Frankie Laine was one of the most popular vocalists of the 1950s, swinging jazz standards as well as half a dozen Western movie themes of the time with his full-bodied baritone. Laine's popularity was even more dominating across the pond in the U.K., where he set two chart records in 1953: his version of "I Believe" stayed at number one in the U.K. for an incredible 18 weeks, and his two subsequent chart-toppers that year ("Hey Joe," "Answer Me") helped set a record by putting Laine at number one for 27 weeks during the year.
Born in Chicago in 1913, Laine sang in the local c...