Wikipedia

Ronnie Gaylord

Ronnie Gaylord (born Ronald Fredianelli; June 12, 1930, Detroit—January 25, 2004, Las Vegas) was an Italian-American musician, songwriter, pantomimer, and comedian best known as a member of the band The Gaylords and the music/comedy duo Gaylord and Holiday.[1][2] Among their many hits are "Tell Me You're Mine", "From the Vine Came the Grape", and "The Little Shoemaker".[1][3][4] He adopted the stage name Ronnie Gaylord in the 1950s after going by Ronnie Vincent for a brief period.[5]

Ronnie Gaylord
Two men in suits and bowties smile and pose, with Ronnie Gaylord leaning above Burt Holiday. There is a small yellow box in the bottom corner identifying them as The Gaylords.
Gaylord (top) and partner Burt Holiday in 1960
Born
Ronald L. Fredianelli

(1930-06-12)June 12, 1930
Detroit, Michigan, USA
DiedJanuary 25, 2004(2004-01-25) (aged 73)
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Other namesRonnie Vincent
Years active1950s—2004
Known forThe Gaylords
Gaylord and Holiday

Biography

edit

Early life

edit

Gaylord was born Ronald L. "Ronnie" Fredianelli on June 12, 1930, in Detroit to Joseph and Florence (née Antico) Fredianelli.[6][7][8][9][10] His mother died of pulmonary tuberculosis in 1932; his father remarried Frances (née Graziana) in 1937.[7][11][12] Gaylord is Italian on both sides:[1][3][13] his father was born in Boveglio[14] and his mother's parents were from Naples.[7]

Gaylord grew up in the same east side Detroit neighborhood as Bonaldo Bonaldi (later known as Burt Holiday),[15][4] purportedly his cousin,[16] and they both attended the University of Detroit Mercy to study pre-law.[13] In 1947, while still students, Bonaldi and Gaylord (then still known as Fredanelli) formed a musical group called the Gay Lords with classmate Don Rae.[4][17] They performed on campus and in clubs around Detroit; a newspaper misprinted their name from the Gay Lords to the Gaylords, which they took on.[17][4][15] Gaylord finished two years of law school before quitting to tour with the band.[18][8]

Career

edit

The first hit by the Gaylords was "Tell Me You're Mine" which hit #2 on the music charts upon its release in 1952.[9] The record sold more than 1.2 million copies and was a gold record.[19][20] This was an Italian love song, "Per un Bacio d'Amore", with English lyrics written by the band and "an upbeat chorus".[19] Singing popular Italian songs in English, and popular English songs in Italian, continued to be a part of the Gaylords' style throughout their career.[4][20][21]

Not long after, Gaylord was drafted into the Korean War; he finished basic at Camp Atterbury and was subsequently assigned to the Special Services.[1][6][22][10] He sang with the military band, did a number of singing commercials, and continued to produce music as a solo artist for Mercury Records.[10][6][17][13] His hit song "Cuddle Me" was in the Billboard Top 20 Singles between March and May 1954.[23][6] He guest starred on the Army-sponsored radio show Club 31 and, in addition to "Cuddle Me", recorded "Coquette" and "Tell Me You Love Me Tonight".[17][24]

He was discharged from the military in 1958 and returned to the Gaylords, where he had been temporarily replaced by Billy Christ.[2][16][10] After a brief split between Gaylord and Holiday, they reunited and began rebuilding the band to its success before the war.[16][1][22][6] The following year, Bonaldi and Gaylord moved to Nevada together to work on the lounge circuit, a gig that was quite popular at the time.[25][26][4] In the 1960s, they began billing as both a music and comedy duo.[15] Their sets variously included poking fun at the city (when they were traveling); taking up stereotypical Italian personas and putting them in improbable situations; and impressions of other musicians, including The Mills Brothers, Elvis Presley, and Sonny and Cher.[1][27][19][15] Gaylord wrote "I'll Trade You Laughter For Love" for fellow lounge circuit performer Don Rickles, who eventually used the song as his "theme song".[4] In 1966, they performed at Frank Sinatra's wedding to Mia Farrow.[28] Rae, who had been an accompanying part of the Gaylords for several years, officially left the band in 1975.[9]

In the 1960s and 1970s, Gaylord appeared on a number of variety shows while the genre was at its peak, most of the time with Holiday but at times on his own.[19] These appearances include The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour,[3] The Hollywood Palace,[22] Moving Wheels,[1] The Johnny Carson Show,[22] Headline Hunters,[5] Melodies and Money,[19] The Flip Wilson Show,[25] Jukebox Jury,[29] and The Ford Show.[18] In 1965, the two were working on a pilot for their own TV show, but it never came to fruition.[22] In 1985, they created Famiglia, described by Holiday as "an Italian Fiddler on the Roof", written by Gaylord.[19] The film was eventually converted into a musical for stage.[30] It follows the lives of a three-generation Italian family, starring Gaylord as the middle generation; Holiday as his father; and Gaylord's son Tony as his son.[30] His wife Terry and son Ron Jr. also appear.[30]

In addition to playing guitar, violin, bass, banjo, and mandolin, Gaylord was a talented songwriter who wrote a number of hits,[1][10] including "Cuddle Me" (performed by Gaylord);[31] "Oh, Am I Lonely?" (performed by Gaylord);[31] "I'll Trade You Laughter For Love" (performed by Don Rickles);[4] "I Will Never Pass This Way Again" (performed by Glen Campbell),[30] and "Wondering!" (performed by The Gaylords).[32]

