Editing Bobby Darin (section)

==Early life==
Darin was born Walden Robert Cassotto in [[East Harlem]], New York City, on May 14, 1936, to Vanina Juliette "Nina" Cassotto (born November 30, 1917).<ref>''Dream Lovers'', pp. 9–10</ref>  Because his mother was only 18 at the time of his birth, Darin was raised to believe his maternal grandmother was his mother and Nina was his older sister.<ref name="Starr" />

Darin's maternal grandmother, Vivian "Polly" Fern Walden, (born in 1891) was of English, Danish, and Norwegian ancestry<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/9KF3-VK6|title=Pauline Vivian Fern Walden|website=[[FamilySearch]]|access-date=January 26, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://images.rodale.com/wcpe/USRodaleStore/pdf/roman_candle/1594860106CHP.pdf|title=Chapter One: The Hidden Child|publisher=Images.rodale.com|access-date=February 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310021822/http://images.rodale.com/wcpe/USRodaleStore/pdf/roman_candle/1594860106CHP.pdf|archive-date=March 10, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/566767422.html?dids=566767422:566767422&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+09%2C+1960&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=He+Quit+Rockin%27-Now+He%27s+Rollin%27&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312014037/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/566767422.html?dids=566767422:566767422&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+09%2C+1960&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=He+Quit+Rockin%27-Now+He%27s+Rollin%27&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 12, 2013|title=He Quit Rockin' – Now He's Rollin'|date=January 9, 1960|publisher=Pqasb.pqarchiver.com|access-date=May 8, 2012}}</ref> and had been a [[vaudeville]] singer before Darin's birth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bobby-darin-brash-but-talented/|title=Bobby Darin: Brash, But Talented|work=CBS News|date=November 17, 2004 |access-date=May 8, 2012}}</ref> His maternal grandfather, Saverio Antonio "Big Sam Curly" Cassotto (born January 26, 1882), was of Italian descent. He had been a [[made man]] and "soldier" in the [[Genovese Crime Family]], as well as a close associate of [[Frank Costello]]'s. Sam Cassotto died from pneumonia in late 1935 while in prison, less than a year before Darin's birth.

In 1968, when Darin was 32 and considering entering politics, Nina told him the truth, devastating Darin.<ref name="tv-bio">[http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_story/229:106/1/Bobby_Darin.htm Biography: Bobby Darin] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731140434/http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_story/229%3A106/1/Bobby_Darin.htm|date=July 31, 2009}}, The Biography Channel. Retrieved August 12, 2007. Also mentioned in the "Bobby Darin" episode of the ''Biography'' series.</ref> She refused to reveal the identity of his biological father, and took that secret to her grave when she died in 1983. The father's identity remained unknown until 2020. In April of 2020, Emilio "Milton" LePore (1911 – 1965) was traced, through familial DNA, as being Darin's biological father.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=s2zbzgEACAAJ |title=Who Does He Think His Grandfather Is?|first=Sam |last=Tallerico |publisher=Amazon Digital Services LLC - KDP Print US|year= 2021|isbn=9798476290551 |access-date=July 16, 2024 }}</ref>  

Darin moved to [[the Bronx]] early in his life (with a rented summer home in [[Staten Island]])<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.silive.com/guide/index.ssf/2012/04/famous_folk-_in_prog.html |title=Famous Staten Islanders from all walks of life |newspaper=Staten Island Advance |date=April 23, 2013 |access-date=March 5, 2017}}</ref> and graduated from the prestigious [[Bronx High School of Science]]. In later years, Darin attributed his arrogance to his experiences there, where Darin was surrounded by brighter students who teased him.<ref>''Dream Lovers'', pp. 16-17</ref> Darin then enrolled at [[Hunter College]] and soon gravitated to the drama department. After only two semesters, he dropped out to pursue an acting career.<ref>''Dream Lovers'', pp. 22-23</ref> Darin was an ambitious young adult and aspired to be an actor, go on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]], and become a recording artist.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Griffin |first=John |date=August 29, 2001 |title=Bobby Darin: I Want to Be a Legend |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvOJgTANpwI |access-date=May 13, 2024 |website=YouTube |series=Biography}}</ref>

By the time he was a teenager, Darin could play several instruments, including piano, drums, and guitar. He later added harmonica and [[xylophone]].<ref>{{cite magazine |date=October 17, 1970 |title=Talent in Action |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iikEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=July 16, 2013 |magazine=Billboard |page=28 |volume=82 |number=42}}</ref> Darin took his stage name, ''Bobby Darin'', when he began to record.<ref name="Saturday Evening Post"/> One version of how Darin got the name is that the first three letters on a [[Mandarin Chinese]] restaurant were burned out.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bobbydarin.net/genelees.html|title=Bobby Darin: The Career That Almost Was|last=Lees|first=Gene|work=Bobbydarin. net|access-date=October 16, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-01-17-ca-251-story.html|title=Bobby Darin: A Reluctant Rocker in Hall of Fame|last=Hochman|first=Steve|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=January 7, 1990|access-date=October 16, 2023}}</ref> According to another version, he adapted it from the first name of actor [[Darren McGavin]], TV's Mike Hammer. Darin said: "My legal name will remain Cassotto. Cassotto was my mother's name, and it will be my children's name."<ref name="Saturday Evening Post">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bobbydarin.net/post.html|title=Saturday Evening Post, 5/6/61|website=Bobbydarin.net|access-date=June 11, 2021}}</ref>