Sonny King (April 1, 1922 â€" February 3, 2006) was an American lounge
singer of Italian descent.He was born as Luigi Antonio Schiavone on
April 1, 1922 in Brooklyn, New York. He was the sidekick of Jimmy
Durante for 28 years until Durante's death in 1980. They appeared
together on The Ed Sullivan Show five times in the 1960s. King shared
a New York apartment with Dean Martin when the two were struggling
entertainers, and is credited with introducing Martin to a young
comedian Jerry Lewis.Although not an official Rat Pack member, he was
close friends with many Rat Pack entertainers and appeared in movies
such as Robin and the Seven Hoods and Sergeants 3. He recorded an
album "For Losers Only" and shared the stage with jazz greats such as
Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Joe Williams and many more. King moved to
Las Vegas in the early 1950s and was a fixture on the strip and local
clubs until his death on February 3, 2006 from cancer. He was 83 years
old.Being brought up in vaudeville and trained in operatic vocals and
comedy, all these elements composed the foundation of what became the
quintessential "Vegas lounge singer" persona.
singer of Italian descent.He was born as Luigi Antonio Schiavone on
April 1, 1922 in Brooklyn, New York. He was the sidekick of Jimmy
Durante for 28 years until Durante's death in 1980. They appeared
together on The Ed Sullivan Show five times in the 1960s. King shared
a New York apartment with Dean Martin when the two were struggling
entertainers, and is credited with introducing Martin to a young
comedian Jerry Lewis.Although not an official Rat Pack member, he was
close friends with many Rat Pack entertainers and appeared in movies
such as Robin and the Seven Hoods and Sergeants 3. He recorded an
album "For Losers Only" and shared the stage with jazz greats such as
Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Joe Williams and many more. King moved to
Las Vegas in the early 1950s and was a fixture on the strip and local
clubs until his death on February 3, 2006 from cancer. He was 83 years
old.Being brought up in vaudeville and trained in operatic vocals and
comedy, all these elements composed the foundation of what became the
quintessential "Vegas lounge singer" persona.
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