Was Perry Como for real?

Perry Como just might have had the most relaxed voice of all the crooners.

We are so accustomed to immorality and infidelity among public figures that it is hard to know when things are for real. Even Bob Hope, who was married to Dolores for decades, was a notorious womanizer, so his marriage was not "real" from that standpoint.

Como was married to Roselle Belline in 1933, and they stayed married until her death in 1998 - for 65 years. They reportedly raised their three children with traditional, non-show business values. Como was supposed to have been very picky about what went into his performances: if it was of questionable taste, it would not be included. The IMDB site said this about him: "The private Como was exactly as he appeared to the public: a quiet, self-effacing man who considered his performing activities as strictly tertiary to his family and his faith."

But was all that real, or just a façade? Who knows, at this late date? At least he had the decency to want to appear to be decent.