JERRY VALE DEAD

Vale_stry

Pop crooner JERRY VALE has died in his home in Palm Desert, at 83.

 

His death was confirmed by his family.

 

Born Genaro Louis Vitaliano on July 8, 1930, in the Bronx New York, Vale rose to stardom performing in supper clubs as a teen, and with "You Can Never Give Me Back My Heart" first hit the Billboard charts in 1953."

 

At Columbia Records, he recorded more than 50 albums and dropped such platter gold as "Two Purple Shadows" and "Al Di La."

 

Vale's biggest hit, "You Don't Know Me," peaked at No. 14 on Billboard's Hot 100 list in 1956.

 

An Italian-American, he popularized romantic songs of his native land with of "Innamorata (Sweetheart)" in 1956 and "I Have but One Heart" in 1962.

 

In his autobiography, "Jerry Vale: A Singer's Life he recalled meeting longtime idol, Frank Sinatra, in the early 1950s at Lindy's Restaurant in New York City. When they were introduced, Sinatra rose to greet him, a rare gesture for stars at the time. It took a stunned Vale by surprise.

 

"A few years ago I had heard so many negative stories about Frank that I was somewhat apprehensive to approach him," he wrote. "To my absolute surprise, he wound up being quite amiable, and the most caring individual that I have ever known."

 

The two became pals with Sinatra, helping Vale secure his first gig at the Sands Hotel which Frank col-owned.

 

After another owner heard his voice Vale's two-week gig lasted another 22 weeks.

 

Vale made cameo appearances as himself in the films "Goodfellas" in 1990 and "Casino" in 1995, both directed by Martin Scorsese, and in the HBO crime series "The Sopranos."

 

Ciao, Genaro. ​