The year 1972 became a turning point for Bobby. He made
the transition from “teen idol” to the “highest paid nightclub entertainer”
in Canada and was ready for his debut in Las Vegas. Once there, he was
an instant success! With his degree of professionalism and sheer showmanship
he couldn’t help but impress the audiences and it wasn’t long before he
was noticed. Walter Kane, who was in charge of hiring the entertainment
for the Hughes Hotel chain, signed Bobby to a five year multi-million dollar
contract making him the first Canadian entertainer to receive a long term
contract in Las Vegas. Bobby continued a very successful career in Vegas
for more than twenty years.
In 1975, while in Las Vegas, Bobby asked a wonderful girl
by the name of Ava to marry him. Bobby and Ava just seem to have the magic
that makes a marriage work; they are happily married and have managed to
raise two incredible sons that any parent would be proud to have their
daughter date. Their names are Chris and Michael Curtola.
In 1990 Bobby released his Christmas Flashback CD, which
went gold. He went on that same year to produce his 15 Great Hits CD, on
the RCA label. He also began his relationship with The Princess Cruises,
internationally performing on the Love Boat for the next eight years.
The CD “Turn the Radio Up” was released in 1997 and Bobby
continued performing internationally.
In 1998 Bobby was set for even higher heights in his career;
there was a new perspective and a coming together of events in his life.
That spring he produced his newest CD, 21 Great Hits Vol. VIII, the latest
of his eight volume anthology of hits. The CD features Bobby with Buddy
Miles, singing the classic “Stand By Me,” also produced in video.
Bobby sings one of his favorite songs sung by Selena, “Dreamin’ of You”
and he pays tribute to Elvis with the song “Precious Memories,” which he
wrote in memory of Elvis. Bobby dedicates his rendition of “Pretty
Woman” to Roy Orbison and sings “La Bamba” in memory of Richie Valens.
“Detonate The Dance Floor” a song that Bobby co-wrote with his son Michael,
keeps the CD rockin’.
The eight CD booklet package is a pictorial documentation
of Bobby’s career, that spans four decades. The CD collection contains
171 songs that Bobby has performed and recorded. Witht he intent to summarize
the anthology volumes, a “Limited Collector’s Edition” poster was created
in the fall. Togther with the eight booklets and CDs, the poster was matted
and framed, encapsulating it forever, in effect creating a Bobby Curtola
capsule.
Although he has performed continuously, Bobby launched
his “Stand By Me Tour” in Vancouver March 1998, and set out on the road
performing coast to coast to sold out houses once again. After each show,
Bobby was there in his usual form, happy to autograph the tour memorabilia
purchased by the long lines of his fans.
Since 1963, when Bobby became an international success
with “Fortune Teller,” he has maintained his “Star Status” in several countries.
In late 1998 Bobby was in Malaysia and while there he did a Christmas special
on national TV. He also took the opportunity to distribute part of his
new memorabilia, the Limited Collector’s Edition Collage, to the Hard Rock
Cafes throughout Asia.
In January 1999 Bobby returned to Malaysia to tour, an
early start on his Millennium Tour, where he presented his music and merchandise
to Asia.
In 2000 Bobby produced the video for Corrina in Bali,
Indonesia at one of the world’s oldest Hindu water temples. This exciting
video included 100 local dancers. He also performed at the Hard Rock Hotel
in Bali. In this year Bobby starred in a Rock ‘n’ Roll TV program in Jakarta,
Indonesia which aired weekly on the local major TV network. Towards the
end of 2000 Bobby produced a Christmas TV speical in Malaysia on TV3.
Bobby embarked on a European tour in 2001 and visited
France, Italy, Switzerland, and England. Later that year he continued his
relationship with Princess Cruises by doing Caribbean and Mediterranean
cruises.
2002 was an exciting year with Bobby starring in Sock
Hop Reunions in Canada and once again impressing his fans with his performances
on a Caribbean cruise.
The 50th Anniversary of Rock ‘n’ Roll will be celebrated
in 2004. Watch for Bobby Curtola to play an important part in this celebration
with tours and special events planned throughout the year.
Being a citizen of the world in the true sense, Bobby
has demonstrated not only a national, but also an international conscience
with the donation of an enormous amount of his time and energy toward the
cause of the less fortunate. He is involved in many charities and hosts
numerous telethons coast to coast in Canada, each year. His global contributions
include charitable works in Indonesia, Bulgaria, the Jerry Lewis M.D. Telethon
in the USA and his Bobby Curtola Foundation for Children in Ecuador.
For his humanitarian efforts within Canada and his major
pioneering contribution to Canadian Pop Music, Bobby Curtola received Canada’s
highest honour “The Order of Canada” on May 7, 1998. For his contributions
and his establishment of his children’s foundation in Ecuador, he was awarded
“The Gold Medal of Merit.”
Bobby has received numerous other awards and has had many
accomplishments over the years.
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