[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 15, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S4937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO PERRY COMO

 Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I would like to celebrate the 
life, and commemorate the death of an American cultural icon from the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Perry Como.
  On May 18, 1912, Pierino Roland Como was born in Canonsburg, PA, the 
seventh of thirteen children to Italian immigrants. Pierino, who would 
become known to the world as Perry, would lead a life which was the 
American dream personified. He began working as a barber's apprentice 
in Canonsburg at the age of eleven to help provide for his family. It 
is reported that Mr. Como's illustrious singing career developed by 
singing to patrons in his own barber shop which he opened by fourteen. 
The baritone voice, which would become famous throughout the world, was 
soon discovered by a band traveling through his steel town and he began 
his career as an entertainer. In 1933, Mr. Como married his childhood 
sweetheart, Roselle Beline, who told him he could open another barber 
shop if his singing career failed. His career did not fail, nor did 
their marriage which lasted until Roselle's death in 1998.
  Perry Como's singing and performing career spanned six decades and 
during that period he sold over 100 million records. Twenty-seven of 
his albums went gold, while fourteen singles reached number one on the 
charts. In 1945, ``Till the End of Time'' became the first single to 
sell more than one million records. After his great success in record 
sales in the 1940's, 50's and 60's, his career evolved into that of a 
television star. From 1948 to 1963, Perry Como was a fixture in 
American homes as a pioneer of the variety show format. He won acclaim 
for his performances including 5 Emmy awards. He also won Peabody and 
Golden Mike awards during his career. And in 1987 Mr. Como was 
presented a Kennedy Center Honor for outstanding achievement in the 
performing arts by President Ronald Reagan.
  Mr. Como's fame was worldwide and lasting. The BBC reports that he 
had twelve top ten hits in Britain, over twenty years. His Christmas 
broadcasts, for which, perhaps, he was most famous, were broadcast from 
around the globe over the years, including Israel, Paris, and London. A 
Roman Catholic, he reached Protestants and Catholics alike through his 
renditions of ``Ave Maria'' and ``The Lord's Prayer.'' He sang ``Kol 
Nidre'' each year on his television program in observance of Yom 
Kippur. Mr. Como also made many fans in Japan, where his variety shows 
had unique success. Perry Como continued to perform for fans in the 
United States well into his eighties.
  It is with great humility that I ask this body to remember an 
American cultural icon on the occasion of his passing. I hope and pray 
that future generations of Americans will use Perry Como's example of 
dignity and decency in conducting their personal and professional 
lives.

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