The Fast and Fantastic Life of Bobby Darin

"My ambition is to be a legend by the time I am 25..."

A true "mack" of all trades, the multi-talented Bobby Darin rose up from humble beginnings to become not only a world-renowned singer and songwriter, but an award-winning actor, music producer and successful business figure. He lived his life in an astounding rush - willing his dream into reality when he was barely out of his teens, but the dream was cut short by an untimely death.

Humble Beginnings

Born amid the Great Depression, the man believed to be Bobby's father died in jail before Bobby was even born. Later in life he would learn that his mother, Polly, was actually his grandmother, and that, Nina, the woman he called his sister was his true birth mother. This revelation would one day rock his world, but as a child, Bobby already had his share of troubles. Starting at age 8, he battled through recurring bouts of rheumatic fever, which did severe damage to his heart. Bobby recalled hearing a doctor tell his mother that he would be lucky to live to see 16. Armed with this grim prognosis, Bobby lived and worked with a powerful sense of urgency.

Polly had introduced young Bobby to the world of vaudeville, and it inspired his dream of becoming a performer. Determined to make a name for himself in show business, Bobby took up piano, guitar and drums during high school. He was an excellent student, but he walked away from a college scholarship to work the nightclub circuit in the Catskills.

Making a Splash

Bobby's big break came when he found work as a demo writer and singer at a creative hotspot, the Brill Building in New York City. He signed to Atco Records in 1958 and that's where he wrote and recorded his first hit, "Splish Splash." The song sold more than a million copies, and overnight Bobby Darin was a star, further solidified with the release of the successful singles "Queen of the Hop," and "Dream Lover."

Unsatisfied with title of "Teen Idol" and determined to further establish himself as a musical genius, Darin employed a big band for his jazz-driven 1958 release THAT'S ALL. The album, proved to be anything but a sophomore slump, garnering the long-standing #1 single "Mack The Knife" which would become Bobby's signature song and the Top Ten hit "Beyond The Sea." The album won a Grammy for "Record of the Year" and Bobby would claim the award for "Best New Artist."

The Shining Star

On stage, he shined, selling out venues wherever he performed. His energetic shows broke performance records at the famed Copacabana in New York City. The equally impressive Sammy Davis Jr. is quoted as saying Darin was "the only person I never wanted to follow" after watching one of his extraordinary performances.

In an eleven-year run between 1958 and 1969, Darin had 47 songs in the Billboard Hot 100. His popularity was especially notable because he was reaching an audience that bridged the gap between teens and adults. Fans and critics marveled at his amazing range of talents and styles. He was a crooner, a musician, a folksinger, and an accomplished composer.

The Multi-tasker

It's also often overlooked that Bobby penned many of his greatest hits, like "Dream Lover," "Somebody To Love," and "Eighteen Yellow Roses." A gifted songwriter, Darin would establish his own music publishing and production company in the 1960s. There he would write Wayne Newton's break-through song "Danke Schoen" and craft a few country tunes, most famously the track "Things" which would be later covered by his contemporary Dean Martin.

Music was just one of Bobby's many talents. He also had a knack for acting and appeared in over a dozen motion pictures. He received an Oscar nomination for his amazing performance in the 1963 film Captain Newman M.D.

A Generous Heart

Outside of show business, Bobby worked hard for the causes he believed in. He was very involved with the American Heart Association and supported a variety of other charities. He had a passion for politics and even considered pursuing a career in public service.

Sadly, Bobby's prediction of a short life would come true in December of 1973. He died minutes after a surgery to repair his weakened heart.

His Music, His Life, His Legacy

Bobby's career would be celebrated in 1990 with his posthumous induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and again at the 2010 Grammy ceremony where he received the Lifetime Achievement Award. His life would be immortalized with the 2004 biopic Beyond The Sea starring Kevin Spacey.

The legacy of Bobby Darin is one of tremendous talent and an unrelenting drive to succeed. He lived life knowing that he needed to make the most of every minute, and he did. His wish was "to be remembered as a human being and as a great performer." There can be no doubt that his story and his songs will continue to inspire new generations of music lovers and performers.