Sonny King (singer)

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Sonny King (April 1, 1922 – February 3, 2006) was an American lounge singer.

He was born as Luigi Antonio Schiavone on April 1, 1922 in Brooklyn, New York. He was the sidekick of Jimmy Durante for 28 years until Durante's death in 1980. They appeared together on the Ed Sullivan Show five times in the 1960s. King shared a New York apartment with Dean Martin when the two were struggling entertainers, and is credited with introducing Martin to a young comedian Jerry Lewis. Though not an official member, he was close friends with many Rat Pack entertainers and appeared in the Rat Pack movies Robin and the Seven Hoods and Sergeants 3. King moved to Las Vegas in the early 50's and was a fixture on the strip and local clubs until his death. Blessed with a powerful voice and a quick wit, Sonny King could charm and entertain young and old.

He died on February 3, 2006, in Las Vegas, Nevada of cancer, aged 83.