Spoiler : Another early star who died before many of the musical shows we love now ever went on the air. Had this gun accident never happened, he probably would have been bigger than Bing Crosby.

Spoiler : Russ Columbo (Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolpho Colombo) Born Camden, New Jersey, January 14, 1908 Died Los Angeles, California, September 2, 1934 Age 26 (handgun accident)

Spoiler : Columbo, Russ (birth name was Ruggerio Eugenio di Rudolpho Colombo) Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1/14/1908; died 9/2/1934 from an accidental discharge of an antique dueling pistol fired by photographer Lansing Brown in Hollywood, California. Columbo began his career with Gus Arnheim's Cocoanut Grove Orchestra in Los Angeles, California. Vocalist in the Bing Crosby crooning style, and he led his orn orchestra for a time. At the time of his death was one of the three most popular crooners (with Bing Crosby and Rudy Vallee). Screen debut in Wolf Song (1929). Last movie was Wake Up And Sing (1934). Featured on his own NBC-BLUE programs (1931- 1933).