VIC DAMONE in conversation with Geoff Littlefield
I have long been a fan and admirer of the vocal talents of Vic Damone. Imagine what an honour it was for me to be able to interview one of the foremost vocalists of our time. It was with a certain amount of apprehension that I picked up my telephone to make contact with Vic Damone at his home in Florida, USA. What follows amounts to a series of conversations we had, set up in question and answer format.
Geoff: l've just listened to your recording of 'Ebb Tide' with Billy May's orchestra, it is such a marvellous rendition, especially the falsetto note at the climax of the song.
Vic: Yes, in fact, when I made the original recording of that song with Richard Hayman and his orchestra I had a fever of 102 degrees. So it nearly never happened.
Geoff: Well that particular song made the US top ten and remained there for a long time. Perhaps that might be a secret way to make a hit record - make the recording whilst feeling unwell!
"If I was a song l'd want to be sung by Vic Damone''
Sammy Davis Jr.
Geoff: Didn't you and celebrated CNN reporter Larry King attend the same school?
Vic: Yes, in fact Larry was 5 or 6 years my junior and to this day he always addresses me as Vito Farinola, my real name. This comes from the time he was at school where he sat at my old desk and stared at my name, which apparently I had carved on the desk. Can you believe it? I don't even remember doing that. But we have a great laugh about that to this day.
Geoff: I'm glad to hear you're keeping yourself fit and healthy. You have a pretty strict training routine I understand.
Vic: Yes, I work out every day with my personal trainer, you know, treadmill, that sort of stuff. I also use the punchbags to stay in shape. I trained in self-defence years ago with Bruce Lee.
Geoff: Yes, I read somewhere that you challenged Bruce Lee, is that correct?
Vic: No, me challenge Bruce, why would I do that? No, I trained with him for a year or so. He taught me awareness and vague self-defence techniques.
Geoff: I wouldn't want to pick an argument with you then!
Vic: Not offensive techniques you understand, just defence. Even today I am aware of what's going on around me, you have to be.
"I'm not a singer, Vic Damone is what I call a singer"
Bobby Darin
Geoff: Even though you never regarded yourself as an actor, the films you did make have stood the test of time. Which one did you enjoy making the most and why?
 Vic: I know the one I least enjoyed, ‘Kismet'. Although I did enjoy working with Ann Blyth, Howard Keel, Monty Wooley, and Sebastian Cabot, who was born in England I believe. Vincente Minnelli, the director made it an uncomfortable experience for me. He was making 'Lust for life' with Kirk Douglas at the time and was lacking in patience when it came to directing us. For example in the scene 'Stranger in Paradise' with Ann Blyth, he was more concerned with ensuring that the peacock's tail was up rather than anything else. In fact, he employed the peacock's trainer to hide in the bushes with his finger placed in a "strategic" position to ensure the tail was up and stayed up! Something that Andre Previn, who arranged and conducted the music, refers to in his book.
Geoff: Another film you made, 'Hell To Eternity' with David Janssen and Jeffrey Hunter, required you to act in a non-singing role. Your performance in that film was critically acclaimed. What were your thoughts on this movie?
Vic: In contrast to 'Kismet' the director Phil Karlson was great, so helpful. The film was shot on location on Okinawa. I have a funny story for you. We'd been working for weeks, no respite, working, working..... So I asked the director could we go and have a night out away from the set. I hadn't seen any pretty girls at all whilst we were there and said to Phil "Aren't there any pretty girls in this place?". Phil arranged that he and I along with David Janssen and Jeffrey Hunter would have a night out.
Anyway he arranged for this 'Mama San' to take care of things. We got to a nightspot and at last I spotted a pretty girl, 'Mama San' said to me "You liker her?" I said "Yes, she's very pretty". 'Mama San' then asked me If I'd like to dance with the young lady, which I did. 'Mama San' then said "You a Movie Star?" to which I replied "No". She kept on and on, "You a Movie Star?", "You a Movie Star?''.......so I finally relented and said "Yes, I'm a Movie Star" to which she replied "You don't look like a Movie Star!"
Geoff: You started so young that your many recordings, some 2000 plus, remarkably span seven decades. From a personal point of view which period do you regard as being the most satisfying?
Vic: I enjoyed it every time I recorded. Working with people like John Williams, who was once my accompanist and who is probably the most famous popular composer in the world today. Also working with the likes of Percy Faith, Pete King at Capitol, Billy May, Glenn Osser and of course Don De Marco who was my guitarist for 20 years. Percy Faith, for example, was such a friendly and understanding man, I made some of my biggest hits with him like 'Gigi', 'An Affair to Remember', 'The Street Where You Live', 'If Ever I would Leave You' - he was a genius.
Geoff: You have sung at many a venue over the years, do you have favourite arena?
Vic: I loved performing at the Royal Festival Hall, London.It was acoustically perfect and easy to interact with the audience. Also the Dome at Brighton holds fond memories for me. It's just wonderful working with those big orchestras and marvellous musicians you know, they inspire you. Of course it's different working the more intimate venues like the Rainbow Room and you vary the content of your act to suit the mood.
