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Ronnie Gaylord

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Ronnie Gaylord
Two men in suits and bowties smile and pose, with Ronnie Gaylord leaning above Burt Holiday. There is a small yellow box in the bottom corner identifying them as The Gaylords.
Gaylord (top) and partner Burt Holiday in 1960
Born
Ronald L. Fredianelli

(1930-06-12)June 12, 1930
Detroit, Michigan, USA
DiedJanuary 25, 2004(2004-01-25) (aged 73)
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Other namesRonnie Vincent
Years active1950s—2004
Known forThe Gaylords
Gaylord and Holiday

Ronnie Gaylord (born Ronald Fredianelli; June 12, 1930, Detroit—January 25, 2004, Las Vegas) was an Italian-American musician, songwriter, pantomimer, and comedian best known as a member of the band The Gaylords and the music/comedy duo Gaylord and Holiday.[1][2] Among their many hits are "Tell Me You're Mine", "From the Vine Came the Grape", and "The Little Shoemaker".[1][3][4] He adopted the stage name Ronnie Gaylord in the 1950s after going by Ronnie Vincent for a brief period.[5]

Biography

Early life

Gaylord was born Ronald L. "Ronnie" Fredianelli on June 12, 1930, in Detroit to Joseph and Florence (née Antico) Fredianelli.[6][7][8][9][10] His mother died of pulmonary tuberculosis in 1932; his father remarried Frances (née Graziana) in 1937.[7][11][12] Gaylord is Italian on both sides:[1][3][13] his father was born in Boveglio[14] and his mother's parents were from Naples.[7]

Gaylord grew up in the same east side Detroit neighborhood as Bonaldo Bonaldi (later known as Burt Holiday),[15][4] purportedly his cousin,[16] and they both attended the University of Detroit Mercy to study pre-law.[13] In 1947, while still students, Bonaldi and Gaylord (then still known as Fredanelli) formed a musical group called the Gay Lords with classmate Don Rae.[4][17] They performed on campus and in clubs around Detroit; a newspaper misprinted their name from the Gay Lords to the Gaylords, which they took on.[17][4][15] Gaylord finished two years of law school before quitting to tour with the band.[18][8]

Career

The first hit by the Gaylords was "Tell Me You're Mine" which hit #2 on the music charts upon its release in 1952.[9] The record sold more than 1.2 million copies and was a gold record.[19][20] This was an Italian love song, "Per un Bacio d'Amore", with English lyrics written by the band and "an upbeat chorus".[19] Singing popular Italian songs in English, and popular English songs in Italian, continued to be a part of the Gaylords' style throughout their career.[4][20][21]

Not long after, Gaylord was drafted into the Korean War; he finished basic at Camp Atterbury and was subsequently assigned to the Special Services.[1][6][22][10] He sang with the military band, did a number of singing commercials, and continued to produce music as a solo artist for Mercury Records.[10][6][17][13] His hit song "Cuddle Me" was in the Billboard Top 20 Singles between March and May 1954.[23][6] He guest starred on the Army-sponsored radio show Club 31 and, in addition to "Cuddle Me", recorded "Coquette" and "Tell Me You Love Me Tonight".[17][24]

He was discharged from the military in 1958 and returned to the Gaylords, where he had been temporarily replaced by Billy Christ.[2][16][10] After a brief split between Gaylord and Holiday, they reunited and began rebuilding the band to its success before the war.[16][1][22][6] The following year, Bonaldi and Gaylord moved to Nevada together to work on the lounge circuit, a gig that was quite popular at the time.[25][26][4] In the 1960s, they began billing as both a music and comedy duo.[15] Their sets variously included poking fun at the city (when they were traveling); taking up stereotypical Italian personas and putting them in improbable situations; and impressions of other musicians, including The Mills Brothers, Elvis Presley, and Sonny and Cher.[1][27][19][15] Gaylord wrote "I'll Trade You Laughter For Love" for fellow lounge circuit performer Don Rickles, who eventually used the song as his "theme song".[4] In 1966, they performed at Frank Sinatra's wedding to Mia Farrow.[28] Rae, who had been an accompanying part of the Gaylords for several years, officially left the band in 1975.[9]

In the 1960s and 1970s, Gaylord appeared on a number of variety shows while the genre was at its peak, most of the time with Holiday but at times on his own.[19] These appearances include The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour,[3] The Hollywood Palace,[22] Moving Wheels,[1] The Johnny Carson Show,[22] Headline Hunters,[5] Melodies and Money,[19] The Flip Wilson Show,[25] Jukebox Jury,[29] and The Ford Show.[18] In 1965, the two were working on a pilot for their own TV show, but it never came to fruition.[22] In 1985, they created Famiglia, described by Holiday as "an Italian Fiddler on the Roof", written by Gaylord.[19] The film was eventually converted into a musical for stage.[30] It follows the lives of a three-generation Italian family, starring Gaylord as the middle generation; Holiday as his father; and Gaylord's son Tony as his son.[30] His wife Terry and son Ron Jr. also appear.[30]

In addition to playing guitar, violin, bass, banjo, and mandolin, Gaylord was a talented songwriter who wrote a number of hits,[1][10] including "Cuddle Me" (performed by Gaylord);[31] "Oh, Am I Lonely?" (performed by Gaylord);[31] "I'll Trade You Laughter For Love" (performed by Don Rickles);[4] "I Will Never Pass This Way Again" (performed by Glen Campbell),[30] and "Wondering!" (performed by The Gaylords).[32]

