Dick Haymes

Richard Benjamin Haymes (September 13, 1918 – March 28, 1980) was an Argentine singer, songwriter and actor. He was one of the most popular male vocalists of the 1940s and early 1950s. He was the older brother of Bob Haymes, an actor, television host, and songwriter.

Early life Haymes was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1918. His father was a rancher of English descent and his Irish mother had been a musical comedy singer. His parents traveled widely and he grew up in France, Montreal, California and Switzerland.

Career At the age of 17, Haymes moved to Los Angeles, where he initially worked as a stunt man and film double. Two years later, in 1937, he moved to New York City, where he worked as a vocalist in a number of big bands. By the early 1940s, Haymes was singing with the Harry James orchestra. On September 3, 1942, Frank Sinatra introduced Haymes on radio as his replacement in the Tommy Dorsey band.

In 1945, Haymes co-starred with Jeanne Crain, Dana Andrews and Vivian Blaine in the musical State Fair. He teamed with female vocalist Helen Forrest for many hit duets during World War II, including "Together", "I'll Buy That Dream", and "Long Ago and Far Away"; he sang with Judy Garland on two Decca recordings of songs from the film The Shocking Miss Pilgrim, in which he appeared with Betty Grable. From 1944 to 1948, he had his own radio program, The Dick Haymes Show, first on NBC and later on CBS.

He frequently paired with the Andrews Sisters over a dozen Decca collaborations, including the Billboard hit "Teresa", "Great Day", "My Sin", and a 1952 rendering of the dramatic ballad "Here in My Heart", backed by the sisters and Nelson Riddle's lush strings. His duets with Patty Andrews were also well received, both on Decca vinyl and on radio's Club Fifteen with the sisters, which he hosted in 1949 and 1950. He also joined Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters for 1947 session that produced the Billboard hit "There's No Business Like Show Business", as well as "Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)". His popular renditions of tender ballads such as "Little White Lies" and "Maybe It's Because" were recorded with celebrated arranger Gordon Jenkins and his orchestra and chorus.

World War II and attempted deportation Haymes's birth in Argentina to non-U.S. citizens meant he was not an American citizen. In order to avoid military service during World War II, Haymes asserted his nonbelligerent status as a citizen of Argentina, which remained neutral until almost the end of the war. Hollywood-based columnists Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper questioned Haymes' patriotism, but the story had little effect on his career. About that time, he was classified 4-F by the draft board because of hypertension. As part of his draft examination, he was confined for a short period to a hospital on Ellis Island, which confirmed his diagnosis of hypertension.

Throughout World War II, Haymes regularly appeared in benefit shows. Haymes toured US bases entertaining the troops, often with his radio partner, singer Helen Forrest; such was the popularity of The Dick Haymes Radio Show. He was also a regular contributor over many years to such shows as Guest Star, The Navy Show and Here’s To Vets.

In 1953 Haymes went to Hawaii (then still a territory of the United States) to visit actress Rita Hayworth, whom he later married. On returning to the U.S. mainland in August he was arrested for deportation under the McCarran–Walter Act for refusing to enter U.S. military service, and therefore was not entitled to live in the country. He appealed, and in 1955 won his battle to remain on the basis that Hawaii was a geographical part of the United States, and thus he had never left it.

Personal life

Haymes experienced alcoholism and had serious financial problems later in life. By the early 1960s, he declared bankruptcy with $500,000 worth of debt.

Through his mother's Irish nationality, Haymes became an Irish citizen in December 1965. He lived in Dublin until 1966, before moving to England where he resided until May 1971.

Marriages Haymes was married six times. His first marriage to Edith Harper (1939) occurred when she claimed to be pregnant, but was annulled after it was discovered that she was not. Haymes's other wives were film actresses Joanne Dru (1941–1949), Nora Eddington (1949–1953), Rita Hayworth (1953–1955), Fran Jeffries (1958–1964), and British model Wendy Smith (1966). Haymes had six children—three with Dru, one with Jeffries, and two with Smith. – Himself (uncredited) Diamond Horseshoe (1945) – Joe Davis Jr. State Fair (1945) – Wayne Frake Fallen Angel (1945) – Himself – JukeBox Vocalist (voice, uncredited) Do You Love Me (1946) – Jimmy Hale The Shocking Miss Pilgrim (1947) – John Pritchard Carnival in Costa Rica (1947) – Jeff Stephens Up in Central Park (1948) – John Matthews One Touch of Venus (1948) – Joe Grant Words and Music (1948) – Himself St. Benny the Dip (1951) – Benny Screen Snapshots – Hollywood Fun Festival (1952) – Master of Ceremonies All Ashore (1953) – Joe Carter Let's Do It Again (1953) – Singer – 'I Could Never Love Anyone But You' (voice, uncredited) Cruisin' Down the River (1953) – Beauregard Clemment / Beau Clemment III Adam-12 (1974) (TV) – Dr. Elroy Gantman Hec Ramsey (1974) (TV – S2E04 – Scar Tissue) – Hamilton Hobbs Betrayal (1974) (TV) – Harold Porter Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) – James Crawford The Eddie Capra Mysteries (1978) (TV – episode "Murder on the Flip Side") – Jason Lamb –

Hit records Year SingleChart positionsU.S.U.S.R&B 1941 "A Sinner Kissed an Angel" (with Harry James) 15 1942 "The Devil Sat Down and Cried" (with Harry James & Helen Forrest) 15 "Idaho" (with Benny Goodman) 4 "Take Me" (with Benny Goodman) 10 "Serenade in Blue" (with Benny Goodman) 17 1943 "It Can't Be Wrong" 1 2 "In My Arms" 2 "Some Sunday Morning" (with Helen Forrest) 9 "That's for Me" 6 "It Might as Well Be Spring" 5 1946 "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" (with Helen Forrest) 7 "It's a Grand Night for Singing" 21 "Oh! What It Seemed to Be" (with Helen Forrest) 4 "Slowly" 12 "Come Rain or Come Shine" (with Helen Forrest) 23 "In Love in Vain" (with Helen Forrest) 12 "You Make Me Feel So Young" 21 "Why Does It Get So Late So Early?" (with Helen Forrest) 22 "On the Boardwalk" 21 1947 "For You, for Me, for Evermore" (with Judy Garland) 19 "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" 9 "Mam'selle" 3 "There's No Business Like Show Business" (with Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters) 25 "Ivy" 19 "Naughty Angeline" 21 "I Wish I Didn't Love You So" 9 "And Mimi" 15 1948 "Teresa" (with The Andrews Sisters) 21 "Little White Lies" (gold record) 2 "You Can't Be True, Dear" 9 "Nature Boy" 11 "It's Magic" 9 "Ev'ry Day I Love You" 24 1949 "Bouquet of Roses" 22 "Room Full of Roses" 6 "Maybe It's Because" 5 "The Old Master Painter" 4 1950 "Roses" 29 "Count Every Star" (with Artie Shaw) 10 "Can Anyone Explain? (No! No! No!)" 23 1951 "You're Just in Love" (with Ethel Merman) 30 "And So to Sleep Again" 28 1956 "Two Different Worlds" 80

Musical theatre Miss Liberty (1951, Dallas Theatre) The Big Broadcast of 1944, - A Lee Gruber, Shelly Gross off Broadway production, fall of 1979 – Devon, PA, Detroit, MI, and Westbury, NY

Radio appearances Year Program Episode/source1944-48 The Dick Haymes Show 1948 Lux Radio Theatre Irish Eyes Are Smiling 1948 Screen Guild Players Up in Central Park 1953 Suspense Pigeon in the Cage