Wedged between the end of World War II and the emergence of rock 'n' roll music in the mid-1950s, Perry Como was one of the most popular vocalists of his time.

Perry Como was born in Canonsburg, PA in 1912 and scored a gig as a singing barber in his hometown prior to touring with local bandleader Frankie Carlone when he was 21. Como performed with Ted Weems & His Orchestra on the successful radio show Beat the Band, but branched out solo with his own regional CBS radio program called Supper Club when the orchestra broke up. RCA Victor signed Como in 1943 and the burgeoning singer soon began working with Something for the Boys in Hollywood. In 1945 Como hit the big time with the film A Song to Remember and his version of "Till the End of Time" soon topped the charts. The baritone singer scored more success with ballads like "Prisoner of Love," "Surrender" and "Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba (My Bambino Go to Sleep)," and was hired by NBC for a radio show in 1948.

Como made the crossover to television with the Chesterfield Supper Club as the medium was just taking off and eventually earned four Emmys for the show. In the 1950s Como scored more hits with novelty songs (which he disliked but put forth because of their commercial stability) like "Hoop-Dee-Doo," "Pa-Paya Mama," "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Doo" and "Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)." Although one of the pioneers of middle-of-the-road pop music (whether he liked it or not,) Como's popularity took a dip with the emergence of rock 'n' roll in the late ‘50s. In 1958 "Catch a Falling Star" was Como's last hit in the midst of the teen idol take-over, although he returned with a live show in the ‘70s and his 1970 single "It's Impossible" made the Top Ten. Perry Como passed away in his sleep in 2001.