1953 TONI ARDEN All I Desire THE FOUR LADS - 78 RPM Record

Toni Arden - The Four Lads / Toni Arden With Percy Faith And His Orchestra – All I Desire / The Lover's Waltz
Written by David Lieber
78 RPM audio transfer from the Bowness Arts collection of vintage records.

Toni Arden - All I Desire / The Lover's Waltz
Label: Columbia – C-2232 (Canada)
Format: Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
Released: 1953
Genre: Pop, Stage & Screen
Style: Vocal
Other side of this record: The Lover's Waltz

Antoinette Ardizzone, known professionally as Toni Arden, was an American traditional pop music singer. She was born on February 15, 1924, in New York City. Her father, Phillip Ardizzone, was a singer with the Metropolitan Opera and La Scala. Arden became a big band singer in the 1940s, performing with Al Trace, Joe Reichman, Ray Bloch, and Shep Fields. In 1946, she began recording as a soloist for the minor National Records company. Following her appearance on the early television talent series Doorway to Fame, Arden signed her first solo recording contract with Columbia Records in 1949. At Columbia, she had several hits including "I Can Dream, Can't I?", "Too Young", "Kiss of Fire", and "I'm Yours". In the mid-1950s, Arden moved to Decca Records where in 1958 she achieved her biggest selling record, "Padre". Arden also briefly recorded for RCA Victor and Mercury Records. In 1954, Arden recorded 13 radio programs for the US Marine Corps via electrical transcription, and her show, The Toni Arden Show, was broadcast on participating local stations. She made appearances on various television programs including What's New in Music on CBS in 1956, The Music of George Gershwin, This Is Show Business, Dick Clark's program, and The Jimmy Dean Show. In 1959, she and her brother Jan sang two duets on The Ed Sullivan Show. Toni Arden passed away on May 29, 2012, in Lake Worth, Florida, at the age of 88.

The Four Lads - Members:
Corrado "Connie" Codarini (Bass) was born February 11, 1930 in Toronto, Ontario. He died on April 28, 2010 in Concord, North Carolina, at the age of 80.

John Bernard "Bernie" Toorish (Lead) was born March 2, 1931 in Toronto, Ontario.

James F. "Jimmy" Arnold (Tenor) was born January 4, 1932 in Toronto, Ontario. He died June 15, 2004 in Sacramento, California, at the age of 72.

Frank Busseri (Baritone) was born October 10, 1932 in Toronto, Ontario. He died January 28, 2019 in Rancho Mirage, California, at the age of 86.

The Four Lads were a Canadian male doo-wop quartet who gained prominence in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, the founding members, Corrado "Connie" Codarini, John Bernard "Bernie" Toorish, James F. "Jimmy" Arnold, and Frank "Frankie" Busseri, all attended St. Michael’s Choir School and honed their singing skills there. In 1950, the quartet began performing in local clubs and quickly caught the attention of scouts. Their talent was recognized by Mitch Miller, an executive at Columbia Records, who invited them to provide backup vocals for some of the artists he recorded, including Johnnie Ray. This collaboration led to the Four Lads signing a recording contract with Columbia. Their breakthrough came in 1952 with their first hit, "The Mocking Bird," which reached #23 on the Billboard pop charts. This success prompted their transition to the Columbia label, where they continued to achieve more hits throughout the 1950s. One of their most notable songs was "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" in 1953, which became their first top-ten hit in the United States. The Four Lads' signature tunes, such as "Moments to Remember" and "Standing on the Corner" from the Broadway musical "The Most Happy Fella," solidified their fame in the music industry. In the late 1950s, they had their last significant pop hit with a re-recording of "The Mocking Bird." After their Columbia contract expired in 1960, the group recorded for various labels throughout the 1960s without chart success. In recognition of their achievements, the Four Lads were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003.

Note: The first 78 RPM record came into existence around 1894, and in 1912, the Gramophone Company established 78 rpm as their recording standard. The production of shellac records continued throughout the 78 rpm era, with "non-breakable" 78 rpm vinyl records being introduced in the 1940s. The popularity of the 33 1/3 rpm "Long Play" record, initially released in 1948, caused the 78 rpm record to become obsolete before the end of the 1950s. As these 78 rpm recordings are quite old, they may contain derogatory language and/or negative stereotypes. It is important to evaluate such recordings within their historical context and consider them as a reflection of the attitudes prevalent at the time. These recordings form an integral part of the historical record and do not represent the views of this poster, channel, or Bowness Arts.