Bobby Darin "Mack The Knife" on The Ed Sullivan Show

Bobby Darin "Mack The Knife" was performed on The Ed Sullivan Show on May 31, 1959. Subscribe now to never miss an update: ume.lnk.to/EdSullivanSubscribe
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The Ed Sullivan Show was a television variety program that aired on CBS from 1948-1971. For 23 years it aired every Sunday night and played host to the world's greatest talents. The Ed Sullivan Show is well known for bringing rock n' roll music to the forefront of American culture through acts like Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones. The entertainers each week ranged from comedians like Joan Rivers and Rodney Dangerfield, to Broadway stars Julie Andrews and Richard Burton, to pop singers such as Bobby Darin and Petula Clark. It also frequently featured stars of Motown such as The Supremes, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder and The Jackson 5. The Ed Sullivan Show was one of the only places on American television where such a wide variety of popular culture was showcased and its legacy lives on to this day.
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#BobbyDarin #EdSullivanShow #MackTheKnife

[@LucGau2507]

The 50's: Mack The Knife 🔪 The 80's and 90's: Mac Tonight 🌜

[@lissaslighthouse8475]

80s BABIES UNDERSTAND🧡🧡🧡

[@Madcapredcap]

Mack the Knife Tonight

[@winning3329]

They need to bring mac tonight back

[@pachecoramirez8870]

The 2000's : MOONMAN🌒

[@a1rh3add]

​@winning3329 they didn't have the rights so they were sued

[@jackspry9736]

RIP Bobby Darin (May 14, 1936 - December 20, 1973), aged 37 You will be remembered as a legend.

[@not_packgody]

ya i herd this song from the movie called lesson of the evil and wow its such a good song

[@mariadelcarmen8202]

👏👏👏👏❤️💯💯💯🇦🇷

[@ricardosalazar5743]

Rumor were Mack the Knife was the last to see him, lol.

[@adultchildofanadult]

He's so cool he's froze in his clothes! The coolest people are those who don't have to "act cool", it just comes naturally. Bobby was one of the few that fit that bill.

[@mikegarippo7815]

Your writing is poor.

[@Hellblazecc]

😂😂😂😂​@@mikegarippo7815

[@seanohare5488]

Agree

[@charlesking5328]

Bobby & Roger Miller both.

[@CeeOlleab388]

Never heard such a gruesome song about murder like it was sang by Bobby Darin. Absolute jazz brilliance, unforgettable.

[@joeynarciso94]

Try Pumped up Kicks!

[@joemccauley3856]

Try “Stagger Lee”

[@WG55]

@@joemccauley3856 LOL, yeah, Lloyd Price's version of "Stagger Lee" will have you dancing to brutal murder!

[@GUNUFofficial]

The beatles maxwell's silvers hammer

[@MStarr-dp8fc]

Agreed!!! 😊

[@deanna0710]

when I was a teenager in 69-70, I thought Bobby Darin was the best looking coolest guy ever. I seriously had a crush on him. Bobby Darin Bobby Darin he was something else. I’m 70 now, and I still think he’s the coolest guy ever!❤❤❤

[@bowtoyoursensei554]

I love to watch him...so relaxed and so much attitude! He owns that stage, the song and the audience! And just swings the heck out of it! He died so young -- what a loss!

[@seanohare5488]

But look at what he left us some great recordings anytime anywhere

[@joannebeauchamp1169]

Bobby Darin was the absolute COOLEST guy in town, with charisma to spare! No singer today, NO ONE, even comes close…

[@AshdenMurphyMusic]

Dean Martin does

[@jmenterprises_1395]

Hook with charisma

[@RubyCrockettsolitude]

I always thought Dean Martin couldn’t be beat, but Dean M doesn’t have the quick, natural moves that Bobby uses . Hypnotizing..

[@cocod594]

He was one of my idols!

[@paudcmarvelotakuarmy]

Estoy frita

[@user-gu8bt4wg5z]

This guy was the quintessential performer. Such talent. Such charisma. Such class. Such professionalism. From a disadvantaged background, and diagnosed at a young age with rheumatic heart disease, he knew he was on borrowed time, and that drove him to be what he became - the best. He had everything going for him … except time. The one, the only, the inimitable Bobby Darin!

[@waterlily6543]

You said it better thanks

[@jlo13800]

Is he singing about munich germany? Sounds like it!

[@RasberryLemonade11]

Didn’t he beat his wife?

[@rmc2001]

One of the best songs ever

[@chrisvoiceactingvoiceover1431]

@@jlo13800What?

[@d.j.starling3559]

This live performance is Bobby's BEST ever rendition of this song. Never heard him do it better!!

[@billhorstkamp98]

Unfortunately, he’s lip syncing to the record

[@d.j.starling3559]

@@billhorstkamp98 no, he's not. It's live. You can tell if you listen closely to the band, & even to some of Bobby's phrasing. This rendition is actually BETTER than the record!!!

