Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolfo Colombo (1908-34) was the child of Italian immigrants. He started learning the violin at a young age and was hired professionally when just thirteen.
In 1928, he performed with the Gus Arnheim orchestra in a Vitaphone musical short, which led to a few acting roles. He also continued with Arnheim, branching into singing. He was a crooner, like his friend and colleague Bing Crosby.
Columbo was managed by Con Conrad, and collaborated with him in writing a number of songs. One of these, ‘You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love)’, was parodied by the Three Radio Rogues in MGM’s Going Hollywood.
Ross Columbo died young as the result of a tragic shooting accident. His mother was in poor health and Columbo’s girlfriend at the time of his death, Carole Lombard, assisted in hiding his the fact of his death from her for ten years.
