During the era of big bands and smooth, classic entertainers, Don Cornell was a
leading star performing at major night clubs and casinos, scoring a string of
hits and selling over 50 million records. Born Luigi Francisco Valaro in The
Bronx, New York in 1919, he took to music after being given a guitar by his
uncle and got his first job as a singing waiter at the Embassy Club. A stint as
a professional boxer saw him rack up 20 wins, but he quit the sport when he was
asked to throw a fight and ended up playing guitar in Red Nichols' band instead.
His name was changed when he later...