Tony Perkins

Though Tony Perkins was only one of many film and television stars making records during the late '50s and early '60s, few others took a similar route. Instead of the usual, light pop/rock angled at the teen market, Perkins' LPs during 1957-1958 cast him as an equally sensitive jazz singer, more Chet Baker than Ricky Nelson. Born in 1932 the son of an actor, Perkins decided by his teenage years to pursue acting as well. Early work on the stage preceded a brief stint in Hollywood, though he soon headed back east to study at Columbia University. While based in New York, he gained work on Broadway and in early television films. During one of his performances, a Goodyear Playhouse production called Joey, he sang "A Little Love Goes a Long, Long Way" and was signed to Epic on its strength. A self-titled record followed in 1957 (arranged by vocal-music heavyweight Marty Paich), and the single "Moon-Light Swim" brushed the Top 40 that year. Two more LPs followed, both recorded for RCA Victor during 1958, but on the strength of his Academy Award-nominated performance in Friendly Persuasion, Perkins redirected his focus to acting and never released another record.