Orchestra as a vocalist in 1936, record executives found his style too similar to that of fellow crooner Crosby, though with time Como abandoned the “vocal fluctuations of his early efforts” for a “more consistent and rounded tone.” Long carefully traces Perry’s solo career after he left the Weems band in 1942, his hosting of numerous radio shows, and his career in television. Long also frames Como’s career against the backdrop of a rapidly changing entertainment industry, though the discussions of advances in record technology and the genesis of color TV sometimes preclude more complex insights into the subject’s character. It’s a solid overview of Como’s professional milestones, but readers seeking a deeper understanding of the man himself will be left wanting. (Nov.)