Frankie Laine, born
Francesco Paolo LoVecchio (
Chicago, March 30, 1913 –
San Diego, February 6, 2007), was a successful
American singer,
songwriter and
actor whose career spanned 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to his final performance of "
That's My Desire" in 2005. Often billed as America's Number One Song Stylist, his other nicknames include Mr. Rhythm, Old Leather Lungs, and Mr. Steel Tonsils. His hits included "
That's My Desire", "
That Lucky Old Sun", "
Mule Train", "Cry of the Wild Goose", "
Jezebel", "
High Noon", "
I Believe", "Hey Joe!", "
The Kid's Last Fight", "
Cool Water", "Moonlight Gambler", "Love is a Golden Ring", "
Rawhide", and "
Lord, You Gave Me a Mountain".
He sang well-known theme songs for many movie
Western soundtracks, including
3:10 To Yuma,
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and
Blazing Saddles, although he was not a country & western singer. Laine sang an eclectic variety of song styles and genres, stretching from big band crooning to
pop, western-themed songs,
gospel,
rock,
folk,
jazz and
blues. He did not sing the soundtrack song for
High Noon, which was sung by
Tex Ritter, but his own version was the one that became a hit.