Biography
Fabian's Biography
"Fabian totally rocked. I've seen him perform, and he still has
great charisma onstage; he has a kind of punk rock energy." - Karen Schoemer, New York Times Music critic (Great Pretenders,
My Strange Love Affair
with 50's Pop Music, Simon & Schuster 2006)
Receiving
one of show business' highest accolades, this pop music and film
star was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
on January 8, 2002. He was recognized for over 40 years of live
performance with the famed boulevard's 2188th star. Following
his successful film career, Fabian has performed at packed
concerts, stadiums and casinos from coast to coast and internationally
in festivals and theatrical productions. He honored his fans by
dedicating his star to them on that memorable day.
Born on February 6, 1943 to Josephine and Domenic Forte, Fabian
Forte was discovered at the age of 14 sitting on his front steps
in Philadelphia. Fabian had just watched his father being
taken away in an ambulance when he was approached about becoming
a singer. His father couldn't work any longer and as the oldest of three
brothers, Fabian took a chance at "making some money"
to help his family out but never thought of it as a career. Soon
thousands were to throng to his concerts and the rest is a music
business success story. At 15, Fabian won the Silver Award as "The Promising Male Vocalist of 1958." By the time
he was 18, he had recorded dozens of hit singles, eight albums and earned gold records for "Turn Me Loose" and "Tiger" and a gold album for "The Fabulous
Fabian."
Fabian's early films rocketed him to stardom once again. During his 7 year contract with 20th Century Fox he made his
screen debut in 1959 in "Hound Dog Man," directed
by Don Segal. He worked with two of our great great screen giants in "North To Allaska" with John Wayne and "High Time" with Bing Crosby. Fabian was fortunate to have worked with the incomparable and gracious James Swart in two films in his career, "Mr. Hobbs Takes A Vacation" and "Dear Brigette." He learned to surf with Tab Hunter in "Ride The Wild Surf" which has become a cult classic. Other films include "Five Weeks in a Balloon,""Longest Day" and many others
including two films with Annette Funicello. More recent
work includes being interviewed by Michelle Pfeiffer in the 1996,
Jon Avnet directed film, "Up Close & Personal."
Fabian's role as a homicidal maniac in the TV production titled "A Lion Walks Among Us" directed by Robert Altman solidly established him as a versatile and powerful actor. This history making production was the first television show to run an hour without commercials.
As an actor, Fabian makes frequent television and feature
film appearances. Some of his most memorable television roles have
been his guest appearances on Laverne & Shirley, Facts
of Life, Blossom and Murphy Brown. Fabian recently hosted his second PBS Special, "At The Drive-In." "Fabian's GoodTime Rock 'n Roll Show", broadcast
live in front of 85,000 fans in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, featured
the great rock acts from the 50's & 60's, and was the first concert
produced for pay-per-view-television and PBS. Fabian was
the host, performer and producer of this concert special.
Fabian is also an Emmy-nominated producer for his work on the highly
acclaimed documentary series "The Wild West."
Fabian has enjoyed a successful commercial career representing
products such as Pepsi, Denny's and Nutri System to name just
a few.
Fabian is one of the first pop rock artists ever to be known
by just one name. Answering the most often asked question, Fabian is his real birth name having been named after his
paternal grandfather, Fabiano Forte. Today children of his fans,
a type font, and a hurricane have been named after him, which really
caused quite a stir. His full name is Fabian Anthony Forte....better
known now as www.fabianforte.net
From 2004 - 2007, Fabian hosted and headlined in the
hit show, "The Original Stars of Bandstand" at
the Dick Clark Theater in Branson, Missouri. Fabian's first appearance on American Bandstand was
June 19, 1958 and he appeared on the show over 20 times. He filled
in for Dick Clark as host on dozens of "Caravan of Stars"
Tours. "The Original Stars of Bandstand" re-created
those days and drew record audiences. "It was like a reunion
when I got to get re-aquainted with all of my friends again,"
said Fabian. The show also stared Bobby Vee and featured The
Chiffons, Brian Hyland, Chris Montez and rare footage of the performers
and Dick Clark.
Fabian continues to perform with two of his Philadelphia
buddies, Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell as "The Golden
Boys" in one of the longest running shows of its genre
today. In their 37th year together in 2022, they have appeared in every
major city in the United States and around the world. They have
played to packed venues in Atlantic City and Las Vegas and have
starred in "The American Music Awards," "Miss Teenage
America," and "Command Performance: "An All Star Salute To The
President" television specials. The Philadelphia Music Alliance honored Fabian in 2000, with a star on their Walk of Fame
and Fabian visits that city any chance he gets to enjoy the
best cheesesteaks anywhere! In April 2022, we said goodbye to beloved Golden Boy Bobby Rydell. He will always be a Forever Golden Boy.
In 1998, Fabian married model Andrea Patrick, a former Miss Pennsylvania-USA and Miss West Virginia who is the Owner/CEO of Patrick Talent Agency and Editor-in-Chief/Publisher for US Fashion magazine, GLADYS Magazine.
He is also a proud father of a son Christian and his wife, Mercedes and their daughter, Fabian's grandaughter, Ava Josephine, and grandson Anthony and a daughter, Julie Forte. Fabian has helped raise money for veterans with his Celebrity Golf Tournament in North Carolina. Andrea and Fabian live on 20 acres in Southwestern Pennsylvania in a home Andrea designed.
Singer, performer, actor, producer, father, husband and friend.....Fabian
is a man who has had longevity in his career because of his perseverance,
his loyalty, his professionalism, his wonderful kind heart and
his tenacity. Fabian has traveled the show business ladder
and survived, his sense of humor and integrity intact. And for that,
he truly is the FABULOUS FABIAN.
Fabian says, "The critics never embraced me, but my fans did and that's all that mattered to me."
Fabian also wants his fans to know there are many untruths written on Wikipedia about him.
All inquiries should be sent to info@fabianforte.net
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