Don Cornell
A big-voiced balladeer whose romantic hits like 'Hold My Hand' provided a smooth, comforting soundtrack to the postwar American era.
1919–2004 (age 85)·American singer·Birthday: April 21·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Don Cornell possessed one of the most recognizable and robust baritones of the pre-rock pop era. Born Luigi Francisco Varlaro, he got his start singing with big bands, most notably fronting the Sammy Kaye orchestra, where his clear, earnest delivery on songs like 'It Isn't Fair' made him a star. He soared to solo success in the 1950s, scoring a massive, enduring hit with 'Hold My Hand,' a duet with actress-singer Lucille Norman that spent weeks near the top of the charts. Cornell mastered the art of the romantic ballad, delivering sincere and polished versions of standards like 'I'll Walk Alone' and 'The Bible Tells Me So.' While the rise of rock and roll shifted the musical landscape, his voice remained a fixture on television variety shows and in nightclubs for decades. He represented a certain ideal of mid-century male vocalism: strong, sentimental, and impeccably smooth.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Don was born in 1919, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Don Was Born
The biggest hits of 1919
Don's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1919Born
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1924Started school
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1932Became a teenager
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1935Could drive
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1937Could vote
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Turned 21
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1949Turned 30
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 40
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 50
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1979Turned 60
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 70
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 80
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2004Died at 85
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
Key Achievements
- Scored a major international hit with the duet 'Hold My Hand' (with Lucille Norman), which sold over a million copies.
- Had a string of Top 40 hits in the 1950s, including 'I'm Yours,' 'I'll Walk Alone,' and 'The Bible Tells Me So.'
- Was a featured vocalist for the popular Sammy Kaye orchestra, helping define the 'Swing and Sway' sound.
Did You Know?
He was of Italian descent and his birth name was Luigi Francisco Varlaro.
The song 'Hold My Hand' was featured prominently in the 1994 film 'Dumb and Dumber,' introducing it to a new generation.
He was a frequent guest on television shows hosted by Ed Sullivan, Steve Allen, and Johnny Carson.
“Sing it straight and true, and the melody will carry the heart.”
