Biography of Steve Lawrence

Both as a solo performer and in tandem with wife Eydie Gorme, traditional pop stylist Steve Lawrence enjoyed success on record, on Broadway and on the club circuit. Born Sidney Leibowitz in Brooklyn, New York on July 8, 1935, he was the son of a cantor, and while in high school began singing in the glee club as well as studying piano, saxophone, composing and arranging. Lawrence made his debut at the age of 16 with the King Records single "Mine and Mine Alone," later garnering wide exposure through his appearances on Steve Allen's Tonight Show; there he first met and performed with singer Gorme, whom he subsequently married in 1957, the year he scored his first major hit with "The Banana Boat Song." Also in 1957, Lawrence's cover of Buddy Knox's "Party Girl" reached the Top Five; a string of hits followed, including "Pum-Pa-Lum," "Can't Wait for Summer," "Fabulous" and "Fraulein." From 1958 to 1960 Lawrence served in the U.S. Army, where he performed with military bands on recruitment drives and at bond rallies; upon his exit from duty he and Gorme, who had both previously worked primarily as solo acts, began teaming more and more frequently, scoring their biggest hits with 1963's "I Want to Stay Here" and "I Can't Stop Talking About You." In 1958 the couple also hosted their own television variety program, later scoring with the Gershwin tribute special Our Love Is Here to Stay and its accompanying soundtrack LP. Lawrence also maintained a successful solo career, scoring 21 Top 100 hits between 1957 and 1964; among his most popular releases were "Pretty Blue Eyes," "Footsteps" and the chart-topping "Go Away Little Girl." In 1964 he starred on Broadway in a production of What Makes Sammy Run?, and subsequently appeared as a guest star on a number of TV series. After 1973's Portrait of Steve, Lawrence did not record for a number of years, but in 1981 issued the LP Take It On Home; throughout the 1980s and 1990s he and Gorme regularly toured clubs and often appeared in Las Vegas, many times in support of Frank Sinatra. ~ Jason Ankeny