Bobby Darin: A Life

by Michael Seth Starr

Bobby Darin fit more into his 37 years alive than most people fit into longer lifetimes. By the age of 22, Darin was a pop idol with chart-toppers "Splish Splash" and "Dream Lovers." A year later, he reinvented himself as a Sinatra-style crooner with "Mack the Knife" and "Beyond the Sea," winning a Grammy Award, the adulation of millions, a Hollywood contract, and a starlet wife, Sandra Dee. His sense of urgency drove him throughout his life and if it seemed as though Darin was trying to do it all, he a rheumatic heart doomed him to an early death. Bobby Darin examines the entertainer's entire life, from his boyhood in the Bronx, where he was born Walden Robert Cassotto, to his rise as a musical sensation, his rocky marriage to Sandra Dee, and the evolution of his career from pop idol to swingin' crooner to folk singer. Also detailed is the shocking secret Darin learned later in life—that his "sister" Nina was actually his mother, and that Polly, the woman he thought was his mother, was actually his grandmother—and how he spent the last five years of his life consumed by bitterness and anger over the betrayal. Interviews with such close friends and relatives as Steve Blauner, Darin's best friend and business manager, Gary Walden, Darin's half-brother, Dick Clark, Wayne Newton, Neil Sedaka, Tony Orlando, and many others will give the book a special intimacy and provide a deeply revealing portrait of the man.

Genres: Music

264 pages, Hardcover

First published September 23, 2004

Reviews

[Raquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

"...Now no doubt some folks enjoy doin' battle
Like presidents and ministers and kings
But let us build them shelves where they can fight among themselves
and leave the people be who like to sing

Come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you've never sung before
Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
That we the people here, don't want a war."


Uma vida vivida ao extremo, contra todas as adversidades e tormentos. Um artista com substância e não apenas um cantor romântico que encantou uma geração.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am interested in the lives of the old "pop" stars, and Bobby Darin is one of them. While the book did teach me more about Darin, I had trouble staying involved in the book--it took me a very long time to read it because it just did not keep my interest. The lack of proof-reading and the writing style did not hold my attention for long.
I am happy to have learned more about the man, but the book could have been written a bit better.

[Kalen · Rating 3 out of 5]

***1/2

A fascinating look at the life of Bobby Darin, warts and all. Starr, the TV columnist for the NY Post, doesn't sugar-coat any of the star's failings and gives an honest assessment. I remember watching Beyond the Sea when it came out and I don't recall Darin being so involved in politics. It was interesting to read the stories about his involvement with Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as some of the challenged in his personal life, particularly those with his mother and Sandra Dee. Recommended for music and film buffs.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

The life journey of Bobby Darin was an interesting read. He was gifted, talented and motivated. In spite of his physical challenges, he had a strong drive. The live stage was where he shone the brightest. I was surprised to learn about some of his close connections. I find it fascinating to discover the person behind the persona. Bobby Darin had his share of problems, maybe more, but he left a big mark in his short life. A well told story of a truly remarkable person.

[Harold · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok Bio. Just OK.