The theme song to the long-running TV series “Rawhide” stands as a testament to the impact that Frankie Laine has had on a generation of Western fans as an impeccable soul singer turned Western balladeer.

One of the most popular and collectible long-play record albums in the Western catalogue is Laine’s “Hell Bent for Leather!” arranged and conducted by John Williams.

The vibrant artist proved to longtime, admiring Western fans that he could handle Western-flavored material with equal and incredible mastery. As a “pop” singer, Frankie appealed to a market that, without a doubt, expanded the box office receipts for several major Western films.

Frankie was born March 30, 1913, in Chicago, the son of an immigrant barber from Sicily. Frankie sang in the church choir and spent many years trying to get into show business while working at office jobs and sales positions. Meeting up with Hoagy Carmichael in 1946 finally led to steady work in nightclubs and to a phenomenally successful recording career.

His recording of “That’s My Desire” in 1947 brought about a meteoric rise in his career, and he would come to chalk up 21 gold records. Frankie played tarring roles in both musical and dramatic films. However, it was his voice, like none other, and his way with a song, that would make him a legend. His performances of film title songs endeared him to Western fans forevermore.

“Blowing Wind,” in 1953, starring Gary Cooper became the first of Laine’s Western movie theme songs. It began a long association between Frankie and composer Dmitri Tiompkin.

Although Tex Ritter recorded Tiompkin’s title song for “High Noon” on the 1952 film soundtrack, it would be Frankie Laine’s recording of “Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling” that would find the most appeal on the record charts.

Laine’s heart-wrenching deliver of “3:10 to Yuma” creates a longing intensity to Delmer Dave’s stirring Glenn Ford classic. But it was Tiompkin’s theme to the “Rawhide” series (1959-65) that has given Frankie his most memorable signature theme song. The same composer tried again with the theme for the short-lived CBS series “Gunslinger.” Another tribute to Laine’s stature as the most remembered Western movie title singer came in 1974 when filmmaker Mel Brooks tapped Frankie to sing the title song to his tongue-in-cheek Western comedy, “Blazing Saddles.”

In 1987, Frankie was heard on the double CD “Roundup” with two of his most popular Western movie themes, “High Noon” and “The Gunfight at the OK Corral.” In 1998, at the age of 85, he had a hit “Wheels of Dreams” from the CD of the same name.

Frankie Laine died February 6, 2007 in San Diego.

Awards:

• 2000 Hall of Fame Inductees