Robert Eberly (born Robert Eberle, July 24, 1916 – November 17, 1981) was a big band vocalist best known for his association with Jimmy Dorsey and his duets with Helen O'Connell.
Popular singer Bob Eberly spent much of his career with
Jimmy Dorsey’s orchestra. Eberly, who changed the spelling of his last name
from Eberle because the announcer of the Milton Berle radio program kept
mispronouncing it, gained prominence by winning Fred Allen’s amateur hour. He
began his professional career singing in clubs around his hometown of Hoosick
Falls, in upstate New York, where the Dorsey Brothers discovered him and later
hired him to replace the departing Bob Crosby.
Bob Eberly with Bing Crosby |
Eberly stayed with Jimmy for eight years and ranked as
one of the top male vocalists of his day, rivaling Bing Crosby and later Frank
Sinatra for that title. He placed third in Billboard magazine’s 1940, 1941 and
1942 college polls for best male vocalist, moving up to second in 1943. He
recorded the original version of "I'm Glad There Is You" in 1942 with
Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra on
Decca Records. The song became a jazz and pop standard.
Decca Records. The song became a jazz and pop standard.
Eberly and Helen O'Connell teamed up regularly on
records; Eberly would have a ballad chorus (he much preferred slow tempos) and
then, after an instrumental interlude, O'Connell would take a hotter chorus.
Engineered originally by arranger Tutti Camarata so both singers could be
featured on Dorsey's radio show, the combination clicked from the start,
resulting in hit versions of "Amapola," "Tangerine,"
"Green Eyes" and "Maria Elena."
Well-liked by his peers, Eberly became best friends and
eventually roommates with Jimmy Dorsey. Throughout his career, he was
encouraged by many in the industry to strike out on his own, but he refused. He
was perfectly happy earning a weekly salary with Dorsey’s group. Most famous
are his duets with Helen O’Connell, in whom he also had romantic interest.
In December 1943, Eberly’s relationship with Dorsey
finally ended when he entered the army and was stationed in the Chicago area
with Wayne King’s orchestra. His two years in the service severely hurt his
career. After he received his discharge, he signed with Decca and began touring
as a solo act, finding though that he had been largely forgotten by the general
public.
He did continue
working into the 1970s, and co-hosted a summer replacement television show with
Helen O'Connell one year, but was largely forgotten. He spent the rest of his
career singing mostly in small clubs.
His last engagement was during 1980 at the Top of the World in Disney World, Fla., only weeks before he underwent surgery for removal of his right lung. Frank Sinatra paid for the operation, even though the two singers had never met. Bob had been suffering from cancer, and he had sustained four heart attacks as a result of
chemotherapy treatment. He died of a heart attack in 1981 in Glen Burnie, Maryland, at the age of 65.
Eberly was married to Florine Callahan from January 23,
1940 until his death in 1981; the couple had 3 children; Robert Jr., Kathy and
Rene. Robert Jr. went on to sing professionally and although he was talented,
he never achieved the popularity of his father which was due, in part, to the
changing times and the diminishing nightclub scene as the popularity of Big
Band music as a whole began to decline during the mid to latter part of the
20th century. (Edited from Bandchirps,
Wikipedia & AllMusic)
3 comments:
FOR “ BOB EBERLY - TENDER LOVE SONGS” (2008) go here:
https://www.mediafire.com/file/rokqufv1d8e83k7/Bob_Eberly_-_TLS.rar/file
1. I HEAR A RHAPSODY
2. MOONGLOW
3. THE BREEZE AND I
4. I UNDERSTAND
5. AMAPOLA
6. GREEN EYES
7. TANGERINE
8. BRAZIL
9. YOURS
10. MARIA ELENA
11. I'VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO YOUR FACE
12. SEPTEMBER SONG
13. DON'T PLAY THAT SONG
14. I'LL ALWAYS BE FOLLOWING YOU (with Helen O'Connell)
15. YOU ARE TOO BEAUTIFUL
16. CRYIN' MY HEART TO SLEEP
17. DON'T BELIEVE A WORD THEY SAY
18. LONG BEFORE I KNEW YOU
19. HILLS OF PRIDE
20. ISN'T THIS A NIGHT FOR LOVE
21. BEAT O' MY HEART
22. THIS MUCH I KNOW
23. YOU'LL NEVER KNOW HOW IT FEELS
24. I MADE A PROMISE
Bob Eberly, top male vocalist for the great Jimmy Dorsey, was one of the most popular singers of the Big Band era, with many hit records to his name. Now, Flare is proud to present a stunning collection of his recordings made after he left the band. All his tracks are here from his LP Bob Eberly Sings Tender Love Songs, plus a number of his very finest singles. This is a collection not to be missed.
A big thank you to Mijas @ ACM2 for original post.
There were many great singers around this era and you are excellent at finding them. Thanks Boppinbob.
I combined the 14 songs that were recorded with Enoch Light in January 1957, with the original album cover, and I have a surprising gem, thanks Boppinbob.
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