[@tennisbum3686]

Hes lip syncing with a recording, an standard format on TV shows, including American Bandstand.

[@tennisbum3686]

​@d.j.starling3559 The studio had more than one recording. On these shows, you don't have a choice, you had to lip sync. The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Dion they had to lip sync

[@d.j.starling3559]

@@tennisbum3686 Sorry, but no, this IS a live performance by Bobby. In the early years, with most of the singers of the day, they sang live on TV. Lip-syncing became prevalent a bit later, especially with rock artists. However, American Bandstand did usually depend on lip-syncing. But Ed Sullivan & other variety shows definitely presented live performances. BTW - My dad was a musician, who played on The Mike Douglas Show out of Philly. I also had the good fortune to sit in on several recording sessions for a variety of artists. I have a real good idea of what went into the making of recordings. And yes, The Beatles were among many of best of the 60s to lip-sync on TV. Their appearances had to appeal to the young people who would buy the records, & TPTB made sure those young people heard what they were used to hearing on the radio. That's just the way it was in those years. One last thought, we should all just be grateful we have so much wonderful music to hear, & every one of us should spend part of everyday listening & enjoying. What a wonderful world this could be!!! 🙂

[@user-cc9ru3be9q]

He's the epitome of cool and suave. He lays it down so effortlessly. Nobody does it better.

[@eddietucker3334]

He totally KILLS. What a talent!

[@PGar58]

He was 22 when he did this. Think of what 22 year old artists commonly do - both then and now.

[@lynndupree1205]

I've been loving Bobby Darin forever❤. The way he puts this tune together is just nothing but class.

[@StevenConstantine-fw2kn]

He had health issues but what CLASS

[@malcolmalexander2915]

Easily the best rendition of this song - RIP Bobby; you're not forgotten

[@martinleavitt6094]

👌

[@stevephillips6667]

I'd put Louis Armstrong's version up against it any day but they're both great!!

[@captainkangaroo4301]

@@stevephillips6667 indeed

[@Filbi]

I'm partial to Roger Daltrey's version from the 1989 film.

[@ayradventures]

I go Dave Van Ronk's all day but to each their own

[@FRATZROCKET]

This was live. Just amazing.

[@seanohare5488]

Agree

[@hilaryapril7043]

I was 10 years old when he sang this ...watched this show every Sunday night. He died way too young...he went to the Bronx High School of Science....intelligent and talented...no autotune !!

[@Michael-xk3sp]

Waldo Cassata from Da Bronx-like me.

[@winning3329]

You had a TV In the 50s? You must have been rich

[@seanohare5488]

Ed Sullivan had a great show Mr Sunday night

[@ellenallentoff8512]

The audience was applauding before he even finished the song. He was an awesome singer. He died too young. I adore his music 🎶

[@seanohare5488]

Me too

[@huascar66]

Bobby Darin was incredible. This is a LIVE performance with the Sullivan house band behind him. No one did this song like Bobby. What a singer!

[@vshagoyan]

This is great but Ella blows this out the water

[@huascar66]

@@vshagoyan She certainly does! But, she was ELLA and could blow anybody out of the water. Bobby sang it in his style and he nails it, regardless.

[@vshagoyan]

@@huascar66 Ain’t that the truth!

[@tennisbum3686]

Sorry to burst your bubble

[@IH8thortay]

He was the definition of cool.

[@robertgriffiths6842]

God Bobby just owns this song ❤️❤️🥂🥂

[@spyderlogan4992]

I watched this live performance when I was 9 years old. A sensational song and gigantic popular hit in that era of American music.

[@Callipygous1975]

From a 1931 German play , Die Dreigroschenoper, which in turn was based on an old English play, The Beggar's Opera from 1728. So German, American or English? - you have your pick.

[@Callipygous1975]

@Mitzi Miau It's much more complicated than that. See the Wikipedia entry for Elisabeth Hauptmann, for instance.

[@joemay2640]

When music was music ❤

[@BarbCrews]

So great. Timeless voice that would have aged well. One of favorites.

[@hananabdelkader1413]

Totally 👍

[@hananabdelkader1413]

Agree

[@martinleavitt6094]

Yupp 👌🇺🇸

[@peterbalac1915]

100 % Barb you are a fine looking woman, remind me of Hillary Clinton ❤

[@adamrichards3174]

Even at the end of his life, when he would have to take oxygen after he got off stage, Bobby still brought everything he had in him on stage. A fantastic performer, and really a shame we lost him so early.

[@Danimal1577]

Bobby Darin is criminally overlooked, underrated, and under-appreciated to this day

[@emiliaescobar7652]

Just saw this clip, Great Singer, gone too soon, I never get tired of listening to these classics!

