Dick Todd (singer)

Dick Todd (August 4, 1914 – May 1973) was a Canadian pop singer, most active from the 1930s to 1950s. He was nicknamed the Canadian Crosby, due to his supposed vocal similarity to Bing Crosby, and was born in Montreal.

Dick Todd
Dick Todd in 1942
Background information
BornAugust 4, 1914
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
DiedMay 1973 (aged 58)
New York City, New York, US
GenresPop singer, crooner
Occupation(s)Singer
LabelsRCA records, Bluebird Records
Associated actsLarry Clinton Orchestra, Joan Edwards

Early years

Todd sang in school programs as early as age 6. When he was 14, he worked as a log driver in a lumber camp.[1]

His public schooling came at Macdonald Campus[2] of McGill University and went on to study engineering at McGill. where he also played football.[3] (Another source says that he was a music major at McGill.)[4]

Radio

Todd sang on a radio program in Canada in 1933.[4]

After he came to the United States in 1938 to sing on broadcasts of Larry Clinton's orchestra,[4] Todd became a favorite with radio listeners across the country.

During 1944–1945, Todd spent a year on a USO tour, entertaining troops during World War II. He returned to network radio July 28, 1945, on Your Hit Parade, replacing Lawrence Tibbett as the featured male singer, counterpart to Joan Edwards.[1]

He was a soloist on programs such as Melody and Madness, Avalon Time, Rinso-Spry Vaudeville Theatre,[4] Hometown Incorporated, and Show Boat.[5]

Recording

In the late 1930s, Todd signed a contract with RCA Victor to record for the company's Bluebird Records label.[2] During his career he recorded such hits as "You're the Only Star in My Blue Heaven", "It's A Hap-Hap-Happy Day" and "Blue Orchids". In a 1940 magazine article, a writer commented, "He has the heaviest record-making schedule of any singer in the country."[5]

Film

Todd "made a couple of short features for Paramount Pictures."[1]

References
  1. "Dick Todd Takes Over Tibbett Role On 'Your Hit Parade,' WHP, July 28". Harrisburg Telegraph. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. July 21, 1945. p. 15. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  2. "The Red-Headed Bluebird". Radio Varieties. April 1941. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  3. "Say Hello to ..." (PDF). Radio and Television Mirror. 14 (3): 52. July 1940. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  4. DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. P. 264.
  5. "Friday's Highlights" (PDF). Radio and Television Mirror. 14 (5): 52. September 1940. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
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