Walden Robert Cassotto, known by the stage name Bobby Darin, was an American singer, songwriter, and actor who performed pop, swing, folk, rock and roll and country music.
real name: Walden Robert Cassotto
labels: Decca, Atco Records, Atlantic Records, Brunswick Records, Capitol Records
genres: pop music, rock and roll, novelty music, swing, folk music, country music, jazz, rock music
awards: Grammy Award for Best New Artist, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Grammy Award for Record of the Year, star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
plays: guitar, voice, piano, drum kit, harmonica, xylophone
Facts from Wikidata and Discogs, free to use.
Darin was born Walden Robert Cassotto in East Harlem in Manhattan on May 14, 1936, to Vanina Juliette "Nina" Cassotto (November 30, 1917 – November 3, 1983). Because his mother was only 18 at the time of his birth, Darin was raised to believe his maternal grandmother was his mother and Nina was his older sister.
In the fall of 1959, Darin played Honeyboy Jones in an early episode of Jackie Cooper's CBS military sitcom/drama Hennesey. Darin's first major film, Come September (1961), was a teenager-oriented romantic comedy with Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida, and featuring 18-year-old actress Sandra Dee. They met during the production of the film, and they soon married on December 1, 1960. Dee gave birth to a son, Dodd Mitchell Darin (also known as Morgan Mitchell) on December 16, 1961. Dee and Darin made a few films together with moderate success, such as If a Man Answers (1962) and That Funny Feeling (1965).
In 1960, Darin told Life that he wanted to be established as a legend by the age of 25. Darin's off-the-cuff statements generated a rivalry and playful banter between Sinatra and himself. Sinatra released a version of "Mack the Knife" on the 1984 album L.A. Is My Lady, perhaps a testament to Darin. Darin and Elvis Presley were friends and teen idols in the 1950s. On occasion, Presley would sneak into Darin's concerts and watch him perform.
In 1990, Darin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with singer and close friend Paul Anka announcing the honor. In 1999, Darin was voted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Songwriter Alan O'Day alluded to Darin and his recording of "Mack the Knife" in the song "Rock and Roll Heaven" (made a hit by the Righteous Brothers), a tribute to deceased musicians, which O'Day wrote shortly after Darin's death.