Kenny Dino

Kenneth J. Diono, known professionally as Kenny Dino (July 12, 1939 – December 10, 2009)[1] was an American singer born in Astoria, Queens, New York, United States.[2]

Dino's family moved to Hicksville, Long Island in 1955, where he worked on a family farm.[2] He joined the Navy in 1957, and while stationed in Iceland he came in runner-up in a talent show with his version of a song by Elvis Presley.[2] He sang regularly on his tour of duty, and then put together an ensemble back in the States, which toured in Texas and Louisiana.[2] He frequently played with Doug Sahm at the San Antonio Blues Club at this time.[2]

He signed with Dot Records around 1960 after moving to New York City, but quickly lost the contract, and signed to Columbia not long after.[2] Dino was offered a chance to duet with Paul Simon but turned it down, and later was offered the song "Suspicion" (an Elvis Presley song, which later became a big hit for Terry Stafford) but was denied the opportunity by his label.[2] He recorded a number of demos for Elvis, including the song "Good Luck Charm".[2]

His lone hit was "Your Ma Said You Cried in Your Sleep Last Night", a No. 24 U.S. Pop hit in 1961.[3] The three back-up singers were Lois Green, Leslie Smith and Alan Eichler, who were all students at Syosset High School at the time.[4] When all further releases yielded no commercial gain, Dino switched to acting and appeared in the film, Valley of the Dolls.[3] Robert Plant later covered this tune on his 1990 release, Manic Nirvana.[2]