Armando Joseph "Buddy" Greco (August 14, 1926 – January 10, 2017) was an American jazz and pop singer and pianist who had a long career in the US and UK. His recordings have sold millions, including "Oh Look A-There Ain't She Pretty", "Up, Up and Away", and "Around the World". During his career, he recorded over sixty albums. He conducted the London Symphony Orchestra and performed for Queen Elizabeth II and with the Beatles. In 1951, Greco started his recording career, signing with labels such as Coral, Kapp, Epic, and Reprise.

In 1967, he hosted the CBS television series Away We Go with comedian George Carlin. Guests included Buddy Rich and Carmen McRae. He also appeared in the film The Girl Who Knew Too Much. Also that year he released the single, "From Atlanta to Goodbye" bw "Love is a Hurtin' Thing" on Scepter Records. It was reviewed in the 20 September issue of Cash Box. The reviewer said that the single could grab some teen attention and that there was some Top 40 potential.

Las Vegas and Palm Springs

Greco met his fifth and last wife, Lezlie Anders, while she was performing in Las Vegas. Working as his supporting act, she met Greco on the stage of the Desert Inn. After marrying, they worked and toured together.

While living in Palm Springs, Greco opened a small club. The walls were decorated with pictures of Greco, the Rat Pack, and other celebrity friends. He performed there often, and it became a popular place for celebrities to dine. After the club closed, he moved to England. While living in Palm Desert, California, he continued to appear at his club in Cathedral City, California, until it closed in August 2009.

In 2004, he and Anders were headliners with The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies at the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs, California.

Life in Britain

Greco became acquainted with Great Britain in 1949. He spent many years performing in Britain's clubs. He moved to Essex, keeping his Palm Springs, California, property as a vacation home. On New Year's Eve 2011, he made a guest appearance at Hootenanny hosted by Jools Holland, singing "Fly Me to the Moon".

In 2012, he toured the UK in smaller venues, including Thameside Theatre Stage, and The Broadway in Essex.

Greco died on January 10, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 90.

Greco had an album released by Scepter which Tom Murray of the Calgary Herald referred to 48 years later as "a strange and beautiful mutant of its time". The album was Let the Sunshine In. It included the songs "Let the Sunshine In", "Everybody Gets to Go to the Moon", "You're My World", "Spinning Wheel", "Never Give You Up", and "Like a Rolling Stone".

  • Movin' On (USA Music, 1989)
  • It's Magic (Prestige, 1990)
  • 'Round Midnight (Bay Cities, 1992)
  • Route 66 (Celebrity, 1994)
  • In Style (Camden, 1996)
  • Jazz Grooves (Candid, 1998)

Singles

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Title

! colspan="2"| Chart positions

|-

! style="width:45px;"|<small>US</small>

! style="width:45px;"|<small>US AC</small>

|-

| 1947

| "Ooh! Look-A There, Ain't She Pretty"

| style="text-align:center;"| 15

| style="text-align:center;"| —

|-

| 1951

| "I Ran All the Way Home"

| style="text-align:center;"| 30

| style="text-align:center;"| —

|-

| 1960

| "The Lady Is a Tramp"<sup>A</sup>

| style="text-align:center;"| —

| style="text-align:center;"| —

|-

| 1961

| "Around the World"

| style="text-align:center;"| 109

| style="text-align:center;"| —

|-

| 1962

| "Mr. Lonely"

| style="text-align:center;"| 64

| style="text-align:center;"| —

|-

| rowspan="2"| 1965

| "That Darn Cat"

| style="text-align:center;"| —

| style="text-align:center;"| 36

|-

| "I Can't Begin to Tell You"

| style="text-align:center;"| 132

| style="text-align:center;"| 27

|-

| rowspan="2"| 1966

| "Put Yourself in My Place"

| style="text-align:center;"| —

| style="text-align:center;"| 24

|-

| "Walking on New Grass"

| style="text-align:center;"| —

| style="text-align:center;"| 21

|-

| rowspan="2"| 1967

| "Love's Gonna Live Here Again"

| style="text-align:center;"| —

| style="text-align:center;"| 19

|-

| "There She Goes"

| style="text-align:center;"| —

| style="text-align:center;"| 14

|-

| 1972

| "From Atlanta to Goodbye"

| style="text-align:center;"| —

| style="text-align:center;"| 34

|}

  • <sup>A</sup> "The Lady Is a Tramp" peaked at No. 26 in UK Singles charts.

Works

  • Buddy Greco 500 Super Song Book: The World's Greatest Hits for Chord Playing New York, New York: Charles Hansen 1977

References

  • Buddy Greco Interview - NAMM Oral History Library (1995,2007)