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)
FEVER
Buddy Greco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never know how much I care
When you put your arms around me
I get a fever that's so hard to bear
You give me fever when you kiss me
Fever when you hold me tight
Fever in the morning
Ev'rybody's got the fever
that is something you all know
Fever isn't such a new thing
Fever started long ago
Sun lights up the daytime
Moon lights up the night
I light up when you call my name
And you know I'm gonna treat you right
You give me fever when you kiss me
Fever when you hold me tight
Fever in the morning
Fever all through the night
Romeo loved Juliet
Juliet she felt the same
When he put his arms around her
He said, Julie baby, you're my flame
Thou givest fever when we kisseth
Fever with thy flaming youth
Fever, I'm afire
Fever, yea I burn forsooth
Captain Smith and Pocahontas
Had a very mad affair
When her daddy tried to kill him
She said Daddy-o don't you dare
He gives me fever with his kisses
Fever when he holds me tight
Fever, I'm his Missus,
Oh daddy, won't you treat him right
Now you've listened to my story
Here's the point that I have made
Cats were born to give chicks fever
Be it Fahrenheit or centigrade
They give you fever when you kiss them
Fever if you live and learn
Fever till you sizzle
What a lovely way to burn
What a lovely way to burn
What a lovely way to burn
Buddy Greco's "Fever" was first released in 1956 and became an instant hit, reaching number 24 in the charts. The song has a strong blues influence with smooth jazz elements that is quite alluring, and Buddy Greco's sultry voice adds an extra layer of seduction. The song is a classic that has been covered by many artists of different genres.
The lyrics of "Fever" are all about the intense feelings that come with being in love. It talks about how love can give you a fever, not just in a physical way but also in an emotional sense. The lyrics are full of metaphorical comparisons between love and heat, with mention of fire, the sun, and the moon. Buddy Greco sings about the fever that he gets when his lover holds him tight, and how he burns with passion for her.
The lyrics also refer to other famous tales of love, like Romeo and Juliet and Captain Smith and Pocahontas. These love stories are used to show that feverish feelings have been present in love relationships throughout history. At the end of the song, the lyrics reveal that cats were "born to give chicks fever," implying that love and heat are eternal and universal.
Line by Line Meaning
Never know how much I love you
I never truly comprehend the extent of my love for you
Never know how much I care
I never truly comprehend the extent of my care for you
When you put your arms around me
When I'm embraced in your arms
I get a fever that's so hard to bear
I feel an intense heat that's difficult to endure
You give me fever when you kiss me
Your kiss raises the temperature in my body
Fever when you hold me tight
I feel feverish when you hold me firmly
Fever in the morning
I'm feverish even in the morning
Fever all through the night
I remain feverish all night long
Ev'rybody's got the fever
Everyone experiences this feverish sensation
that is something you all know
It's a widely known fact
Fever isn't such a new thing
This feverish feeling isn't a new phenomenon
Fever started long ago
It has been present for quite some time
Sun lights up the daytime
The sun illuminates during the day
Moon lights up the night
The moon illuminates during the night
I light up when you call my name
My eyes light up when you say my name
And you know I'm gonna treat you right
I'm going to treat you with the utmost care and respect
Romeo loved Juliet
Romeo had strong romantic feelings for Juliet
Juliet she felt the same
Juliet returned the same feelings for Romeo
When he put his arms around her
When he hugged her tightly
He said, Julie baby, you're my flame
He called her his light, his fire, his love
Thou givest fever when we kisseth
Your kisses give me this feverish feeling
Fever with thy flaming youth
It's your youthful passion and love that makes me feel feverish
Fever, I'm afire
I feel like I'm on fire
Fever, yea I burn forsooth
This burning sensation is very real
Captain Smith and Pocahontas
Captain Smith and Pocahontas had a romantic relationship
Had a very mad affair
They had a wild and intense romance
When her daddy tried to kill him
When her father attempted to take his life
She said Daddy-o don't you dare
She stood up to her father and defended her love
Fever when he holds me tight
I feel feverish when he embraces me tightly
Fever, I'm his Missus,
I'm his wife, and he gives me this feverish feeling
Oh daddy, won't you treat him right
Father, please treat my husband (Captain Smith) correctly
Now you've listened to my story
You've heard everything I have to say
Here's the point that I have made
This is the message I'm trying to convey
Cats were born to give chicks fever
Cats have an inherent ability to make women feel this feverish sensation
Be it Fahrenheit or centigrade
Regardless of the unit of measurement
They give you fever when you kiss them
A cat's kiss can result in this feverish feeling
Fever if you live and learn
This feverish feeling is something we all experience as we go through life
Fever till you sizzle
The sensation is so intense that you feel like you're sizzling
What a lovely way to burn
It's a beautiful feeling, even if it's uncomfortable
What a lovely way to burn
It's a beautiful feeling, even if it's uncomfortable
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CARLIN AMERICA INC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Eddie Cooley, Otis Blackwell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind