Image of Andy Russell

Andy Russell

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.


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Born:
Sep 16, 1919
Movie/TV Credits:
13
First Appeared:
In the movie The Stork Club 1945-12-28
Latest Project:
Movie The Legend of Yi 2016-01-01
Known For
Poster of The Dream Wizard
Poster of ¡Viva la juventud!
Poster of ¡Qué bravas son las costeñas!
Poster of Andy And Della Russell
Filmography
Movie The Legend of Yi Office Extra 2016-01-01
Movie The Dream Wizard The Dream Wizard (voice) 1966-12-16
Movie Hollywood My Home Town Self (archive footage) 1965-12-31
Movie Vístete Cristina 1959-04-23
Movie ¡Viva la juventud! Pancho Andreú 1956-05-15
Movie Spring in the Heart Andrés Valdés 1956-09-20
Movie ¡Qué bravas son las costeñas! Tony López 1955-06-02
Series Your Show of Shows Unknown 1950-02-25
Series Andy And Della Russell 1950-12-18
Movie Copacabana Andy Russell 1947-05-30
Movie Make Mine Music Self (voice) 1946-06-30
Movie Breakfast in Hollywood Andy Russell - Singer 1946-02-26
Movie The Stork Club Jim Jones 1945-12-28