May 12: The Barber from Canonsburg

Welcome to the American Catholic Daily Reader Podcast. Today is May 12th, and our story is The Barber from Cannonsburg. At 20, Perry Como had all he wanted in life, a beautiful girl to marry, a successful barber shop that brought in $125 a week, and his Catholic faith. Accordingly, in 1932, when the Freddy Carlone Orchestra offered Como a job as one of their lead singers, the Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania native refused. As Como saw it, he had a good thing going with his barbershop, and singing couldn't support a family nearly so well.

Only after the girl convinced him that the barber shop would always be there, did Como accept the offer, both marrying the girl and joining the orchestra in 1933. Seven years passed while Como's fame grew. But by 1940, after he and his wife finally succeeded in having a child, Como knew he wanted more for his young family than constant touring. Soon after, he quit the orchestra and moved back to Cannonsburg. Como was working on purchasing a new barbershop there when a call from New York came.

It was CBS Radio offering him his own show. Como again refused, and was again talked into it by his wife. Together, they moved to New York. Five years later, Como left radio for television, and there he stayed, first with CBS, then with NBC, until 19... Despite his success, Como continued to live like the barber he always wanted to be. He was a faithful husband, loving father, and devout Catholic who gave a substantial portion of his earnings to the church, garnering both him and his wife admission to the equestrian order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

Fame somehow never managed to change Como, a minor miracle that only added to his popular appeal. In 1994, Como gave the last concert of his career in Dublin, Ireland. During his stay, he stopped by the Irish barbershop named in his honor, the Como. He never did get another barbershop of his own, though. Soon after his retirement, Como began showing signs of Alzheimer's disease and died seven years later on May 12, 2001.

Como's example reminds us that living faithfully is not about fame or accolades, but about consistency, generosity, and prioritizing relationships and values over convenience or vanity. His life challenges us to integrate faith into every part of our lives so that our work, family, and talents can reflect God's presence in all we do. Find one way this week to integrate your values or faith into your profession. Thank you for listening to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Join us tomorrow, May 13th, for another story of faith and courage in America.