Gaylord continued performing until the end; his last gig was in Michigan just four months before his death in January 2004.[6]

Personal life

Gaylord stayed in the Las Vegas/Reno area from the time he and Holiday moved there in 1959 until his death.[19][25][18][15] He had two children, Ronald Jr. and Melissa, with his first wife, Teena,[8][33] and three, Chris, Tony, and Tiffany, with his second wife, Terry, who he was with for 35 years.[25][6][28]

Four of five children are or were involved in show business.[30] Tony was the guitarist for Third Eye Blind until 2010[10][34] and previously played with heavy metal band Apocrypha and cover band Loveshack;[6][30] Tiffany sang at Texas Station with Loveshack and at MGM Grand Las Vegas with Venus;[10] Ron Jr. filled his father's role in Gaylord and Holiday;[35][9] and Chris is a musician.[36] Melissa, his eldest daughter, is a teacher.[37] He was also survived by his grandchildren Jaime Fredianelli-Lessig[38] and Joseph Fredianelli, and great-grandchildren Jared Phillips and Kaylee Lessig.[6]

When not performing, Gaylord enjoyed painting, sketching, sculpting, and collecting cars.[6][39]

Gaylord died on January 25, 2004, in his Las Vegas home following an eight-year battle with cancer.[26][10][6] He hid his diagnosis from everyone, including his wife Terry and partner Burt, for as long as he could so he could continue performing.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Shane, Maxine F. (1971-04-02). "Reno-based comedy act may get major tv break". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "Old Italian song put Gaylords at the top". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, OH. 1954-02-21. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c Farnan, Jackie (1976-06-10). "Good blend of music, comedy". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, NY. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Phillips, Perry (1987-10-06). "Night Sounds". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, CA. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b "Vocal group on TV show". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, MI. 1953-12-12. Retrieved 2022-01-01 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Hartman, Forrest (2004-01-27). "Nevada showroom singer dies at 73". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c "Florence Fredianelli in the Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952". Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics. 1932. Retrieved 2022-01-01 – via ancestry.com.
  8. ^ a b c "Popular singer trains at camp". The Franklin Evening Star. Franklin, IN. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b c d Betts, Graham. Motown Encyclopedia. p. 42.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Rawlyk, Heather; Koch, Ed (2004-01-28). "Fredianelli, founder of Gaylords, dies". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  11. ^ "Fredianelli". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, MI. 2000-02-04. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Mr Joseph Fredianelli in the Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952". Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics. 1937. Retrieved 2022-01-01 – via ancestry.com.
  13. ^ a b c Blum, Walter (1963-12-22). "The whacky songs of two paisanos". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, CA. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Joseph Anthony Fredianelli in the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947". U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. 1940. Retrieved 2022-01-01 – via ancestry.com.
  15. ^ a b c d e Morgan, Cynthia L. (1975-08-09). "Comedy duo drawing on area humor". The Kansas City Times. Kansas City, MO. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b c Kleiner, Dick (1953-06-24). "The Marquee". The Pomona Progress Bulletin. Pomona, CA. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b c d Freers, Jackie (1953-06-24). "Pvt. Ronnie Gaylord waxes hits on passes". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, IN. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  18. ^ a b c Barnard, Ken (1962-12-07). "What's in a name? Not the Gaylords". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, MI. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g Masullo, Robert (1986-06-23). "Movie project, tape put spotlight on Gaylords". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, CA. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  20. ^ a b "Gaylord & Holiday provide 'perfect blend' at Harvey's". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. 1964-02-07. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Six acts featured at Wagon Wheel, Tahoe". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. 1961-06-16. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  22. ^ a b c d e "Gaylord and Holiday at Harvey's Pavilion". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. 1965-11-12. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  23. ^ McAleer, Dave. The Book of Hit Singles: Top 20 Charts from 1954 to the Present Day.
  24. ^ Green, Ann (1953-06-29). "Entirely Personal". The Republic. Columbus, IN. Retrieved 2022-01-01 – via newspapers.com.
  25. ^ a b c d Kohn, Martin F. (1999-05-18). "'Sunshine Boys' really live the part". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, MI. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  26. ^ a b Spencer, Harry (2004-01-30). "Memory". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Six groups featured at Wagon Wheel". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. 1961-06-02. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  28. ^ a b "Lords of Las Vegas: With more than 50 years of experience, Gaylords have seen it all". Las Vegas Sun. 2003-01-14. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  29. ^ "TV Magie". Valley Times. North Hollywood, CA. 1954-03-13. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  30. ^ a b c d e f Pinchot, Joe (1998-07-23). "Gaylord's autobiographical show is really a musical 'Famiglia' affair". The Herald. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  31. ^ Trulock, Harold (1953-10-22). "Mariners set sail with 'Mama'". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, IN. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "A membership luncheon". Nevada State Journal. Reno, NV. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  33. ^ Gardner, Eriq (2013-10-22). "Third Eye Blind Ordered to Pay $448K to Former Guitarist". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  34. ^ Jackson, Dana (2006-11-05). "The Gaylords do music, comedy". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, MI. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
  35. ^ Seabaugh (2012-01-07). "SPARKLE … DIM … AND FADE TO BLACK". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  36. ^ "Runners-up". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. 2000-05-28. Retrieved 2022-01-01 – via newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "Marriage licenses". Reno Gazette-Journal. Reno, NV. 2002-04-21. Retrieved 2022-01-01 – via newspapers.com.
  38. ^ Wasserman, Jack (1963-06-26). "Reporter's notebook". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, BC. Retrieved 2021-12-31 – via newspapers.com.
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