R.I.P. Steve Rossi, of Allen & Rossi comedy team

Singer-comedian Steve Rossi has died at the age of 82. The smooth, handsome Rossi was best known for his partnership with rotund, wild-haired comic Marty Allen, famous for his goofy, eye-popping expressions and enthusiastic delivery of his catchphrase, “Hello dere!” The two became one of the most popular comedy teams of the 1960s after first teaming up in 1957, just in time to fill the void left by the breakup of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
Rossi, who started out using his birth name, Joseph Charles Tafarella, found his niche as a singing straight man early in his career, when he was hired to share the stage with Mae West in her ’50s nightclub act. Concerned that his name would take up too much precious space on the marquee, West dubbed him “Steve Rossi,” by combining the first name of her current beau, actor Steve Cochran, with the last name of her manager, Bernie Ross, then adding the final vowel as a nod to her co-star’s Italian heritage. After his employment with West came to an end in 1954, Rossi worked solo until 1957, when he joined forces with Allen. The two got together at the suggestion of Nat King Cole, who had used Allen as his opening act, and gave his blessing to their show business union.
At their peak, Allen & Rossi were a big draw in nightclubs and familiar faces on such TV programs as The Ed Sullivan Show, The Garry Moore Show, The Jack Paar Show, and Hollywood Palace. (A couple of their appearances on the Sullivan show are preserved on a DVD set, which collected the complete versions of all episodes featuring their fellow guest performers, the Beatles.)