Gaylord continued performing until the end; his last gig was in Michigan just four months before his death in January 2004.[6]

Personal life

edit

Gaylord stayed in the Las Vegas/Reno area from the time he and Holiday moved there in 1959 until his death.[19][25][18][15] He had two children, Ronald Jr. and Melissa, with his first wife, Teena,[8][33] and three, Christopher, Anthony, and Tiffany, with his second wife, Terry, who he was with for 35 years.[25][6][28]

Four of five children are or were involved in show business.[30] Tony was the guitarist for Third Eye Blind until 2010[10][34] and previously played with heavy metal band Apocrypha and cover band Loveshack;[6][30] Tiffany sang at Texas Station with Loveshack and at MGM Grand Las Vegas with Venus;[10] Ron Jr. filled his father's role in Gaylord and Holiday;[35][9] and Chris is a musician.[36] Melissa, his eldest daughter, is a teacher.[37] He was also survived by his grandchildren Jaime Fredianelli-Lessig[38] and Joseph Fredianelli, and great-grandchildren Jared Phillips and Kaylee Lessig.[6]

When not performing, Gaylord enjoyed painting, sketching, sculpting, and collecting cars.[6][39]

Gaylord died on January 25, 2004, in his Las Vegas home following an eight-year battle with cancer.[26][10][6] He hid his diagnosis from everyone, including his wife Terry and partner Burt, for as long as he could so he could continue performing.[6]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Shane, Maxine F. (1971-04-02). "Reno-based comedy act may get major tv break". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "Old Italian song put Gaylords at the top". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, OH. 1954-02-21. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c Farnan, Jackie (1976-06-10). "Good blend of music, comedy". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, NY. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Phillips, Perry (1987-10-06). "Night Sounds". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, CA. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b "Vocal group on TV show". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, MI. 1953-12-12. Retrieved 2022-01-01 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Hartman, Forrest (2004-01-27). "Nevada showroom singer dies at 73". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c "Florence Fredianelli in the Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952". Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics. 1932. Retrieved 2022-01-01 – via ancestry.com.
  8. ^ a b c "Popular singer trains at camp". The Franklin Evening Star. Franklin, IN. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b c d Betts, Graham. Motown Encyclopedia. p. 42.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Rawlyk, Heather; Koch, Ed (2004-01-28). "Fredianelli, founder of Gaylords, dies". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  11. ^ "Fredianelli". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, MI. 2000-02-04. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Mr Joseph Fredianelli in the Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952". Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics. 1937. Retrieved 2022-01-01 – via ancestry.com.
  13. ^ a b c Blum, Walter (1963-12-22). "The whacky songs of two paisanos". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, CA. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Joseph Anthony Fredianelli in the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947". U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. 1940. Retrieved 2022-01-01 – via ancestry.com.
  15. ^ a b c d e Morgan, Cynthia L. (1975-08-09). "Comedy duo drawing on area humor". The Kansas City Times. Kansas City, MO. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b c Kleiner, Dick (1953-06-24). "The Marquee". The Pomona Progress Bulletin. Pomona, CA. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b c d Freers, Jackie (1953-06-24). "Pvt. Ronnie Gaylord waxes hits on passes". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, IN. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  18. ^ a b c Barnard, Ken (1962-12-07). "What's in a name? Not the Gaylords". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, MI. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g Masullo, Robert (1986-06-23). "Movie project, tape put spotlight on Gaylords". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, CA. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  20. ^ a b "Gaylord & Holiday provide 'perfect blend' at Harvey's". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. 1964-02-07. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Six acts featured at Wagon Wheel, Tahoe". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. 1961-06-16. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  22. ^ a b c d e "Gaylord and Holiday at Harvey's Pavilion". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. 1965-11-12. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  23. ^ McAleer, Dave. The Book of Hit Singles: Top 20 Charts from 1954 to the Present Day.
  24. ^ Green, Ann (1953-06-29). "Entirely Personal". The Republic. Columbus, IN. Retrieved 2022-01-01 – via newspapers.com.
  25. ^ a b c d Kohn, Martin F. (1999-05-18). "'Sunshine Boys' really live the part". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, MI. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  26. ^ a b Spencer, Harry (2004-01-30). "Memory". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Six groups featured at Wagon Wheel". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. 1961-06-02. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  28. ^ a b "Lords of Las Vegas: With more than 50 years of experience, Gaylords have seen it all". Las Vegas Sun. 2003-01-14. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  29. ^ "TV Magie". Valley Times. North Hollywood, CA. 1954-03-13. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  30. ^ a b c d e f Pinchot, Joe (1998-07-23). "Gaylord's autobiographical show is really a musical 'Famiglia' affair". The Herald. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  31. ^ Trulock, Harold (1953-10-22). "Mariners set sail with 'Mama'". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, IN. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "A membership luncheon". Nevada State Journal. Reno, NV. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  33. ^ Gardner, Eriq (2013-10-22). "Third Eye Blind Ordered to Pay $448K to Former Guitarist". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  34. ^ Jackson, Dana (2006-11-05). "The Gaylords do music, comedy". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, MI. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  35. ^ Seabaugh (2012-01-07). "SPARKLE … DIM … AND FADE TO BLACK". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  36. ^ "Runners-up". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. 2000-05-28. Retrieved 2022-01-01 – via newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "Marriage licenses". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. 2002-04-21. Retrieved 2022-01-01 – via newspapers.com.
  38. ^ Wasserman, Jack (1963-06-26). "Reporter's notebook". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, BC. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ronnie_Gaylord&oldid=1215436364"