Details About Perry Como's Private Life Are Leaving Fans Reeling

In the history of showbusiness, no entertainer has been more underappreciated than Perry Como. Nicknamed "the man who invented casual," Perry's silky vocals and laid-back style were often overshadowed by the flash and charisma of big band crooners. But from the first moment he stepped onstage, the easy-listening legend singlehandedly changed the industry forever, leaving behind a little-known legacy that's just now beginning to come to light.

Humble to a Fault

Perry never gave himself the credit he was due, once remarking, "For the amount of talent I had - and I couldn't dance, act, or tell a joke - I enjoyed a tremendous career." This, however, was just the iconic entertainer's way of staying humble, a trait he owed to his unglamorous upbringing in a small Pennsylvania coal town.

Not From Around Here

Born Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como on May 18, 1912, the future superstar spent most of his early years in the suburb of Canonsburg. The town is about 20 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, though Perry's family was anything but local. 

One of Ten

Perry was the seventh of ten children, and the first of them to be born in America. His parents, Pietro and Lucia, emigrated to the United States in 1910 from the Abruzzese town of Palena, Italy, making it a bit more difficult for Perry to assimilate into American life.

Immigrant Upbringing

Being born to Italian immigrants, Perry grew up speaking only Italian until he finally learned English when he entered grade school. Still, there was one thing that got young Perry through all of his early hardships.