When you look up "The History of Rock and
Roll" at any library, a very familiar face will be found — it's Canada's
Mr. Personality, Bobby Curtola! At the tender age of just 16, Thunder Bay's
pride and joy set out on a rock and roll adventure that would take him
around the world with more than 30 hit records, countless television appearances,
and hours and hours of community involvement.
"CURTOLAMANIA" had begun!
 
Bobby Curtola's list of #1 hit records
includes
Hand in Hand With You, Fortune Teller, Don't Sweetheart Me,
Aladdin, Three Rows Over, Hitchhiker, Makin' Love, Corina Corina, and
a host of others. Bobby has the distinction of being the first Canadian
to earn a coveted Gold album. These great hits continue to be heard today
on "oldies" radio around the world. Bobby was the man who opened the doors
for many future Canadian stars — in an era well before Canadian content
rules were dictated to radio stations!
Bobby has also been honoured with many acknowledgments
and awards, some of which are:
The first RPM award, now known as the Juno
Induction into the RPM Canadian Music Industry
Hall of Fame 1996
City of Toronto declared April 21, 1996 "Bobby
Curtola Day"
Making the world's first jingle that sounded just
like a top 40 record — which started the trend in advertising — with "Things
go better with Coke"
The Howard Hughes Hotels of Las Vegas, Nevada,
featured Bobby as a headliner for more than 20 years in their resorts with
great success.
He was the first performer to sign a multi-million
dollar contract for lounge appearances in Las Vegas.
In January of 1998, Mr. Curtola was honoured with
the Order of Canada for his commitment to being an ambassador for care
around the world, for his humanitarian work, and for his pioneering success
in Canadian Pop Music.
This year Bobby was honoured to be inducted as
a member of the Ochapowace Tribe of Saskatchewan and is now a true brother
to our country's first people.
Since the '90s Bobby has been traveling internationally
to South America, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
He has been recognized for his charitable work
in Ecuador, where the Bobby Curtola Centre of the World Children's Foundation
was formed in his honour.
He will soon be receiving the Gold Medal of Merit
for his charitable work in that country.
For much more on this legendary Canadian
performer, visit the Bobby Curtola
Story
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