Sal Mineo

 

Secret Doorway

Sal

Sal Mineo

Orchestra under the direction of Mark Jeffrey

Cover Photography by John Hamilton of Globe Photos

Epic Records LN 3405

1958

From the back cover: Time was when actors acted and singers sang, but nowadays the line between the two has grown very dim indeed. Take, for example, Sal Mineo, one of the most accomplished and popular new stars. Shortly after winning an Academy Award nomination for his performance in one of his first films, he signed to record with Epic Records and turned up with an unquestioned smash hit his first time out – Start Movin'. Then came another – Don't Do That – sandwiched between other fine performances, and now his first collection, a fascinating exhibition of his talents as both singer and actor. Here Sal demonstrates virtually every kind of popular song, and at the same time shows that his versatility is such that it can encompass the demands of all of them. 

Born January 10, 1939, Sal Mineo has, in his short career, scored with major impact in virtually every medium of entertainment. His original ambition was to become a baseball player, but his parents, sensing his latent dramatic abilities, insisted that he attend a school for theatre, and enrolled him in a dancing class. While working away one afternoon, Sal was spotted by a talent scout and signed for a Broadway part – his first – in The Rose Tattoo. Continuing his schooling between performances, Sal later was seen in Dinosaur Wharf and then took over the part of the Crown Prince in The King And I.

Meanwhile, television was growing by leaps and bounds, and the young Mineo's sensitive features and even more sensitive performances found him appearing on practically every major show on all networks, including starring roles on such shows as "Studio One," "Omnibus" and the Goodyear "Playhouse." His first appearance in motion pictures was in Six Bridges To Cross, in which he played Tony Curtis as a young boy. Thereafter came The Private War Of Major Benson, and Rebel Without A Cause, for which he won his Academy Award nomination. Among the other films in which he has been seen are Giant, Crime In The Streets, Somebody Up There Likes Me and Dino. His next will be Tubie's Monument. Dino was adapted from one of his outstanding television successes, and the sound track of the film has been issued by Epic on long playing record LN 3404; his performance in the television production earned him a nomination for TV's Emmy Awards. He has won awards in the Modern Screen Poll, the "Film Daily" survey, the Motion Picture Herald's Award Of Achievement, the Independent Film Journal's award, and the Exhibitor's Laurel Award as one of the top ten new personalities of 1956-57.

With stage, screen and television credits to spare. Sal moved into his recording career with consummate ease. It is rare enough when a young singer scores a hit with his first record, rarer still when his second eclipses the first. It was a natural outcome of such success that Sal should make a collection of songs for his fans, and this is the result. 

Too Young

My Bride

Not Tomorrow But Tonight

The Words That I Whisper

Blue-Eyed Baby

Tattoo

Now And For Always

Down By The Riverside

Secret Doorway

Oh Marie

Deep Devotion

Baby Face