Song:As Time Goes By
Album:As Time Goes By: The Best Of Jimmy Durante
Today most folks have no idea of how popular Jimmy Durante was for decades. I guess now he seems a little corny. But he was a huge star of stage, screen and TV and very unique. Not bad for an eighth grade dropout. His recording of As Time Goes By got a whole new audience when it was used in the 1993 film Sleepless In Seattle. He was born Feb. 10, 1893 in Brooklyn, NY. He dropped out of school and became a professional ragtime pianist. He joined The Original New Orleans Jazz Band and when his wisecracks became the focus of the band, it became Jimmy Durante's Jazz Band. He became a vaudeville and radio star in the mid-20s and by the 30s that turned into film and recordings. He recorded his signature song Inka Dinka Doo in 1934. Durante had a shtick with his "schnozz" and his gruff voice that was very successful. He had a habit of stealing every show he was in. So it's not surprising that he had a very popular TV variety show beginning in 1950. He signed with Warner Bros. Records in 1963 and his version of As Time Goes By was on his 1965 album Jimmy Durante's Way Of Life arranged by Gordon Jenkins. It got a big boost when it was used in the 1993 hit film Sleepless In Seattle. The soundtrack CD topped the Billboard Hot 200 but it's short so I would recommend this Warner Archives comp instead. Warners conveniently released it around the time Sleepless In Seattle was released in 1993. Terrible cover, BTW. His older recordings are available from Living Era. Jimmy Durante suffered a stroke in 1972 and died Jan. 29, 1980 at age 86. Here's the video for As Time Goes By by Jimmy Durante from Sleepless In Seattle.
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