Thursday, September 29, 2022

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Russ Brown


Artist:Russ Brown f/Nathaniel Frey, Jimmie Komack, Albert Linville

Song:Heart

Album:Damn Yankees: Original Cast Recording


Russ Brown was a veteran character actor who won a Tony for playing Washington Nationals manager Benny Van Buren in the 1955 Broadway musical Damn Yankees. He was also in the 1958 film version. Brown was a stage and screen veteran since the 30s. He was born May 30, 1892 in Philadelphia. He first appeared on Broadway and then in short films in the early 30s and then features like the 1934 films Moulin Rouge and The Love Captive. He returned to New York in the 40s and didn't appear in anything noteworthy until he played Captain George Brackett in the Broadway musical South Pacific. He was also in the 1958 film version. That success led to playing Benny Van Buren in Damn Yankees. Brown won a Tony and he was also in the 1958 film version. Brown also played park caretaker George Lemon in the 1959 film Anatomy of a Murder. James Komack would go on to produce the sitcoms The Courtship of Eddie's Father and Welcome Back Kotter, Nathaniel Frey appeared mostly on TV after Damn Yankees. Albert Linville appeared on Broadway but Damn Yankees was his only film. Both the soundtrack and original cast of Damn Yankees are available on CD but the original cast CD is cheaper. After appearing in the 1963 film The Cardinal, Russ Brown died on Oct. 19, 1964 at age 72. Here's Russ Brown featuring Nathaniel Frey, Jimmie Komack and Albert Linville performing Heart from the 1958 film Damn Yankees.  

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