By Jerry Pearce

When we think of famous singers of standards that emerged and endured from the 1950s onward, two names automatically spring to the average lover of music: Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. While these two legendary singers are undoubtedly at the top of their field, there was a bevy of other pop standard singers that followed them throughout this decade, a high-class group of accomplished vocalists that included (in no order in terms of greatness) Dick Haymes, David Allyn, Al Martino, Johnny Holiday, Jimmy Roselli, Johnny Hartman, and Jackie Paris.

While all of these singers enjoyed immense popularity as headliners and record makers in their own right, it’s debatable as to whether they ever achieved the level of popularity that the two “leaders” would surmount. There was another singer (who always cited Sinatra as his influence) amongst this group whose rich baritone voice had a quality and style all unto its own, his voice and career sustained well into his seventies. His name was Julius LaRosa, and we lost him two weeks ago at the age of eighty-six.