The Dixie Bee-Liners CD

Ever since his recording of "That's My Desire" burst onto the scene like a musical firework in 1947, praise has poured in from all corners, from young and old alike, for this gifted and versatile artist. Today, 21 Gold Records later, Frankie Laine has become a musical tradition. He is in constant demand for top nightclub engagements, both here and in Europe.

The Oldies are Still GreatLaine's magical appeal, however, far transcends mere nostalgia. His recording of "You Gave Me a Mountain," a song written especially for Laine by his good friend, Marty Robbins, went gold in the early 1970's, a time by which many of his contemporaries had long since quieted down. Laine continues to record exciting new material while maintaining a healthy respect for the songs, like "Mule Train," "That Lucky Old Sun," "I Believe," and "Jezebel," which all his longtime admirers know by heart. Many of these tunes were collected into an album entitled "The World of Frankie Laine," that topped the charts in England in 1982. Since then, this album has been issued in 43 different countries.

Chicago OriginsNot too shabby for a humble Sicilian kid, born to immigrant parents in the heart of Chicago's Little Italy on March 30, 1913. Laine first sang in public as part of the choir at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. His love of music led him to Chicago's Merry Garden Ballroom, where friends frequently urged him up onto the bandstand to perform a number or two.

At the age of 17, Laine left home to try his luck as a marathon dancer. This fad of the depression years was a tough way of keeping body and soul together, but Laine stuck with it and eventually he and a partner, Ruth Smith, met the all-time marathon dance record in Atlantic City, New Jersey. They danced for a total of 3,501 hours over 145 consecutive days, and split a grand prize of $1,000 for their efforts.