Julius La Rosa, an American traditional popular music singer, carved out a significant career in both radio and television, beginning in the 1950s. While his public dismissal from Arthur Godfrey's show remains a memorable event in broadcasting history, La Rosa's professional life extended far beyond that single incident, encompassing successful recordings, his own television programs, and a lasting presence in entertainment. His journey highlights
the opportunities and challenges faced by performers in the nascent era of television.
Early Beginnings and Naval Discovery
Born in Brooklyn to Italian-immigrant parents, Julius La Rosa's early life included attending P.S. 123K in Bushwick. After high school, at age 17, he joined the United States Navy, becoming a radioman. It was during his naval service that his vocal talents first gained attention. He sang in a Navy choir, at the officers' club, and even in bars to earn drinks. This informal performing led to a pivotal moment when his Navy peers promoted his singing abilities to Arthur Godfrey, a prominent radio and television personality and a Naval Reserve officer.
Godfrey, impressed by La Rosa's audition in Pensacola, Florida, offered him a job. La Rosa was flown to New York to appear on Godfrey's television show, with Godfrey publicly stating that La Rosa would return after his Navy discharge. True to this, La Rosa was discharged on a Friday in November 1951 and began working with Godfrey the following Monday, appearing on his variety show a week later. He quickly became a regular on both "Arthur Godfrey Time" and "Arthur Godfrey and His Friends," marking the beginning of his widespread public exposure.
Musical Success and Television Ventures
La Rosa's time with Godfrey, from November 19, 1951, to October 19, 1953, was a period of rapid musical success. Godfrey's bandleader, Archie Bleyer, founded Cadence Records in 1952, and La Rosa became the label's first signed performer. His debut recording, "Anywhere I Wander," was Cadence's first single and reached the top 30 on the charts. This was followed by "My Lady Loves to Dance," which also achieved moderate success. His popular records, combined with his regular appearances on Godfrey's highly-rated shows, led to an exponential increase in his popularity, with his fan mail reportedly surpassing Godfrey's at one point.
Even after his controversial on-air firing from Godfrey's show, La Rosa's career continued to thrive. Ed Sullivan promptly signed him for appearances on his CBS "Toast of the Town" TV variety show, where La Rosa made 12 more appearances that year after his initial post-firing debut. His third recording, "Eh, Cumpari," became a massive hit, reaching #1 on the Cash Box chart and #2 on the Billboard chart, earning him the award for best new male vocalist of 1953. Another major hit, "Domani," soon followed. La Rosa also ventured into hosting his own television programs. For thirteen weeks during the summer of 1955, he had a three-times-a-week series on CBS, "The Julius La Rosa Show," featuring Russ Case and his Orchestra. This show expanded to an hour-long format in the summers of 1956 and 1957, airing on NBC as a seasonal replacement for "The Perry Como Show," for whom La Rosa had occasionally filled in during the 1954-55 season of Como's CBS series. These opportunities demonstrated La Rosa's enduring appeal and versatility as an entertainer, solidifying his place in the entertainment landscape of the 1950s and beyond.
