No crooning, but Vale will make rare appearance in Las Vegas

Friday, Sept. 14, 2007 | 7:37 a.m.

Jerry Vale crooned his way through five decades, winning the hearts of millions with such songs as "Al-Di-La" and "You Don't Know Me."

But a mild stroke in 2002 cut his career short.

"I retired. I have recovered, but I still don't work," the 76-year-old Vale says from his home in Palm Desert, Calif. He spends time with friends, such as former Las Vegan Buddy Greco, and goes to the gym.

He will make a rare appearance this weekend at the Las Vegas Hilton for a fundraising banquet for the Lion's Club HealthFirst Foundation .

Vale won't perform or give a speech. He will shake hands, visit and lend his support to the foundation.

"I'm very pleased to be part of the evening," he says. "I've been blessed with wonderful medical care. I want people to know how important medical testing is."

He misses performing.

"A little bit, when I hear my records on the radio," he says. "I miss not being able to work in the clubs. I really don't miss it as far as being in the business itself. I love the fact that I'm able to enjoy myself."

At 11, he was singing and shining shoes in a New York City barbershop. In high school he sang in supper clubs. His early career was guided by Mitch Miller and Guy Mitchell.

He made the charts with "You Can Never Give Me Back My Heart" in 1953 and many hits followed - "Arrivederci, Roma," "The Language of Love," "Have You Looked Into Your Heart," "For Mama."

He became one of Las Vegas' most popular performers in the 1970s, sharing showrooms with big-name comedians such as Shecky Greene and Bob Newhart. Vale performed at the Sands, the Frontier and the Desert Inn. "I even worked downtown at the Fremont hotel," he says.

Vale and his wife, Rita, lived in Las Vegas for 10 years, a couple of houses down from Robert Goulet.

Times have changed since his name first graced a Vegas marquee.

"I accepted the fact that times changed," Vale says. "There's nothing you can do about it."

He has few regrets.

"I would have done everything exactly the same," Vale says. "Except maybe I would have learned to read music. I never could read a note of music, but I had a good feel for the songs that I sang. In fact people can't believe that I can't read music to this day."