During the 1950s, Jimmy Durante made a name for himself in the vaudeville scene. He later appeared on television, where he was based on the character from the popular movie ‘Hollywood Mouth.’ He also became known as a ragtime pianist.
‘Hollywood Mouth’ was based on him
Known for his gravelly speech and his ability to break into song, Jimmy Durante was a jazz-influenced singer and comedian. He performed in numerous films and television series throughout the 1940s and early ’70s. He was nominated for several awards, including the Golden Globe and the Primetime Emmy for Best Comedian. He also recorded an album of pop standards in 1963, which became a best seller.
In the early 1930s, Jimmy Durante became a vaudeville star, and later a radio attraction. He appeared in several different mediums during the decade, including the musical comedy revue, Florenz Ziegfeld’s Show Girl. He was also a frequent guest on Tallulah Bankhead’s two-year NBC comedy-variety show, The Big Show.
In the mid-1920s, Jimmy Durante was a full-time ragtime pianist. He joined the Original New Orleans Jazz Band and later the Jimmy Durante’s Jazz Band.
He made his television debut on November 1, 1950
Besides being a popular singer and actor, Jimmy Durante also made a name for himself as a comedian. He started his career in the 1920s as a vaudeville performer. He was also a popular radio personality and was one of the most successful solo comedians of the era.
In the mid-1920s, Durante was a piano bar circuit performer and gained fame with his witty comments and comic language. His catchy song “Inka Dinka Doo” became a major hit. He was also known for his gravelly voice.
Durante teamed up with singer Sonny King for a number of years. He also starred in the musical, Jumbo. In 1963, Durante released an album of pop standards. He was also an active member of the Original New Orleans Jazz Band.
He was a ragtime pianist
Throughout his career, Jimmy Durante – or “Ragtime Jimmy” as he was called – became a popular figure on Broadway and in radio. He was a ragtime pianist, a comedian and an actor. He also was the voice of Barney in the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series.
Jimmy Durante was born in New York City, the youngest of four children of Bartolomeo Durante and Rosa Durante. His father was a barber. He attended a Catholic school, but dropped out of seventh grade to pursue a career in ragtime piano. In the mid-1920s, Jimmy became a popular vaudeville performer. He teamed up with Buster Keaton in three movies for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. His comic timing helped him land a few roles in radio and television.
Jimmy Durante also recorded an album of popular songs in 1963. It was a hit and introduced him to a new generation of music fans. He also appeared in a Volkswagen Beetle advertisement in 1973.
He was a vaudeville star
During the mid-1920s, James Francis “Jimmy” Durante was a vaudeville star. He was known for his distinctive gravelly voice and his large nose, a nickname that he later called “The Schnozzola”.
Jimmy Durante’s idiosyncratic style and unique performance style earned him his own special place in show business history. He started his career as a ragtime pianist in the 1920s, and later became a comedian. As a member of the music and comedy duo Clayton, Jackson and Durante, he headlined vaudeville until 1936.
In that year, he also appeared on the original Rodgers & Hart musical, The Phantom President. In the early 1930s, he was a popular radio attraction. He also starred in a Cole Porter musical, The New Yorkers, on Broadway.
Durante’s musical career continued through the 1950s, when he teamed up with singer Sonny King. Durante also worked in the film musical Land Without Music (released in the United States as Forbidden Music). He also appeared in several large scale book musicals and on television.
He was awarded a loving cup by the Al Bahr Shriners Temple
Besides being one of the first stars to grace the silver screen, Jimmy Durante was also a ragtime pianist, a singer, and an actor. He performed in a number of movies, television shows, and radio programs during the 1940s and early 1950s. He also had an active career as a jazz musician in the ’60s. He also performed at the inaugural gala of President John F. Kennedy in 1961.
Aside from his acting and nightclub career, Jimmy Durante was a notable Democratic Party member. He was also a fan of the New Deal. He made his debut in 1933 with an advertisement promoting one of the many programs being sponsored by the New Deal. He also got into the music business by recording a number of songs and playing banjo.