Happy Birthday, Bobby Darin!

'I want to make it faster than anyone has ever made it before. I'd like to be a legend by the time I'm 25.'

75 years ago today (it's still today in the US!), a little boy with the name Walden Robert Percival Cassotto was born in the Bronx, New York. This little boy was to become one of the most talented, versatile, inspiring, amazing, charismatic and...um...handsome stars of all time. This little boy was Bobby Darin.

At the teeny tiny age of 8, Bobby suffered continuous bouts of rheumatic fever, leaving him with a weak heart and frail body for the rest of his life. The doctors even said it would be a miracle if he made it to 16. So Bobby vowed to all he possibly could in the short time he was bound to have on earth. And that he did.

With a massive career spanning 16 years, Bobby left this world a legacy to ensure he was never forgotten. Bucket loads of awards and nominations (including an Academy Award nomination for his role in Captain Newman MD) under his belt, films to be enjoyed by all, TV performances to be watched over and over, and last, but by no means least, a myriad of songs that will live on forever. 

I find it so difficult to find the words to explain my feelings for Bobby. I always either go completely fan-girl over him or I am totally speechless-and on this particular occasion I am sitting on the 'speechless' fence! So I shall let the final words of this post come from the man himself, my hero, Mr. Bobby Darin (yeah, I use this quote ALL THE TIME, but I think they are the cleverest words EVER!):

'It isn't true that you live only once. You only die once. You live lots of times if you know how.'