One of M-G-M's Least Known - Best Voices Ever Recorded!
Composer Jimmy McHugh, whose songs have been performed by none other than Helen Forrest, Doris Day, Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin, and many others, once sent a personal letter to a new kid on the block named Victor Marchese. The letter, dated July 30 1951 read exactly like this: Dear Victor, I just want to tell you how thrilling it is listening to you sing. I think you have one of the greatest voices I have heard in a long time. McHugh had hoped that Victor would someday be able to record some of his newer compositions on the Metro Goldwyn Mayer record label. It would appear that the summer of 1951 would lead to bigger and better things for the former sailor and World War II veteran from San Diego. Were it not for all the comparisons to another famous tenor - Mario Lanza, the name Victor Marchese may have become a household name long ago. But fate had a different ending in mind. Like the great painter Van Gogh, the one of a kind voice of Victor Marchese would likely become more famous with future generations than with his own, decades after the recordings were made. With the help of a brand new made for TV documentary (Click for preview), Victor's popularity and notoriety is finally on the rise!
Discovered at The Mocambo Club, 1951
Born in San Jose, but raised in San Diego, California, Victor Marchese (pronounced = Mar Kay Zee) grew up in the Logan Heights district of San Diego. He graduated from Memorial Jr. High in 1937, and for a short while attended Schnider Continuation School. After his seventeenth birthday, Victor decided to enlist in the United States Navy. He trained for and passed all the required tests for submariner's duty, but was assigned to the U.S.S. Holland (a submarine tender) instead. For eight years Victor was the official "voice" of the Pacific, performing with various Navy and civilian bands. He even performed a special birthday concert for Admiral Nimitz! About five years after leaving the Navy, Victor was discovered by Hollywood talent scouts while performing at the famous Mocambo Club in Los Angeles. His agent, Jimmy Dugan was approached by two different record companies, Capitol and Metro Goldwyn Mayer. After weighing the offers of both companies, Victor sided with Jimmy and signed with M-G-M for a twelve record deal, which included voice-over work at M-G-M movie studios. Victor did in fact sing a duet with actress Jane Powell titled Love Can Change the Stars in the 1954 release Athena; however the song was cut from the final edit. Victors voice in Athena can only be heard at the very end, in the closing number titled Harmonize. The first two record releases by Victor, Flamingo and When I Dream of Home, were critically acclaimed by Billboard Magazine, and warmly praised by industry insiders. When I Dream of Home became number one in England in December of 1951.
Television and Radio
Victor also made a few appearances on television and radio between 1951 and 1954. He sang in place of Xavier Cugat on the radio adaptation of Holiday In Mexico with co-stars Jane Powell and Walter Pigeon. On television, he appeared on the sitcom Life With Father posing as the opera singer who drives father (Leon Ames) crazy with jealousy! A clip from this episode featuring Leon Ames, Lurene Tuttle, and Marion Ross can be seen below...
The Hollywood Years
In spite of all the attention, bookings and appearances in Hollywood, Las Vegas, Seattle, and Pittsburgh, Victors rise to stardom was short lived and his career never reached its full potential. Studio politics, lack of promotion and other factors prematurely shot down a Hollywood career destined for greatness! After moving away from Hollywood in 1956, Victor would continue to sing and entertain on the East Coast, primarily in Miami Beach. Fortunately, all of Victor's M-G-M recordings have survived, including the now available outtake from the 1954 movie musical Athena, Love Can Change the Stars.
Legendary Miami Beach Entertainer
Victor would eventually settle and raise a family in Miami Beach, where audiences at the Fontain Bleau, Versailles, Diplomat, and other Beach Hotels would hear Victor perform throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s. In April of 2003, Victor Marchese died of cancer at the age of 82. This web page and all the music products available here are dedicated to Victor Marchese and his musical legacy.
