Dakota Beacon

It’s Sunday and we all need a break. 

Last week, a friend of mine, a local radio personality, was on the air and played a “golden oldie” - Bobby Darin’s “Dream Lover”.  It served to remind me of what an incredible talent Darin was and his impact on so much of America’s music.  At a time when Elvis was the world’s superstar, Darin shone his own special and unique light.  A generation younger than the famed “rat pack” of pop music, Darin’s music stands largely with theirs, newly refreshed and his own rock and roll hits made the charts at the same time in competition with other teen idols of his own generation.

Born to an unwed teenage girl in 1936, he was raised in the Bronx. Walden Robert Cassotto had a rough start.  First off, he was lied to - his grandmother, Polly, a one-time singer in vaudeville, was passed off to him as his mother and he was raised in this belief.  Only a chance circumstance caused his family to reveal the truth to him when he was 32 - that his "sister" Nina was his biological mother.   This came as a shock and for a time he went silent, secluding himself.    He never knew the true identity of his own father.

Darin was a bit of a prodigy - he listened constantly and intensely to the music of the Big Band era.  Darin’s grandfather (whom he thought was his father) was not a presence - he had been a lower-level member of a crime family who died in prison - and all his life Darin vehemently  rejected the mob, although he was sometimes pressured to “take a favor” in his career.  He never did.  When he was  eight years old he suffered the first of a series of bouts of rheumatic fever, severe illness which left him with permanent heart damage.  He reportedly overheard a doctor tell his “mother” - Polly - that he would not survive to adulthood.  He determined to make use of every minute of time he had - he learned to play several instruments and eventually played piano, drums, harmonica, xylophone and guitar.  And he sang.  

He wrote over 300 songs, the first ones for Connie Francis, with whom he had a very special relationship, sadly ended by Francis’ violent and controlling father.  He chose the name “Darin” when he saw a neon sign for a Chinese restaurant.  It was called “Mandarin” but the first three letters were out, so only “DARIN” was lit up.  He decided that would be his stage name.

He met his future wife, silver screen sweetheart Sandra Dee when they were both filming the movie Come September.  Their marriage, from 1960-1967, was often turbulent and frequently competitive, but they had a son, Dodd Darin, together.

Always driven by the knowledge that his life could end suddenly at any time, Darin lived every minute with passion.  He had a lot to do and little time in which to do it.  He had a somewhat “edgey” image, partly a result of his Bronx upbringing, in part due to his intensity and not a little to his extraordinary talent and intelligence.  He was also an intuitive actor and was nominated for an Academy Award (back when that meant something).  His gift for impersonation is less known but nonetheless amazing.  Darin was fortunate to live at a time when his special gifts had a market and an audience.  Today we have few impressionists, partly due to a lack of distinctive celebrity personalities.  In the era of Dean Martin, Jimmy Durante, Clark Gable and Cary Grant, it was a paradise for a talented impressionist, and Darin was that. 

One of his interests was chess - he played well himself, showcasing chess moves in his television shows - and had made arrangements for a Grand Master competition which, due to his death, did not take place.

He took an interest in politics, not surprisingly Democrat politics, and supported Bobby Kennedy’s campaign for the presidency.  He considered running for office himself, which was the catalyst that brought about his family’s confession as to the circumstances of his birth.  

His heart disease, the result of his many episodes of rheumatic fever, called for surgery and he had two valves replaced.  Always a great jazz artist, Darin began to take an interest in the folk music movement, penned some songs, one of which - “A Simple Song of Freedom” - became a hit for Tim Hardin - only fair, as Darin had a hit with Hardin’s “If I Were a Carpenter”.  

Darin died of sepsis following a visit to the dentist - he had neglected to take preventative antibiotics and his heart failed.  He died after hours of surgery, without regaining consciousness.  He was all of 37 years old.  

In his professional career, he had done much to help direct and assist other talented performers, among them Roger McGuinn (later of the Birds) and Wayne Newton.  He was generous with his professional help.  He raised money for causes he believed in, such as the Heart Fund and other public causes.  

Bobby Darin was a uniquely American performer, a jazz great whose renditions of standards brought them new life - such as “Mack the Knife”, Kurt Weill’s standard from The Threepenny Opera, a creative artist, writing hit songs for himself and others (“Dream Lovers” was his first great hit), producing albums and shows, earning accolades for his acting, whiile battling lifelong illness, putting on a tremendous performance for his audience and fans, a success story for sure - both glorious and also bittersweet, with a tough and tragic edge.   It is a tribute to both his skill and professionalism that no one could guess from his public image and performance the struggle that went into every minute of it.  He had an impact on American music which extended long beyond his own brief lifetime.  

Here are some of my favorite Bobby Darin moments;

Bobby Darin and Jimmy Durante:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDHcaKjVwe8

"Once Upon a Time" - with some memories of his romance with the beautiful Sandra Dee:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG6QW8Cu7oo

One of his first hit songs - “Dream Lover”:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOOO8JAqt-U

“For Once in My Life”:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLrLshQjnxU

“Mack the Knife”:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSGc0bx-kKM

“Beyond the Sea”:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl0PlwrFHmc

Bobby Darin sings Marty Robbins’ “18 Yellow Roses”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_p2w4hhYuA

Bobby Darin brings new life to a Hoagy Carmichael classic from 1930:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2F2xDtgNdA&list=RDB2F2xDtgNdA&start_radio=1&t=86

“All by Myself” (Irving Berlin): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyTjkVHOCVQ

Bobby Darin does Hollywood Impressions:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4ryqrbvTv

"A Simple Song of Freedom" (1969):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ1ohsissjE

“The Curtain Falls” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0si1Pzjhn1o

You are invited to google some of your own favorites - hope this inspires you!

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