Biography
Born on 1 February 1926 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Manny Levin built a distinguished yet insufficiently recognized career as a ballad vocalist whose prospects were hindered by a vocal resemblance so striking it often invited comparison with the more celebrated Dick Haymes. Drawing from the Swing Era’s leading performers and ensembles, he first performed in Philadelphia hotels and hosted a program on a local radio outlet before enlisting with Ziggy Elman’s newly established band in 1947. Brief stints alongside Art Mooney and Tommy Dorsey followed, along with a memorable turn on the Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts broadcast. Lacking interest from major labels, Levin convinced an acquaintance to underwrite a studio date that yielded “The Nearness Of You,” a definitive reading that composer Hoagy Carmichael reportedly regarded as his preferred interpretation of the tune. Capitol Records acquired the master, sending it into the US Top 20 in 1953. Additional chart entries arrived via “All I Desire” and “Venus De Milo,” while a refined anthology of standards appeared under the title Lonely Spell, most of whose tracks resurfaced on a 1994 reissue. As rock ’n’ roll reshaped popular taste in the late 1950s, Levin, like numerous other refined vocalists, receded from prominence.
Albums
