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Topic: RIP Don Cornell |
Janice Brooks
From:
Pleasant Gap Pa
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Posted 23 Feb 2004 3:46 pm |
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Don Cornell, a Big Band singer who scored a string of hits during the=20
1950s and early 1960s including "It Isn't Fair," died Monday. He was
84.
Cornell died at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center early Monday
from advanced emphysema and diabetes, said Zora Pergl-Cary, his
personal assistant.
Cornell got his start with trumpeter Red Nichols and big band leader
Sammy Kaye before launching a successful solo career. Between 1950
and 1962, Cornell chalked up hits such as "It Isn't Fair," "I'm
Yours," "I'll Walk Alone" and "Hold My Hand."
His singing career spanned more than 40 years and more than 50
million records sold
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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 23 Feb 2004 5:12 pm
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Yes Janice,
And in many of those recordings one could easily hear the band leader announce just before he would sing,
"Ladies and gentleman, MR Don Cornell".
And what a voice he had. May Jesus rest his soul,
carl |
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Mylos Sonka
From:
Larkspur CA USA
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Posted 23 Feb 2004 6:35 pm
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My grandmother was a Cornell, and Don Cornell had the family genealogy sent around to all the relatives some time back. I have a copy in my files. We were not close relatives, and I didn't realize he was still alive-- too bad, because I am more interested in the family tree now that I am older and it would've been interesting to contact him.
Mylos |
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 25 Feb 2004 4:19 am
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Don Cornell in addition to being a great singer was also a professional golfer. He could swing the clubs with the best of the pros and even placed highly in some of the top tournaments in his day.....JH
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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 25 Feb 2004 5:23 pm
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Sorry to learn of Don's passing. I was with the Sammy Kaye orchestra during this time. Don was one of the better vocalists of his time,but his staying with Sammy Kaye lessened
his chance of being bigger than he was.
The tune It Isnt Fair was written by Sylvio another friend of mine.Unbeknown to anyone with the exception of Don who informed all the band members, Sylvio was a fine pianist with Sammy Kaye and all the years that Sylvio
was with the Kaye Orchestra no one knew Sylvio couldnt read a note of music.He could cut anything just by hearing it once. When he
was given the charts to read, he asked the sax player to give him an idea of how the tune went..Sammy did not know until years later that Sylvio didnt read. His legal name was Sylvester Sprigato.
When Sylvio put the words and music together
a few band members then realized he couldnt read one note of music,yet he wrote It Isnt
Fair One of if not the greatest hit that Kaye ever had.
I recorded Harbor Lights with the Kaye Orchestra,,Kaye was difficult to work for.He
wanted the steel guitar plain and simple no fancy licks..lots of glissando's
I didnt realize Don was 84..seems like only yesterday..Thank you Janice. edited for spelling.[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 27 February 2004 at 05:17 AM.] |
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