Biography
Born on 9 March 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Valino developed into a pop-jazz vocalist whose approach recalled Frank Sinatra. Performers of his stripe largely faded once rock 'n' roll took hold in the second half of the 1950s. The sole chart entry, the buoyant confection "Garden Of Eden," carried enough youthful appeal to reach some of the same listeners who bought rock 'n' roll records in 1956; in Britain the single climbed to number 23.
Already skilled on piano and guitar as well as with his voice, he began touring at age 13. Ensembles fronted by Charlie Ventura and Woody Herman featured his singing before he entered the studio for Philadelphia’s Gotham label in 1950. A prospective breakthrough with "Learnin' The Blues" in 1955 was blocked when Frank Sinatra issued his own rendition. Valino shifted to Los Angeles during the 1960s and appeared in several films, including The Commitment (1976).
Already skilled on piano and guitar as well as with his voice, he began touring at age 13. Ensembles fronted by Charlie Ventura and Woody Herman featured his singing before he entered the studio for Philadelphia’s Gotham label in 1950. A prospective breakthrough with "Learnin' The Blues" in 1955 was blocked when Frank Sinatra issued his own rendition. Valino shifted to Los Angeles during the 1960s and appeared in several films, including The Commitment (1976).