This article appeared in the July 1959 issue of 'Teen
Magazine and was written by Bob Laine
Bobby Darin is on his way. If asked
"Where to?" Bobby will tell you,
"Anywhere, as long as it's up the
ladder to success in show business."
There are very few things the impatient
Mr. Darin doesn't want to accomplish.
He'd like to win an Oscar, an Emmy, be
a good dramatic actor, dancer, all-around
entertainer, in addition to being known
as a top-flight singer in a class with the
kings such as Sinatra.
"The time is now!" Bobby is a very
positive guy when he begins to dish out
his advice to teens wanting to succeed
in the entertainment field. "I figured out
a long time ago that each person on earth
has only about 720 months to live, so
everyone had better make use of those
months in the best way possible. Breaking
these months down, it seems as though
a guy should spend his first 16 or 18 years
living it up. Then he ought to work and
work hard till he gets married and has
children. After that, he just should work
for his family!"
For a young bachelor barely into his
twenties, Bobby has a pretty mature outlook on life, but at the same time he
doesn't take too grim an outlook. He's
too much on the go.
Bobby is unique among the new Rock
and Roll singers since he's really not an
R 'n R singer at all. He got on the craze
and got hot. Many people in the entertainment world think Bobby Darin will
be one of the most important lasting
young entertainers. When asked why people classify him as more than just an
ordinary Rock and Roll singer, Bobby
replied, "Probably because when I appear
in nightclubs I don't sing Rock and Roll
numbers. I usually like to do standards
or more proven songs. Any kind of music
you name is a favorite of mine so I vary
my selection of songs as much as I can."
Song-writing is the spark that got Bobby his first break in show business. Penning music has been a talent of his since
way back. So far he's completed about
130 tunes. The first number Bobby got
on wax was a little ditty entitled My
First Real Love. Connie Francis was kind
enough to record it and now Bobby calls
the song "His First Real Flop." Never-
Say-Die Darin kept on writing songs, even
though his initial effort didn't click. Soon,
he entered the hit circle.
Bobby's forever jotting down notes
that jump into his head. He can't read
a word of music, yet he's one of the
most talented people around. Skilled at
instruments like the piano, drums, guitar,
vibes, and bongos, Bobby knocks pals
out with his cool renditions, all self-
taught.
'TEEN got a definite answer when the
following question was tossed out for
Bobby: Were you interested in any other
things at school besides show business?
"Nothing," was Mr. Darin's reply and
he meant what he said.
It took concentrated effort to get where
he is today and Bobby won't go along
with those who think tomorrow will be
good enough to get things done. Yesterday
was the day to do them!
Lingering on the subject of teenagers,
Bobby spinned out a few impressions of
the Australian teenagers and how they
differed from teens in the U.S. On his
recent Australian tour. Bobby dug the
attitude over there of the youngers. "They
sure react enthusiastically in Australia.
If they like you, you know it. If they
don't, they count you out. Anyway you
impress them, they'll let you know how
they feel. They are really square-
shooters!"
Bobby's inference here is not meant
to be a slur about the U.S. teens. He
believes Aussie teens get a bigger kick
out of things like personal appearances
because they aren't as used to them as
American teens. Also teenagers in the U.S.
are apt to be pretty polite and not let
you know it if they don't dig you.
The most impressive thing about this
young singer is his energy. The guy
literally leaps from one thing to another,
but stays put long enough to score points
in any project he undertakes. Bobby is an
individual and doesn't want to be a carbon
copy of any other entertainer. He wants
just to be Bobby Darin, and from where
we sit, that's good!
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