It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of singer and television icon Perry Como, who passed away on May 12, 2001 at the age of 88. Born on May 18, 1912 in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, Como began singing as a teenager and first achieved national fame as a crooner in the 1940s. He went on to star in several radio and television programs, with shows such as "The Chesterfield Supper Club" and "The Perry Como Show". He was a beloved fixture in the music industry, becoming the first modern artist to have a platinum album with 1947's "Songs by Perry Como". His decades-long career, spanning from the 1940s to the 1990s, resulted in numerous hits, including "Catch a Falling Star", "It's Impossible", and "And I Love You So". Como was also a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. He was known not only for his music, but also for his philanthropy, warm personality and sense of humor. Through his career, he touched the lives of millions of fans, friends and family around the world. He will be greatly missed.