Russ Columbo

Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolpho Colombo (January 14, 1908 – September 2, 1934), 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.
The Charisma and Music of Russ Columbo: A Look into the Life and Works of the Musical Icon
Do you know the song You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love)? If you do, then you have heard of Russ Columbo. He is a renowned singer, songwriter and composer. He was a heartthrob in the early 20s and 30s and was a fixture in many Hollywood musical films. He started his music career in 1928, and unfortunately, his career was cut short in 1934 at the young age of 26. Despite his short career, he remains a celebrated artist who has influenced many genres of music. In this blog post, we will take a deeper dive into his life and music, including his best songs, his musical genre, famous concerts, and a critical review of his work.
Russ Columbo's music is best characterized by his rich baritone voice. His style can be likened to that of a crooner of his time. He had a way of injecting emotion into his music that could effortlessly stir up emotions in the listener. One of his most memorable performances was his interpretation of Prisoner of Love. He also sang Love Me As I Am, which was popular back in his day. His works had a way of capturing his audience in the moment, and 90 years later, some of his songs still manage to do that.
Columbo was a versatile artist who was comfortable with different musical genres. He was known for his jazz and swing music, but he also performed classical tunes. He was a violinist and was classically trained, which came in handy when he decided to compose his music. His talent was also an advantage when he came up with his successful song, (I Know) I'm Losing You, which was a hit for both Dinah Washington and Rod Stewart.
He was a notable performer and had several performances in popular concerts of his time. He performed at the Hollywood Bowl, Radio City Music Hall, and the Chicago Palace Theater. He was often the star of the shows, and his performances were always electric.
Despite his success, Columbo's music career was cut short when he had an accidental discharge of a friend's gun and passed away in 1934. His death was a great loss to the music industry, but his legacy still lives on today as he has influenced the music of today's artists. His music has been covered and sampled by artists like Jay-Z, Nas, and Nelly Furtado.
Critic Harold Meyerson wrote about Columbo's music, praising his unique style and noting his impact on the music industry. He referred to Columbo's music as the embodiment of his era. Meyerson went on to describe Columbo's music as a precursor to Frank Sinatra's style and other crooners who came later.
Best songs by Russ Columbo include You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love), (I Know) I'm Losing You, You're My Everything, and Prisoner of Love. These songs are available on various streaming platforms and can be enjoyed by fans of different genres of music.
Russ Columbo was an incredible musician with a unique sound and style. His influence on the music industry is undeniable, and even today, his music continues to be celebrated. His life was cut short, but his legacy carries on to this day. If you haven't heard of him before, take the time to listen to his music, and you might find yourself humming his tunes for the rest of the day. Russ Columbo was indeed a musical icon that will never be forgotten.