Trading the Barber Smock for Sweaters

Perry Como is the quintessential crooning performer of the early twentieth century. He had a smooth singing style fitted for electronic recording. Singers before the 1930s and 1940s were loud and had to sing full throat and full chest to get recorded. The manner of recording changed in the 1930s where electrically the recording machines could pick up softer voices and intonations. 

Como didn't yell, didn't need bombast and could sing soft. He wore sweaters like he was in a small venue like your house when he sang on variety shows. Como would do songs in different styles and his holiday songs are still played today. 

Como was born in Pennsylvania in 1912. He got his start playing for the Ted Weems band. Ted Weems was a big name at the time playing the music for popular radio shows. Como originally planned to be a barber, but when music came into his life, he stuck with it. It appears music paid better. He still used his knowledge from his former barber career to accentuate his average guy status. He would tell people that he was just a barber who made it big. It normalized his image. 

He became a solo act in 1942 and signed with RCA records where he would stay for 44 years. Como eventually had his own variety show that ran for several years. 

When I write these blogs about performers of the past, I start by thinking of them as staid old acts. I eventually find these performers are more interesting than I thought. They had marriage problems, possible drugs, money problems and I find songs that are more adventurous than their mainstream work. Not so with Perry Como. He stayed married, performed the same style all his career, never offensive or radical. Sadly he's as bland as an American Idol winner. 

I'm not saying that music should be loud and off-key as long as it has emotion. There is is a lot more to be said for musicianship, hitting the right notes and entertaining a crowd. 

Perry Como doesn't make for an interesting story. 

Como sang in tune. He was loved by many. He's just boring. It seems many crooners sang the words, but the words could've been anything. It's all the same style. 

The last two paragraphs were personal preference, but I have to admit that Como's version of "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays" is a favorite every year.