Andy Russell

Andy Russell

Born: September 16, 1919
Died: April 16, 1992
Andy Russell (September 16, 1919-April 16, 1992) was an American popular vocalist, specializing in traditional pop and Latin music.

He was born Andrés Rabago Pérez in the Boyle Heights area of East Los Angeles. He was one of ten children (eight boys, two girls) born to parents who were Mexican immigrants of Spanish descent. Already as a teenager he had begun to perform as a vocalist and drummer with a local band headed by Don Ramon Cruz. In the early forties he Anglicized his name (Andy was obvious, but "Russell" was after the singer Russ Columbo). He became vocalist and drummer with the bands of Johnny Richards, Gus Arnheim, Sonny Dunham, and Alvino Rey. By 1944, he had become well enough regarded a pop vocalist to be featured on radio, and in the next year had his Old Gold Show. He also signed on with Capitol Records. His first charted hit was "Bésame Mucho" (Capitol #149, 1944). The same year he had his biggest hit, which became his signature tune, "Amor" (Capitol #156, with the flip side "The Day After Forever") from the film "Broadway Rhythm". He had two more hits that year: "What a Difference a Day Made" (Capitol #167, paired with "Don't You Notice Anything New ") and "I Dream of You"/"Magic Is Moonlight" (Capitol #175). He had another big hit in 1946 with "I Can't Begin to Tell You" (Capitol #221) from the film "The Dolly Sisters." This became the fourth top ten seller in the country for Russell in less than two years and the big time was calling. The next big hit came later in 1946: a two-sided hit with "Laughing on the Outside" and "They Say It's Wonderful" (from the Broadway show Annie Get Your Gun) (Capitol #252). His next hit was "Pretending" (Capitol #271, backed with "Who Do You Love") was another top-ten seller. He was also invited to Hollywood and screen tested for motion pictures. In 1946 he appeared in The Stork Club and Breakfast In Hollywood. He was on the soundtrack of Walt Disney's Make Mine Music, and appeared in the picture Copacabana the next year. In 1946, the people running the pop music radio program Your Hit Parade asked him to take the place of Frank Sinatra (Sinatra returned in 1947). This led to increased popularity for the singer.

He died in Sun City, Arizona. He was buried in the Loma Vista Memorial Park in Fullerton, California.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Andy Russell (singer), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Movies for Andy Russell...

The Dream Wizard
Title: The Dream Wizard
Character: The Dream Wizard (voice)
Released: December 16, 1966
Type: Movie
The film features the six children of the Telerin family, characters created by the brothers José Luis Moro and Santiago Moro. The Wizard gives each child a dream; the six dreams are presented in different graphical styles.
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Vístete Cristina
Title: Vístete Cristina
Released: April 23, 1959
Type: Movie
Aspiring big-band singer who doubles as an art forger takes in a teenaged runaway who wants to be a showgirl.
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Title: Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Character: Self
Released: July 29, 1957
Type: TV
Tonight Starring Jack Paar is an American talk show hosted by Jack Paar under The Tonight Show franchise from 1957 to 1962. It originally aired during late-night. During most of its run it was broadcast from Studio 6B inside the RCA Building. The same studio would also host early episodes of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Its theme song was an instrumental version of "Everything's Coming Up Roses", and the closing theme was "So Until I See You" by Al Lerner.
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Primavera en el corazón
Title: Primavera en el corazón
Character: Andrés Valdés
Released: September 20, 1956
Type: Movie
Don Juan-type manipulates his roommate into helping him mount ridiculous schemes to get next to a girl he has his eye on.
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¡Viva la juventud!
Title: ¡Viva la juventud!
Character: Pancho Andreú
Released: May 15, 1956
Type: Movie
Movie based on the classic student football competition between UNAM pumas and the Polytechnic donkeys that were popular at that time. A mechanic is mistaken for the best player in the Polytechnic, while in the Unam a student discovers a formula for superpowers to play football. Both compete for the love of a rookie and to win the students classic.
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¡Qué bravas son las costeñas!
Title: ¡Qué bravas son las costeñas!
Character: Tony López
Released: June 2, 1955
Type: Movie
Mexican-American playboy anchors his yacht offshore of a Veracruz fishing village and chases skirts in town.
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Title: Andy And Della Russell
Released: December 18, 1950
Type: TV
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Title: Your Show of Shows
Released: February 25, 1950
Type: TV
Your Show of Shows was a live 90-minute variety show that was broadcast weekly in the United States on NBC, from February 25, 1950, until June 5, 1954, featuring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca. Other featured performers were Carl Reiner, Howard Morris, Bill Hayes, Judy Johnson, The Hamilton Trio and the soprano Marguerite Piazza. José Ferrer made several guest appearances on the series. The series was telecast from the now-demolished International Theatre at 5 Columbus Circle and the Century Theater, now demolished, in New York. During 2002, Your Show of Shows was ranked #30 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
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Copacabana
Title: Copacabana
Character: Andy Russell
Released: May 30, 1947
Type: Movie
A talent agent sells his girlfriend to a nightclub -- as two separate acts. The deception and constant costume changes are too much for his girl.
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Make Mine Music
Title: Make Mine Music
Character: Self (voice)
Released: June 30, 1946
Type: Movie
In the tradition of Fantasia, Make Mine Music is a glorious collection of musically charged animated shorts featuring such fun-filled favorites as "Peter and the Wolf", narrated by the beloved voice behind Winnie the Pooh. In addition you'll enjoy such classic cartoon hits as "Casey at the Bat," "The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met" and "Johnnie Fedora and Alice Bluebonnet."
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Breakfast in Hollywood
Title: Breakfast in Hollywood
Character: Andy Russell - Singer
Released: February 26, 1946
Type: Movie
The goings on of a few members of a radio show's audience is the premise for this feature film derived from the popular ABC radio show of the 1940's. This film features Tom Breneman, the radio show's host, as well as Bonita Granville, Beulah Bondi, Zasu Pitts, Billie Burke and Hedda Hopper. Musical performances are provided by Nat King Cole and the King Cole Trio, along with Spike Jones and his City Slickers.
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The Stork Club
Title: The Stork Club
Character: Jim Jones
Released: December 28, 1945
Type: Movie
Director Hal Walker's 1945 musical comedy stars Betty Hutton as a hat-check girl at New York City's famous nightclub. The cast also includes Barry Fitzgerald, Don Defore, Andy Russell, Iria Adrian and Robert Benchley.