Al Alberts, founder member of The Four Aces, has died aged 87.
Alberts formed The Four Aces after meeting bandmate Dave Mahoney while serving in the US Navy. They scored a number of hits in the early fifties, most notably with 'Three Coins In The Fountain' and 'Love Is A Many Splendored Thing', both of which were from Hollywood movies and won Best Song Oscars as well as enjoying chart success.
He left the band after just six years, initially in a bid to launch a solo career. The Four Aces continued with a new frontman, and eventually totally new line up, and continue to perform to this day. Having had only minor success as a solo act, Alberts later reformed with the original Four Aces line up, performing as The Original Four Aces Featuring Al Alberts after the newer Four Aces line up won the rights to the band's name.
In actual fact, Alberts had a longer career in television than music, hosting a popular US talent show that helped launch the careers of Andrea McArdle, Sister Sledge and Teddy Pendergrass.
The reformed Four Aces retired in the late eighties, and Albert ended his TV work in the mid-nineties. He died on Friday, seemingly after suffering from kidney failure.