Biography

Arthur Godfrey once remarked on his television show that, when told they had booked Tommy Leonetti, he thought that it was a trio called "Tommy, Lee, and Eddy," which was basically due to his deafness after years of racing fast and loud speed boats and flying in older open cockpit aircraft.

After years of singing spots on various American TV variety shows, as well as occasional acting roles, most notably as a recurring character on the hit TV show Gomer Pyle, USMC, Leonetti took a singing gig in Sydney, Australia in 1966, having had some success on the Australian music charts there during the 1950's. He loved Sydney enough to move there in 1968 with his wife and stepdaughter. He soon had his own popular TV show there called "Sydney Tonight." In April 1971, he flew to LA for surgery to remove a kidney tumor. The cancer had spread so much that the entire kidney had to be removed. He and his family left Australia and he returned to America for singing engagements. In 1976, just before he left for a six-week gig in Honolulu, he had a five-year check-up at UCLA Medical Center. He then flew to Honolulu for not only the singing gig, but also a guest role in an episode of "Hawaii 5-0." Two days after filming began, his doctor called and said they now had found a tumor in his right lung near his heart. Surgery was successful with a removal of the top lobe of his lung. He began treating at the Center for the Healing Arts in LA, a clinic that specialized in holistic medicine, but he could not beat the recurring disease.

Brother of singers Etta Leonetti, Kay Leonetti, Sandy Leonetti and Jackie Leonetti.

Achieved cult fame in Sydney, Australia, for singing "My City of Sydney" as station ID for Channel ATN7 television station. He also starred in station ID spots, admiring Sydney Opera House, skipping pebbles in Sydney Harbour, wandering around Kings Cross, etc.

Recorded "Let's Take a Walk" with stepdaughter Kimberly Beck, a song written by Leonetti, Beck and Bob Russell.