"I call him The Voice"
Dionne Warwick
Geoff: Two of your songs, 'Wonder Why' and 'An Affair to Remember' were nominated for Oscars, the latter is well documented, but 'Wonder Why' with lyrics by Sammy Cahn has been much overlooked since being released by Mercury all those years ago. What were your thoughts on this particular recording?
Vic: Yes. I like 'I Wonder Why'. It was my song (from the film 'Rich Young and Pretty') written especially for me by Sammy Cahn. It didn't become that well known because Mercury Records didn't promote it that much. 'An Affair to Remember' is my all-time favourite and when I guested on the Mike Douglas TV show a while back, Deborah Kerr was a fellow guest and I sang 'An Affair to Remember' to her on the show. It was a great thrill singing it to her and she had a little tear in her eye at the end.
Geoff: You have worked with some marvellous musicians over the years, with your recent work including some songs with guitarist Don De Marco as your sole accompanist. These were critically well received, are there any more recordings along these lines in the pipeline?
Vic: Yes, we hope to have my Signature Collection Volume 2 out in a month or so. In fact before I finally retire completely I want to do some recordings with George Sheanng. It's something that he and I have discussed, I'd love to do that. I speak with George regularly and it's something I'd love to do.
Geoff: Well, that really would be something, great news. People have read that first in 'In Tune International'.
"When you look up Voice in the dictionary, you see Vic Damone"
Larry King
Geoff: Without wishing to "pigeon-hole" your work over the years, some quarters have labelled you the romantic balladeer whereas there is a considerable amount of swing numbers, some of which have been re-issued on the recent EMI CD 'Little Girl - The Very Best of Vic Damone' which show you can swing with the best of them. Do you find it easy to switch between these singing styles?
Vic: Yeah, oh sure. All my life I've had to sing, I really enjoy the up temp stuff I do. I especially enjoyed the recordings I made with Billy May, like 'The Most Beautiful Girl in the World'. You have to have the right pacing in concerts, for example you can't do all ballads so I guess it's a question of getting the right balance.
Geoff: Changing the subject entirely, your website www.vicdamone.com is an absolute mine of information. How are your own PC skills and are you in pro or anti-lobby as regards the internet evolution?
Vic: I leave all that to my son, Perry. It was his idea to set up a website and my PC skills are nil, although my keyboard skills are improving, I now use two fingers! As regards the internet I think it's fine provided it's not personally intrusive. We need our private moments, they are essential to everyone.
Geoff: I know you are now officially retired from the business, but I've heard rumblings that you are considering making somewhat of a comeback, are there any particular ambitions musically that you still hold?
Vic: Well I might just do that. I watch my television everywhere and all I see Is Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett. So l'd just like to show them that there are other guys out there like myself, Steve Lawrence and Jack Jones. Tony's a wonderful guy, we are good friends. What I don't want is people thinking they can replace Frank Sinatra and I want this placed on the record. There will NEVER be another Frank Sinatra, the man was a genius, a true genius. Not me, Tony or any of the other guys will replace Frank. As well as an unrivalled singer he was an actor director, producer. That's true genius.
Geoff: Some of the younger artists I speak with these days still know and respect the name of Vic Damone as one young man said to me "it's synonymous with class and style". lt must be a good feeling to know these up and coming artists value your work in this way?
Vic: That's a thrill to hear that it's kinda like when I looked up to Frank Sinatra and Perry Como, they had great style too. It gives me great hope the fact young people are aware of my music. There are so many great composers like Gershwin, Jerome Kern, and the like, I wish young people would study these composers.
Geoff: You've been a bit of a celebrity cook over the years also, so something for the ladles. Is there a recipe for a nice Italian sauce you could share with us?
Vic: I have some recipes, just like Mom would make. There's a marvellous restaurant in New York called RAOUL'S. I'll try and send you the proper recipe that I use from there.
Geoff: Did you ever turn down any work you regretted?
Vic: Gosh, no not really. If I didn't want to do a particular piece of work I just didn't do it.
Geoff: Did you ever take your work home with you, I mean to the extent it affected family life?
Vic: I love to sing and give thanks to God for the talent he gave me. I have no regrets, no not really. I was always able to switch off. I never took my work home with me. It was easy to separate the two.
Geoff: Finally, Vic you've sung for Presidents and Royalty around the world. Is there any one particular performance of that type that sticks in your memory?
Vic: Yes, I did performances for President Eisenhower with Jane Powell, also I sang for Nixon, Reagan and Bush. I also did performances for the troops on the Bob Hope tours to Vietnam (in) 1966 and also later in Beirut. They really stick in my memory, it really was a big thrill to sing to our boys on the aircraft carriers.
Geoff: Well, I think that's about it I could go on and on. Thank you Vic, for sharing these memories with me. Vic: Thank you too, Geoff.
Article taken from In Tune International March 2004, issue 145
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