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Bobby Darin & Richard Behrke
Bobby's first band, ca.1951, Catskills, NY.
L-R: Eddie O'Casio,Keyboards and saxophone;Steve Carmen,vocals;
Bobby Cassotto, drums;Dick Behrke, trumpet; Walter Raim ,guitar.
(This picture appeared in the booklet which accompanied
the
Darin CD box
set which was released from Rhino in 1995.)
Click here for Audio File
Bobby Darin and Richard Behrke attended
The Bronx
High School of Science together. This began a long loyal
friendship. They were in a band together and went on to attend
Hunter College. While at Hunter in 1953, they also shared an
apartment in New York and lean and hungry times.
Later on,
Behrke became Bobby's conductor and arranger. Richard's
outstanding work
can be heard on the
Darin At The Copa LP and on
the Atco singles
"Artificial Flowers" and
"Lazy River."
Dick was also Bobby's best man when he married Sandra Dee in 1960.
Bobby demonstated his deep loyalty and generousity by giving Richard and his wife a car for
their wedding anniversary.
Here is a quote about Bobby that Richard gave to
16 Magazine in the early 1960's :
"I've known Bobby for about
ten years. We went through the bitter, lean years together,
and I've watched him grow not only as a fine talent but as a person.
All during our years together, Bobby has never lost faith in his
work and himself as a man. When the odds were heaviest, he worked
the hardest. Bobby is a fascinating and interesting guy. He is strong,
sensitive, and bright-- and has a brilliant sense of humor. He isn't shallow
or phoney. He's an extremely complicated person and it takes time to really
get to know him. But when you do, you'll find he's one of the greatest
guys alive."
Dodd Darin stated in his book,
Dream Lovers: The Magnificent Shattered Lives of Bobby Darin
and Sandra Dee;that later on Behrke
"would forge an impressive career in music as a musician, a
conductor,
and award-winning creator of music for commercials." A loyal friend
to Bobby until the end, Richard flew from New York
to be with his friend in California during
his final hours on December 20,1973.
This devotion to Bobby and their Alma Mater of
Bronx Science
was very evident when he was in attendance of
"The Bobby Darin
Award" ceremony
held at the school on May 14th, 1999.
Richard Behrke; May 14, 1999
Sources: 16 Magazine; Borrowed Time: The 37 Years Of Bobby Darin by Al DiOrio,That's All: Bobby Darin on Record, Stage and Screen by Jeff Bleiel and
Dream Lovers: The Magnificent Shattered Lives of Bobby Darin
and Sandra Dee By
Dodd Darin. Special Thanks also to Harriet Wasser.
Picture of Richard Behrke courtesy of Jimmy Scalia.
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