Song:Have You Looked Into Your Heart
Album:17 Most Requested Songs
Jerry Vale was an Italian American crooner who had pop success in the mid-50s. When Rock 'N' Roll took over, he continued to have success in the easy listening market. Have You Looked Into Your Heart was his only number one Adult Contemporary hit in 1964. He also did well with his recordings in Italian. He was born Genaro Louis Vitaliano July 8, 1930 in The Bronx, NY to Italian immigrant parents. He learned all the old Italian favourites from his mom singing around the house. As a teen, he sang while shining shoes at a local barber shop. The shop owner was so impressed with Vale's singing he paid for music lessons. While working a factory job with his father during the day, Vale sang in local clubs at night. He was spotted by another popular crooner Guy Mitchell and his road manager. They changed his name to Jerry Vale and got him a deal with Columbia Records. His biggest hit in the 50s was You Don't Know Me in 1956 which of course was a much bigger hit for Ray Charles in the 60s. Of course when Rock 'N' Roll took over, Vale's pop success dried up and he concentrated more on the album and Adult Contemporary market. Also, Vale finally convinced Columbia head Mitch Miller to let him record a full album in Italian. The 1963 album Arrivederci, Roma was very successful. Have You Looked Into Your Heart was released in 1964. It topped the Adult Contemporary chart and reached #24 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by the team of Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein and Billy Barberis who usually wrote songs for Little Anthony and the Imperials. This was Vale's final top 40 pop hit though he continued to do well in Adult Contemporary. You can get all his hits on this budget comp. Vale didn't record after leaving Columbia in 1974. But he continued to perform especially The Star Spangled Banner before New York Yankee games in Yankee Stadium. The gold record for that song is displayed in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Vale was married to his actress wife Rita Grapel for 54 years. They lived in Palm Desert, CA. Vale retired after a 2002 stroke and he died on May 18, 2014 at age 83. Here's a video for Have You Looked Into Your Heart by Jerry Vale.
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