BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS
Full Name: Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolpho Colombo
Description: Actor, Singer, Violinist, USA
Known For: “Too Beautiful For Words”
Instruments: Vocals
Music Styles: Country
Location: United States of America
Date Born: 14th January 1908
Location Born: Camden, New Jersey, United States of America
Date Died: 2nd September 1934
Location Died: Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Memorial: Columbo is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
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BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE
Russ Columbo
Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolpho Colombo (January 14, 1908 – September 2, 1934), better known as Russ Columbo, was an American singer, violinist and actor, most famous for his signature tune, “You Call It Madness, But I Call It Love,” his compositions “Prisoner of Love” and “Too Beautiful For Words”, and the legend surrounding his early death.
He started playing the violin while still very young, and debuted professionally at the age of 13. He left high school at 17 to travel with various bands around the country. He sang and played violin in numerous nightclubs.
By 1928, at the age of 20, Columbo began to participate in motion pictures, including a Vitaphone short.
At the time of his death. Columbo had just completed work on the film Wake Up and Dream; he was on his way to stardom when his life was cut short. in which Columbo appeared as a member of Gus Arnheim and His Orchestra.
Columbo did 7 vocals while with Arnheim as a member of the string section; 6 for OKeh and only 1 for Victor (“A Peach Of Pair” on June 18, 1930, a few months before Bing Crosby joined the band, along with Al Rinker and Harry Barris as “The Rhythm Boys”).
On September 2, 1934, Columbo was shot under peculiar circumstances by his longtime friend, photographer Lansing Brown, while Columbo was visiting him at home. Brown had a collection of firearms and the two men were examining various pieces. Quoting Brown’s description of the accident.
The ball ricocheted off a nearby table and hit Columbo above the left eye. Surgeons at Good Samaritan Hospital made an unsuccessful attempt to remove the ball from Columbo’s brain; he died less than six hours after the shooting. Aged 26.