Today in Comics History, September 16: Happy birthday, Andy Russell!

Born on this day in 1919: singer and entertainer Andy Russell (née Andrés Rábago), "the Original Latino Crossover Artist." His popularity in the day rivalled Sinatra and Como as a heartthrob vocalist on popular bestsellingf songs like "Bésame Mucho," "Amor," "What a Diff'rence a Day Made" and many more. He even got his own (short) comic book story:



"Andy Russell" from Juke Box Comics #3 (Eastern Color, July 1948), creators unidentified and unknown
There's even an ad on the back cover of the same comic book. Gee, whaddaya think convinced Capitol Records that this was a good place to run their record album advertisements, I wonder, hmmm?


Capitol Records advertisement from Juke Box Comics #3



"Bésame Mucho" by Andy Russell with Al Sack and His orchestra (Capitol, 1944); written by Consuelo Velázquez, English lyrics by Sunny Skylar
Happy birthday, Andy!