Clarion voiced pop singer with lots of style, able to fill halls without a microphone, and one of the biggest hit-makers of late 1940s/early 1950s. Over 70 charted records, 21 gold records, and worldwide sales of about 260 million disks. Originally an r&b influenced jazz singer, Laine excelled at virtually every music style, eventually expanding to such varied genres as popular standards, gospel, folk, country, western/Americana, rock 'n' roll, and the occasional novelty number. Known as "Mr. Rhythm" for his driving, jazzy style.
Laine worked dance marathons during Depression (setting the world's record with partner Ruthie Smith in 1932); replaced Perry Como in Freddy Carlone band in Cleveland 1937, but success eluded him until 1946 when a successful gig at Billy Berg's club in LA led to Mercury contract. At Mercury and Columbia he worked closely with impressario Mitch Miller, and Carl Fischer (who co-wrote many songs with Laine including the great standard WE'LL BE TOGETHER AGAIN).
In 1953 he set two more records on the UK charts: weeks at #1 for a song, and weeks at #1 for an artist. 50-plus years later, both records still hold.
Classic Frankie Laine songs include: THAT'S MY DESIRE, BLUE TURNING GREY OVER YOU, AIN'T THAT JUST LIKE A WOMAN, IT AIN'T GONNA BE LIKE THAT, SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN, WEST END BLUES, ALL OF ME, MAM'SELLE, A SUNDAY KIND OF LOVE, SHINE, PUT YOURSELF IN MY PLACE BABY, WE'LL BE TOGETHER AGAIN, AT THE END OF THE ROAD, GEORGIA ON MY MIND, GOD BLESS THE CHILD, ROCKIN' CHAIR, BLACK AND BLUE, MULE TRAIN, THAT LUCKY OLD SUN, SWAMP GIRL, CRY OF THE WILD GOOSE, DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME, A MAN GETS AWFULLY LONESOME, MUSIC MAESTRO PLEASE, SLEEPY OL' RIVER, GET HAPPY, THE GIRL IN THE WOOD, ONE FOR MY BABY, THE ISLE OF CAPRI, JEZEBEL, LOVE IS SUCH A CHEAT, HEY GOOD LOOKIN' (with Jo Stafford), ROSE ROSE I LOVE YOU, JEALOUSY, WHEN IT'S SLEEPY TIME DOWN SOUTH, HIGH NOON, I'M JUST A POOR BACHELOR, MY OHIO HOME, SWAN SONG, SNOW IN LOVERS LANE, TONIGHT YOU BELONG TO ME, I BELIEVE, BASIN STREET BLUES (with Jo Stafford), ANSWER ME O' LORD, GRANADA, THE LITTLE BOY AND THE OLD MAN (with Jimmy Boyd), LONG DISTANCE LOVE, DRILL YE TARRIERS, RAMBLIN' MAN, SOME DAY SWEETHEART, HEY JOE!, NEW ORLEANS, WAY DOWN YONDER IN NEW ORLEANS, WILLOW WEEP FOR ME, SOME DAY, OLD SHOES, COOL WATER, GUNFIGHT AT OK CORRAL, SIXTEEN TONS, HUMMINGBIRD, STARS FELL ON ALABAMA (with Buck Clayton), MOONLIGHT GAMBLER, RAIN RAIN RAIN (with The Four Lads), STRANGE LADY IN TOWN, WALKING THE NIGHT AWAY, A WOMAN IN LOVE, LOVE IS A GOLDEN RING (with The Easy Riders), MAKE ME A CHILD AGAIN, ON THE ROAD TO MANDALAY, 3:10 TO YUMA, UP ABOVE MY HEAD (with Johnnie Ray), I HAVE TO CRY, THE LONESOME ROAD, TORCHIN', BLUE MOON (with Michel Legrand), EL DIABLO, YOU ARE MY LOVE, AND DOESN'T SHE ROLL, CARELESS LOVE, ROCKS AND GRAVEL, ST. JAMES INFIRMARY, ON A MONDAY, ALONG THE NAVAJO TRAIL, RAWHIDE, MISS SATAN, WANTED MAN, BOWIE KNIFE, ACE IN THE HOLE, CAMPTOWN RACES, DEAD MAN'S HAND, GAMBLIN' WOMAN, LUCK BE A LADY, TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS, GHOST RIDERS IN THE SKY, DE GLORY ROAD, SERENADE, NORTH TO ALASKA, I LET HER GO, THE GREEN LEAVES OF SUMMER, DON'T MAKE MY BABY BLUE, MAKING MEMORIES, ALLEGRA, LORD YOU GAVE ME A MOUNTAIN, MR. BOJANGLES, A BRAND NEW DAY, TALK ABOUT THE GOOD TIMES, PUT YOUR HAND IN THE HAND, BLAZING SADDLES, OLD ENOUGH TO BE YOUR FATHER, FALLEN ANGEL, LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, WHEELS OF A DREAM, THEY CALL THE WIND MARIA, SONG OF INDIA, HOW SWEET IT IS, UNTIL NOW, OLD MAN JAZZ, DANDELION WINE, WHEN SUNNY GETS BLUE, I KEEP GOING BACK TO JOE'S, MY BUDDY/TAPS, and many more.
In the 1950s, Laine had a second career singing the title songs over the opening credits of Hollywood films and television shows, inluding: GUNFIGHT AT OK CORRAL, 3:10 TO YUMA, BULLWHIP and RAWHIDE. And in the 50s and 60s he released many great theme albums as well: ROCKIN', JAZZ SPECTACULAR (with jazz trumpet great Buck Clayton), FRANKIE LAINE AND THE FOUR LADS (a gospel album that truly rocks), REUNION IN RHYTHM (with Michel Legrand), HELL BENT FOR LEATHER, BALLADEER (folk songs), TORCHIN', CALL OF THE WILD, WANDERLUST, etc.
Frankie Laine's 70-plus year career spanned most of the 20th century and has continued into the 21st. Laine was a key figure in the golden age of popular music, and remains, quite possibly the greatest singer all time.