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)
I'm In Love
Buddy Greco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why do the neighbors chatter all day, behind their doors?
I know a way to prove what they say is quite untrue.
Here is the gist, a practical list of "donts" for you.
Don't throw bouquets at me
Don't please my folks too much
Don't laugh at my jokes too much
Don't sigh and gaze at me
Your sighs are so like mine
Your eyes mustn't glow like mine
People will say we're in love!
Don't start collecting things
Give me my rose and my glove.
Sweetheart they're suspecting things
People will say we're in love.
Don't praise my charm too much
Don't look so vain with me
Don't stand in the rain with me
People will say we're in love!
Don't take my arm too much
Don't keep your hand in mine
Your hand feels so grand in mine
People will say we're in love!
Don't dance all night with me
Till the stars fade from above.
They'll see it's alright with me
People will say we're in love.
In the song "People Will Say We're in Love" by Buddy Greco from the musical Oklahoma, the singer expresses his concern about the rumors and gossip surrounding his relationship. He is puzzled by the stories linking his name to his lover's and the ceaseless chatter of the neighbors behind their doors. The singer then suggests a practical list of "dont's" to dispel the rumors: not to throw bouquets, not to please his folks too much, not to laugh at his jokes too much, among others. He urges his lover not to sigh and gaze at him, not to start collecting things, not to praise his charm too much, and not to take his arm too much. Finally, he proposes that they don't dance all night long, so people can see that they're not in love, but they will still say it.
The song highlights the challenges that come with societal expectations and gossip, which can affect how people view one's relationship. The singer's practical list of "dont's" highlights the pressure to conform to societal norms and avoid any behavior that could give rise to rumors. The lyrics also suggest that love is not enough and that external influences can shape people's perceptions and attitudes towards a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do they think up stories that link my name with yours?
Why do people spread rumors about us and connect our names together?
Why do the neighbors chatter all day, behind their doors?
Why do neighbors gossip about us throughout the day inside their homes?
I know a way to prove what they say is quite untrue.
I have a plan to show that what they say about us is completely false.
Here is the gist, a practical list of "donts" for you.
Here are some practical things you can avoid doing to prevent people from thinking we're in love.
Don't throw bouquets at me
Avoid giving me flowers as it may make people think we're in love.
Don't please my folks too much
Don't try too hard to impress my family as it may raise suspicions.
Don't laugh at my jokes too much
Don't laugh too hard at my jokes as people might think we share romantic feelings.
People will say we're in love!
Any of these actions will cause people to suspect that we are romantically involved.
Don't sigh and gaze at me
Avoid sighing and gazing at me as it might give people the wrong impression.
Your sighs are so like mine
People might think we have a deeper connection if our sighs are so similar.
Your eyes mustn't glow like mine
Try not to make your eyes shine when you look at me as it may hint at romantic feelings.
Don't start collecting things
Avoid keeping any sentimental items related to me as it might imply romantic attachment.
Give me my rose and my glove.
Only keep the rose and glove I gave you and avoid other items that might raise suspicion.
Sweetheart they're suspecting things
People are already getting suspicious about us, my love.
Don't praise my charm too much
Avoid exaggerating my charm and attractiveness as people might think you are in love with me.
Don't look so vain with me
Avoid looking too absorbed in your appearance when we're together as people might think you're trying to impress me.
Don't stand in the rain with me
Avoid situations where people might think we are romantically involved, like standing together in the rain.
Don't take my arm too much
Avoid holding my arm too often as people might think we have a romantic relationship.
Don't keep your hand in mine
Avoid keeping your hand in mine for too long as people might think we have a romantic relationship.
Your hand feels so grand in mine
Because our hands fit so well together, people might think we are in love.
Don't dance all night with me
Avoid dancing with me all night as people might think we have a romantic connection.
Till the stars fade from above.
Until the end of the night, when people might still be watching us dance together.
They'll see it's alright with me
I don't mind dancing with you, but we need to be careful not to give people the wrong idea.
People will say we're in love.
We need to be aware of how our actions might be interpreted by others because they might assume we're in love.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Oscar Hammerstein Ii, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind