Singer Perry Como, whose career stretched from the 1930s to the 1980s, died yesterday at his home in Florida, The Palm Beach Post reported. He was 88.
The newspaper cited his daughter Terry Thibadeau as saying the veteran crooner died in his sleep at his home in Jupiter Inlet Beach Colony.
Como, who started out serenading customers in a barber shop, soared to fame with a relaxed singing style that endured from the swing era of the 1930s to the rock-drenched 1980s.
Although he appeared in a few Hollywood musicals in the 1940s, it was on television that he really felt at home, and he achieved enormous popularity on the small screen.
Como embarked at 21 upon a career as a professional entertainer, eventually leading to a 25 million television contract and sales of well over 50 million records.
He had his first hit record in 1945 with Till The End of Time - one of more than a dozen million sellers.
By the end of the 1940s, Como had become a superstar with easy-listening ballads such as Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes, Catch a Falling Star and It's Impossible - one of his few hits that failed to reach the million mark.