Jimmy Durante Entertainer Singer

Jimmy Durante or James Francis Durante was an American Singer, pianist, comedian and actor. He is one of the most familiar men and popular personalities of America from 1920 to 1970. He was one of the warmest personalities in entertainment industry. His comic delivery, language butchery, jazz influenced songs, and large nose which helped him to acquire his nickname Schnozzola.

Jimmy Durante was born on 10th February 1893 in New York City, New York, U.S.A. He comes from a working class family. Durante left school in his eighth grade and joined as a full-time ragtime pianist and earned his nickname Ragtime Jimmy. The first recognized band that Durant joined was the Original New Orleans Jazz Band. He used to deliver jokes in the break of songs. The group was renamed as Jimmy Dantes Jazz Band in 1920.

Jimmy Durante became a popular radio star by the middle of 1920s. By 1934, his unique rendition of Inka Dinka Doo was a huge hit and ultimately became his trademark. From this time he began to appear in the motion pictures at about the same time. he used to appear in comic films - The Wet Parade (1932), The Man Who Came to Dinner, Ziegfeld Follies (1946), Billy Roses Jumbo (1962), Its Mad Mad Mad , Mad world (1963).

Jimmy Durante earned huge recognition in the radio variety show in the 1940s. He made his first appearance on September 10, 1933. Gary Moore joined Durant as his radio sidekick in 1943. Durante, who was already an audience favorite, drew a larger audience when combined with Garry Moore. He became one of the nations favorite radio persons throughout ages.

On November 1, 1950, Jimmy Durante appeared in television for the first time in NBC comedy-variety show The Big Show. He teamed with Sonny King in the beginning of the early 1950s this collaboration continued till Durantes death. The well-known Brazilian singer Carmen Miranda gave her last performance in Jimmy Durant Show in 4th August 1955 because she died at night of the same day.

Jimmy Durante married his first wife Jeanne Olsen in June 19, 1921. Jeanne died on Valentines Day in 1943, which turned to be a sorrowful day for him. Later, he married his second wife Marjorie Little and they adopted a baby Alicia.

Jimmy Durantes love for children drove him to raise money for handicapped and abused children. He performed many years in Eagles International Conventions free of charge. He didnt even accept the travel money. The children fund of the organization was named after him – Jimmy Durante Children Fund. In his remembrance, after his death, 20 million dollars were raised to help the children. Jimmy Durante died in January 29, 1980 in Santa Monica, California. Wikipedia