Jimmy Durante was a major American recording artist from his debut in the 1930s to his death aged 86 in 1980. He started out playing piano in New York in the Original New Orleans Jazz Band, which was later called Jimmy Durante's Jazz Band. Known for his distinctive gravelly voice, he became a star in vaudeville, on radio and in movies starting with 'Roadhouse Nights' in 1930. He had a hit record in 1934 titled 'Inka Dinka Doo', which became his theme song throughout his career.
He became a star on Broadway even as he made a name for himself in Hollywood. He starred in the Broadway production of the musical 'Jumbo' and the 1962 film version. His many film credits include 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World' (1963) and 'Frosty the Snowman' (1969). His albums include 'At the Piano - In Person' (1959), 'September Song' (1963), 'Hello Young Lovers' (1964), 'Jimmy Durante's Way of Life' (1964), 'One of Those Songs' (1966) and 'Songs for Sunday' (1967).
In its obituary, the Washington Post called him "one of America's best-loved comedians as a gravel-voiced song-and-dance man...". The newspaper noted that he was one of the top headliners in showbusiness for more than 50 years and called him "a 5-foot-7 mountain of energy who took antic liberties with the English language...". A re-release of his track 'Frosty the Snowman' went to number 27 on Billboard's Holiday 100 chart in 2019.