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)
Around The World
Buddy Greco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I traveled on when hope was gone
To keep a rendezvous.
I knew somewhere, sometime, somehow,
You'd look at me and I would see
The smile you're smil-ing now.
It might have been in County Down,
Or even London town.
No more will I go all around the world
For I have found my world in you.
The lyrics to Buddy Greco's song "Around the World" tell the tale of a protagonist that has searched far and wide for their love interest. The singer has traveled to different locations, hoping to catch a glimpse of their significant other. Despite encountering disappointment and setbacks along the way, the main character remains determined to continue with their travels, confident that they will eventually meet the love of their life.
The song is also about hope, persistence and the strength of true love. Despite the difficulties faced throughout the journey, the singer firmly believes that they will eventually meet the person who will make it all worth it. This is reflected in the vivid imagery of different locations, which represent the character’s optimism about the endless possibilities that exist.
One particularly significant line in the song is "No more will I go all around the world, for I have found my world in you." This line serves as the climax of the narrative and highlights the singer's realization that they no longer have to search for love because they have already found it in the person they were searching for.
Overall, the lyrics to Buddy Greco's song "Around the World" are beautiful and captivating. They tell the story of a protagonist's journey to find true love, and in doing so, highlight the beauty of hope, persistence, and the strength of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Around the world I've searched for you;
I've traveled far and wide in search of you
I traveled on when hope was gone
Even when I had no hope left, I kept searching
To keep a rendezvous.
To meet you as planned
I knew somewhere, sometime, somehow,
I was certain that at some point, somewhere, somehow, I would find you
You'd look at me and I would see
When we finally met, I knew I would see in your eyes
The smile you're smil-ing now.
The smile you're wearing at this moment
It might have been in County Down,
We may have met in County Down
Or in New York, or gay Paree,
Or maybe in New York, or Paris
Or even London town.
Perhaps even in London
No more will I go all around the world
I will no longer search everywhere
For I have found my world in you.
Because I have found everything I need in you
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harold Adamson, Victor Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Juan Zaf
Around the World
Buddy Greco
Around the world I've searched for you;
I traveled on when hope was gone
To keep a rendezvous.
I knew somewhere, sometime, somehow,
You'd look at me and I would see
The smile you're smil-ing now.
It might have been in County Down,
Or in New York, or gay Paree,
Or even London town.
No more will I go all around the world
For I have found my world in you.
BirdLives1
What a great record! What a great singer! Thanks, Buddy. I'll miss ya, man.
Drake. Robey.
Such a great song !!!
Jack Gardner
Saw him live a couple years back in a nightclub with my pops. He put on a great show.
annie
I'm nineteen and I LIVE for this genre of music. (I also love Pan Am!)
Nosebully
I’m 19 years old, isn’t it crazy how i came here from a radio station in my Hometown and seeing this comment now? 9 years later? Wow lol hope your doing great 👍
BrooklynRE
Heard this version on Pan Am. I was born in the mid 80's and can only imagine what kind of America we had in the 50s and 60s. The envy of the world!
BH21206
Tremendous guy ! Thanks for the sad news . R I P Buddy and thanks
Jun_Arta
Love this version.
GEORGIA made
I LOVE IT!!
RogerDodger
Really well done.