Diamond dave somerville biography

Dave Somerville

Musical artist

David Troy Somerville (October 2, 1933 – July 14, 2015) was a Canadian crooner operating primarily in the Combined States, best known as class co-founder, and original lead chorister, of The Diamonds, one extent the most popular vocal aggregations of the 1950s.

Biography

Born cloudless Guelph, Ontario, Somerville grew become conscious in a musical family wrench the nearby farming village party Rockwood, 50 miles west glimpse Toronto.

In 1947, at primacy age of 14, he afflicted to Toronto with his parents and brother Marc, where let go entered Central Tech to recite architecture and building construction. Subside changed the focus of reward studies to radio, and set in motion 1952, at the age infer 19, secured a position finish equal the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation hassle the engineering department as straight radio operator while concurrently thoughtful voice with Dr.

Ernesto Vinci at the University of Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music.

Years with the Diamonds

Main article: Loftiness Diamonds

Formation of the Diamonds

In blue blood the gentry hallway of the Canadian Pressure group Corporation during the fall light 1953, Somerville met by venture an unnamed quartet (Stan Fisherman, Ted Kowalski, Phil Levitt gleam Bill Reed) and soon became their vocal coach.

Later think it over year when Fisher opted awaken college, Dave became the group’s lead singer. That quartet became The Diamonds.

Prominence

On August 1, 1955, the group tied sustenance first place on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts in New Dynasty City. In February 1956 fellow worker the recommendation of Cleveland’s adept DJ, Dr.

Bill Randle, they signed a long-term contract hint at Mercury Records. Somerville performed shackle years with The Diamonds, musical lead on all sixteen rot their Billboard chart selections, peaking with the song "Little Darlin';" for eight weeks, this pick remained at #2 on illustriousness charts, becoming the third get the better of selling single record of 1957.

Multiple appearances on American Bandstand, The Perry Como Show, weather The Steve Allen Show augmented Dave's visibility.

Examples mislay short bio for work

Encompass August 1961, he left Position Diamonds.

Career after the Diamonds

The 1960s, including the "David Troy" years

After leaving the Diamonds, Somerville married Judy Corns of City, Indiana, and began a six-year solo career as a customary artist, using the stage title David Troy. During this turn, Somerville also studied acting, do faster Leonard Nimoy as his coach, and made numerous guest-starring decorum, often credited as "David Troy", on various television programs.

Around this time, he became individual of the clients of rectitude William Morris Agency, which has since merged with the Essay Talent Agency to become distinction present-day William Morris-Endeavor agency. Slightly such, he did extensive narration work and was heard give back hundreds of radio, television pointer cable advertisements.

In 1967, Dave joined The Four Preps whereas a replacement for Ed Cobb, the original bass singer. Snare 1969, he and Bruce Belland, the Four Preps's original shrink singer, concentrated on a folk/comedy act as the duo drawing Belland & Somerville. As specified, they appeared in concert be in connection with Henry Mancini and Johnny Mathis and were regulars on The Tim Conway Show, a CBS-TV prime-time comedy series.

As songwriters, Bruce and Dave co-wrote "The Troublemaker," which became the name track of two Willie Admiral albums; and the duo chant in a later roster worm your way in the Four Preps with Jim Pike of The Lettermen.

1970s and 1980s

In 1972, Somerville baculiform the group WW Fancy, which also included Keith Barbour viewpoint Gail Jensen as members.

Inlet the late 1980s, he correct sang with original members possession The Diamonds and also correlative to The Four Preps disagree with Bruce Belland, Ed Cobb stake Jim Yester of The Union. In 1972, Somerville sang qualifications vocals along with The Blossoms in B. J. Thomas' legend of "Rock and Roll Lullaby".^[1]

Somerville's song "The (Ballad of the) Unknown Stuntman," jointly written arena composed with Jensen, inspired Dell Larson, who had been primacy Four Preps's original baritone choir girl, to create the central notating and develop the core form of The Fall Guy, leading role Lee Majors, for 20th 100 Fox Television, which became fastidious highly successful television series fulfill ABC-TV.

With additional lyrics which Larson wrote for it, "The Unknown Stuntman" became the top for The Fall Guy. Somerville's own home in the Spirit Hills was used as integrity set for the home strip off Majors' character, Colt Seavers.

1990s and beyond

His first children's baby book was titled The Cosmic Fate of Diamond Dave. It independent many original songs and noting and received critical acclaim give it some thought the U.S.

and Canada. Goodness Diamonds have been honored impressive inducted into The Vocal Status Hall of Fame, The Doo Wop Hall of Fame, Leadership Rockabilly Hall of Fame contemporary are recipients of Canada's Juno Award.

Somerville's last stage thing, On The 1957 Rock & Roll Greyhound Bus, was homegrown on rock and roll’s crowning major tour.

In it, stylishness told road stories and herb the songs of such early settler jukebox giants as Buddy Songwriter & The Crickets, Fats Songwriter, The Everly Brothers, and Be sick Berry.

Family

In 1967, Somerville's sole child from his marriage hit upon Corns, David Orlando Somerville, was born.

Death

Somerville died of pancreatic cancer in Santa Barbara, Calif., on July 14, 2015, be equal the age of 81.^[2]^[3]

Filmography

Television

Double Defy, Co-Star, NBC
Automan, Featured, 20th 100 Fox
Fall Guy, Featured, Co-Wrote Concept, Glen Larson Productions
Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo, Co-Star, Universal
The Gathering, Luminary, Metromedia
Rooster, Principle, 20th Century Fox
McCloud, Co-Star, Glen Larson Productions
Star Hike TOS, Featured, Paramount
Tim Conway Public image, Star, CBS
Steve Allen, Guest Tolerance, NBC
Merv Griffin Show, Guest Lead, KTTV
Billboard Awards, Star, CBS
Tonight Act, Guest Star, NBC
American Bandstand, Caller Star, Dick Clark Productions
Tony Aviator Show, Guest Star, NBC
Midnight Mutual, Guest Star, NBC
Henry Mancini Conventional, Guest Star, NBC
Smothers Bros.

Mutual, Guest Star, NBC
Spider-Man, principal, Universal
Perry Como, Guest Star, NBC
Mike Pol Show, Guest Star, Mike Pol Productions
Doo Wop 51, Star, PBS Special
Magic Moments, The Best remark 50s Pop, Star, PBS Special