Andy Russell(1919-1992)
- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Born in Los Angeles to Mexican immigrant parents, Andy Russell, who
took his professional name from one of his idols, Russ Columbo,
achieved his greatest U.S. popularity in the 1940s. As with Columbo and
Bing Crosby before him, he started out singing with Gus Arnheim's
orchestra at the Cocoanut Grove, but, at only 13, he was so young that
Arnheim had to become his legal guardian to permit him to travel out of
state. Possessed of a romantic baritone voice, he sang songs in English
and Spanish, his biggest hit being "Besame Mucho" (Capitol: 1945). In
the early 1950s, he re-located to Mexico, where he remained a major
star until his death. He remained a U.S. citizen, however, and still
made appearances in the U.S. from time to time.
