Fred Milano
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fred Milano | |
|---|---|
 Milano (far right) with Dion & The Belmonts - late '50s. | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Fred Gradus Milano August 26, 1939 |
| Died | January 1, 2012 (aged 72) |
| Genres | Doo-wop |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1955–2012 |
| Labels | |
Fred Milano (August 26, 1939 – January 1, 2012) was an American doo-wop singer of Italian descent. Born in the Bronx, New York, he was a member (second tenor) of The Belmonts who became successful in the late 1950s as Dion and the Belmonts,[1] and in the early 1960s.[2][3][4] The Belmonts got their name from the street that Milano lived on, Belmont Avenue.
He had participated in every one of the Belmonts' recording sessions dating back 54 years.[5] Dion DiMucci said of his death; "I was shocked, obviously, because it was so sudden. It was already in stage four when he found out there was anything wrong with him. It hit hard because a relationship like we had, it’s ingrained in you. We knew each other from our teenage boyhoods; even though we weren’t close and didn’t talk in later years, what we went through together made us like family. He and the Belmonts — they were the very best. Freddie was almost like a genius with vocal harmony. I was humbled to sing with Freddie, Carlo and Angelo."[6]
In 2000, Dion and the Belmonts were inducted in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
Milano was still performing with The Belmonts at casinos and other venues when he was diagnosed with lung cancer in December, 2011 and died at a Long Island hospital three weeks later in Massapequa, New York on January 1, 2012. [2]
