BUDDY GRECO (ARTIST BIOGRAPHY)

Buddy Greco (born Armando Greco on August 14, 1926 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American singer and pianist.

Buddy  made his professional debut at the tender age of five under the auspices of his dad, who among his activities conducted a program featuring Italian music for local radio station WPEN.  It was on this show that Buddy and an elder brother made their first appearances.  Greco played on this show for ten years, until he was 14 years of age.  Actually, until he was ten years old Buddy specialized in acting and singing but soon afterwards took to the piano.

Buddy had his first own trio the Three Shades of Rhythm  (Charlie Chasen guitar-Don Sgro bass) at 15. In 1946 the trio (Buddy Greco with the Sharps) (Francis Beecher guitar- Don Sgro bass) had a million seller hit "Ooh, look-a-there ain't she pretty" for the Musicraft label. But the next years the trio fade somewhat away. But in 1948 Elliot Wexler Benny Goodman's manager noticed the trio at Philadelphia's Club 13 and advised Benny Goodman to listen to Buddy. Late 1948 Buddy (with Francis Beecher) joined the Benny Goodman band as a piano player, vocalist and arranger. In 1949 Buddy visited the UK and headed the Benny Goodman band for several occasions. Late 1949 they made a trip to the Philippines. Buddy & Benny recorded about 150 items in 1948/1949.

Benny Goodman hated playing bop and disbanded the band after the trip to the Philippines in 1949. Buddy went out on his own and his show business career was under way.

Buddy did his own radio and TV shows and penned some songs for such artists as Rosemary Clooney and Eileen Barton. He made a dozen records for Coral from 1951-1955.  He continued to record and tour throughout the 60’s. In the 1970s Buddy moved to Europe. He performed in England, Netherlands, France, Italy and around the world in Australia. Several  shows were made with Shirley MacLaine.

Few can match the lifelong achievements of the extraordinary talent of Buddy Greco.  His peers have called him a singer's singer and musician's musician.  He has been internationally recognized year after year as one of the top jazz pianists of our time.  He appears at the top night clubs, concert halls, symphonies and in movies and has been featured on major television shows in the United States and throughout the world.  By order of Queen Elizabeth II, he was one of the only Americans to appear with the Beatles for a command performance for Her Majesty The Queen.

He enjoys the rare distinction of having made (to date) 66 albums, over a hundred singles ranging in style for Jazz to Country/Western and Pop music.  To this date, Buddy's favorite is the album he made with the London Symphony Orchestra in which he arranged, played piano and conducted.

In April 1993, Buddy was inducted to the Philadelphia Music Alliance's "Walk of Fame".  He has also gained acclaim for his musicianship and talent in the "Encyclopedia of Great Musicians" and the "Encyclopedia of Great Singer and musicians".  Buddy Greco has been acclaimed as one of the finest jazz pianists of our time and he continues to be active pursing other fields if the music business, producing record, writing and scoring for films and TV.

(info edited from various sources)