Buddy Greco was born Armando Greco in Philadelphia. His mother introduced him to piano at the age of four. At an early age he was singing and performing on the radio and during his teens in Philadelphia clubs. When he was 16, he was hired by Benny Goodman and toured worldwide. He spent four years with Goodman's orchestra, singing, playing piano, and arranging.
After leaving Goodman at the age of 20, he returned to nightclubs, singing and playing piano. He also recorded many hit songs in jazz, pop, and country music, including "Oh Look A-There", "Ain't She Pretty", "Up, Up and Away" and "Around the World". His most successful single was "The Lady Is a Tramp", which sold over one million copies. During his career, he recorded over sixty albums. He conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, performed for Queen Elizabeth II and with the Beatles.
In the 1960s, his career expanded into movies and television. He appeared often in the TV series Away We Go and had a role in the movie The Girl Who Knew Too Much. He worked with Ron Eschete from 1969–1970. The duo appeared in several TV shows, including The Mike Douglas Show.
Greco met Lezlie Anders while she was performing in Las Vegas. Their first meeting was when they stepped out on stage together, as she was a support act for him at The Desert Inn. After marrying, they worked and toured together.
In 1992, Greco began a thirteen-week act in Las Vegas at the Starlight Room at Stars' Desert Inn. This brought about his second big period of fame. The following year he was added to the Philadelphia Music Alliance's Walk of Fame. Shortly after, he toured Italy, France, Australia, and England.
While living in Palm Springs, Greco opened a small club. On the walls were pictures of Greco, the Rat Pack, and other celebrity friends, the room arranged by his wife. He often performed at his club, and it was a popular place for stars to dine before he closed it and moved to England.
Living in Palm Desert, California, he continued to appear at his club in Cathedral City, California, until it closed in August 2009. In 2004 he and his wife Lezlie Anders were headliners with the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies at the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs, California.
Greco became acquainted with the UK in 1949. He spent years performing in clubs around England. He moved to Essex, though he still owns his house in Palm Springs, California, where he often spends vacations.
In 2008, Greco toured the UK with Anders. Together they performed with the BBC Big Band and played at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London. Greco was the first Las Vegas headliner to star at a British casino when he performed in cabaret in August 2008 at the Circus Casino, Star City, Birmingham. In April 2010, he performed a salute to Frank Sinatra for BBC Radio 2 with the 42-piece BBC Concert Orchestra. He toured the UK for over 30 dates from July 2010 with the Swinging Las Vegas Legends Show.
In 2010 Greco and his wife produced the stage show Fever! The Music of Miss Peggy Lee, which met with critical acclaim and opened in London's West End. The inspiration came from his wife, who was a friend of Lee. The show tells of the life and music of Peggy Lee. Greco plays piano and conducts the orchestra while his wife sings. The show received positive reviews and toured the U.S.
On New Year's Eve 2011 he made a guest appearance on Jools Holland's Hootenanny singing Fly Me to the Moon backed by the Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.
In 2012, Greco toured England in smaller venues, including Thameside Theatre Stage, and The Broadway in Essex.
In 2013, Greco celebrated his 80th year in show business in a concert in Southend, Essex. Stars such as the Rat Pack cast, Atila, Kenny Lynch, Paul Young and Michelle Collins were present to celebrate his career and also took part throughout the evening. Greco and his wife performed together.
Awards and honors
Inductee, Walk of Fame, Philadelphia Music Alliance
Appears in Encyclopedia of Great Musicians and the Encyclopedia of Great Jazz Singers and Musicians
Greco has been married five times:
Sally Baionno (1947–1962), divorced, 3 children
Dani Crayne (1961–1974), actress, divorced
Margret Kinley (1974–1977), divorced, 1 child Anastasia Greco
Jackie Sabatino (1977–?), 3 children
Lezlie Anders (14 April 1995–present)
All Of You
Buddy Greco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
there's a big romantic deal I've got to wangle
For I've fallen for a certain luscious lass
And it's not a passing fancy or a fancy pass
I love the look of you, the lure of you
The sweet of you, the pure of you
The eyes, the arms, the mouth of you
I'd love to gain complete control of you
And handle even the heart and soul of you
So love, at least, a small percent of me, do
For I love all of you
In Buddy Greco's song All of You, the singer is expressing his deep feelings for a woman he has fallen in love with. He has carefully observed her from every angle, and is now determined to win her heart. He states that his love for her isn't just a passing fancy but a genuine feeling that has taken root in his heart.
The lyrics use vivid descriptions to depict how he feels about this woman. He loves not just her physical appearance but also her personality and character. He loves "the look of [her], the lure of [her], the sweet of [her], the pure of [her]." He is drawn to her eyes, arms, mouth, and every part of her, even the north, south, east, and west of her. He desires to have complete control of her and to handle every aspect of her being, even her heart and soul. He pleads with her to love him back, even if it's just a small percent of her.
The song All of You was written by Cole Porter in 1954 for the musical Silk Stockings. The movie adaptation came out in 1957 and starred Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. The song has since been covered by many artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett.
Line by Line Meaning
After watching your appeal from every angle
I have studied you thoroughly, trying to gauge the depth of my feelings
there's a big romantic deal I've got to wangle
I need to find a way to make a grand gesture of love to win you over
For I've fallen for a certain luscious lass
I have developed profound feelings for a beautiful and desirable woman
And it's not a passing fancy or a fancy pass
My feelings for you are serious and long-lasting, not just a temporary attraction
I love the look of you, the lure of you
I am intensely drawn to your appearance and charm
The sweet of you, the pure of you
Your goodness and sincerity inspire me
The eyes, the arms, the mouth of you
Every aspect of you captivates me, from your gaze to your embrace to your smile
The east, west, north, and the south of you
I feel deeply connected to every part of you, no matter where you are or what you do
I'd love to gain complete control of you
My passion for you is so strong that I want to possess all of you
And handle even the heart and soul of you
I want to understand and treasure the most intimate parts of your being
So love, at least, a small percent of me, do
Please do reciprocate my feelings in some measure
For I love all of you
I am completely infatuated with you and cherish every bit of you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind