In Remembrance: Frankie Laine

     Frankie Laine, the cowboy singer who sang many memorable theme songs for film and television, has passed away on February 6, 2007 in San Diego, CA. He was 93.

     Born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio on March 30, 1913 in Chicago, Laine helped his family earn money during the Depression as a dance marathoner, placing first in three of the 14 contests he entered. He also sought work as a jazz singer, struggling through the 1930s and early 40s before scoring his first hit with a rendition of the standard “Desire” in 1947.

     It was while working with arranger Mitch Miller, that Laine’s career vectored off in a new direction after Miller suggested that he record the song “Mule Train.” Although initially resistant to recording a “cowboy song,” Laine finally agreed. The song would become one of his biggest hits.

     With the emergence of rock and roll in the mid-1950s, Laine found his career as popular artist on the wane. His recordings of the title songs for a handful of westerns including Man Without A Star (1955), Gunfight At The O.K. Corral and 3:10 To Yuma (both 1957) still proved popular.

     For 1974’s comedy Blazing Saddles, director Mel Brooks advertised for a “Frankie Laine-type” singer for the film’s opening theme song and was surprised when Laine himself showed up to audition. Brooks hired him, but didn’t tell him that the film was a comedy. Laine’s straightforward rendition of the song helped to offset the film’s comedic tone and would help the tune be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

     In addition to his film work, Laine is perhaps best remembered for singing the theme to the Clint Eastwood television series Rawhide, a song which was covered by Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi in the 1980 musical comedy The Blues Brothers.