DESCRIPTION:
In the fall of 1959, sixteen-year-old high school student Bobby Curtola went from pumping gas at his father’s garage in Thunder Bay, Ontario, to the life of a Teen Idol. Who would have known that within a year he would go from playing in his basement band “Bobby and the Bobcats” to recording his first hit single “Hand In Hand With You”. After performing on the Bob Hope Show in 1960, the charismatic Bobby, with his handsome boy next door looks was quickly finding himself within a whirlwind that we now refer to as “Curtolamania.”

Bobby set out on his first Western Canadian Tour in the fall of 1960. From there Bobby went on to become a trailblazer, establishing the first coast to coast tour circuit in Canada. Within the next year he was recording in Nashville with Bill Porter for RCA Studios, where he continued to record for many years.
The hit “Fortune Teller” was released in 1962 and went Gold in Canada. The now Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame DJ, Red Robinson, was instrumental in Fortune Teller’s success. Seeing its potential internationally, he sent it to Seattle’s KJR and Hawaii’s KPOI radio. A major US record deal was signed and Fortune Teller went on to become a 2.5 million seller internationally! Bobby was invited to tour with Dick Clark and his Cavalcade of Stars. While on tour in England that same year, Bobby met The Beatles and appeared on the famous British TV variety show “Thank Your Lucky Stars.”

In June of 1964, Bobby became the first pop singer to record a jingle that sounded like a “Top 40 Hit Single,” the song was “Things Go Better with Coke.” He signed an exclusive contract with Coca-Cola to be their #1 Spokesman. Bobby, also co-wrote “The Real Thing” which was used for the commercial “Coke’s The Real Thing.”

Bobby success continued on television, starting with American Bandstand. It also included appearances on the world famous Wolf Man Jack Show. He later became the first recording artist to host two Network Canadian TV shows. The After Four Show on CFTO starting in 1965, and the Shake, Rock and Roll Show on CTV in 1973. Bobby was also host to many of the Miss Canada and Miss Teen Canada Pageants.
The sixties, with hit after hit for Bobby, included 25 Canadian Gold singles and 12 Canadian Gold albums.
The year 1972 became a turning point for Bobby. He made the transition from “teen idol” to the “highest paid entertainer” in Canada. Ready for his debut in Las Vegas, Walter Kane, from the Hughes Hotel chain, signed Bobby to a five year multi-million dollar contract. This made him the first Canadian entertainer to receive a long term contract in Las Vegas. Bobby continued a very successful career in Vegas for over twenty years.

PLEASE NOTE: I divided my uploads among multiple channels, Bookmark this link in your browser for instant access to an index with links to all of John1948's oldies classics. LINK: http://john1948.wikifoundry.com/page/John1948%27s+Youtube+Index