[@Theoriginalbigbrillo]

Considering this song is the American Billboard 100 4th best-selling song of all time, a lot of people might disagree with you on that one 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@user-ki1un4jg2d]

Connie Francis is also under appreciated . She is not even in the rock n roll hall of fame and is much more of an original and more influential than Darin . However , Connie has a better award than the snobby rock n roll hof , she was voted the best female entertainer of the 20th century . A well deserved honor .

[@carlawestlund4429]

​@@Theoriginalbigbrillo😅

[@ladyeliseopera]

Bobby Darin won a grammy for record of the year and best new artist in 1960. So no worries. He might not be talked about much these days. But he was certainly recognized for his talent back then. He’s still very much loved by those who know of him. 💖

[@MariaBakop]

A master class in stage presence!!!❤️❤️❤️ Delivery, tone, phrasing, rhythm-perfection!!

[@stk6mkt]

R.I.P Bobby Darin. You were an incredible talent.

[@skipwaldent8465]

Thats what performance swagger is. You just saw it. This musical moment never got old or lost its magic. I'll prove it ! I am a younger, brand new fan !

[@mozart4636]

The lyrical structure weaved with such poignant euphemisms. Brilliant!

[@kellanhills1972]

Actually not really “poignant euphemism”. This song is based on a true story about a serial killer. Pretty dark song. But awesome!

[@mozart4636]

@@kellanhills1972 I know. Makes it more intriguing.

[@memememe609]

​@@kellanhills1972 "A true story"? Captain Macheath is from The Threepenny Opera, and so is this murder ballad (Although it was heavily modified by Louis Armstrong, and then by Darin).

[@roberthimmelman3816]

Bobby, it’s only circumstantial evidence, but you’ve presented a strong case.

[@martinleavitt6094]

Well said Robert..Bobby D..nailed it,,case closed!!👍

[@beltranclarke7049]

@@martinleavitt6094 3

[@larrymick2445]

LOL

[@larrymick2445]

I mean REALLY, Idid !!!

[@vancouverterry9142]

The guy was everything -- a singer, a dancer and a musician. And you can add actor and, I think, he could also been an orchestra conductor. What talent! Man oh man, Bobby, you could bring it all home! RIP and our lifelong thanks!

[@larrymick2445]

Absolutely!!!

[@gtassa01]

They used to ask a lot from preformers back then, and it shows. Absolutely killer singing

[@blueycarlton]

Ed nearly pulled off his wig at the end. Louis Armstrong had the hit in 1956 in Australia.

[@castorphans]

Charisma and charm all over the screen. Didn't need anything but himself. Gone too soon.

[@wrenspence1936]

Simply the best version of 'Mack The Knife' ever!

[@lisica8458]

It's a great version, no doubt . . . but Ella Fitzgerald's version is stupendous, too.

[@MeadeSkeltonMusic]

@@lisica8458 surely you jest

[@alpobeats]

I like Louis Armstrong too

[@lahaina4791]

​@@lisica8458 No, just no.

[@cindyalexander2922]

The big band screaming at the end and oh boy could bobby deliver the goods! Just so COOL!

[@fromthesidelines]

Ray Bloch used Richard Wess' arrangement from the original recording.

[@jackswing-ep7cf]

Now That's What You Call Laying Down A Classic In 1959 Baby

[@r.hernandez6152]

I'm hard rock heavy metal all day. But when I heard bobby Darin! I'm like totally blown away by him!I' Wish I could've lived in that decade I'm like omg What a performer!

[@vernonchun9184]

Superior performer, his delivery style and energy is unique and unmatched! Still sounds as good today as it did way back when.

[@jimmieyoung4865]

This band is f'ing phenomenal!

[@nickhuber9627]

The greatest entertainer of all time. Gone far to soon.

[@exmarine268]

That, is charisma.

[@drevakelemen52n92]

BOBBY.... YOU ARE ALWAYS A LEGEND 😍....WHEN YOU SING I'M IN HEAVEN ❤️❤️❤️.... love from AUSTRALIA... DrEva

[@thomtlc2]

This was May 31, 1959, before Mack the Knife became the phenomenon it would become. This might be before many of this audience had heard this song before. Thanks for this great video!

[@VCT3333]

Louis Armstrong and Lotte Lenya had already done a version in 1949 or so.

[@michaelverbakel7632]

I heard that this song was originally written for Frank Sinatra but even he said he couldn't do this song with all of the class and style that Bobby Darin did. Darin made this song his own.

[@onnapnewo]

It was actually written in the late 1920s for a German musical called The Threepenny Opera. This translation into English was done for a production of the show that premiered in 1933.

[@stephaniedenniston1410]

Interesting! Because my daughter was looking up #1 songs when our family members were born and this song was #1 when I was born, November 5, 1959.

[@ogdnaemoc]

I have heard others sing this song, but nobody, absolutely nobody can sing this song like Darin did.

[@mr_bubbles2409]

It is sad that most singers like him are dead or retired

[@annemccarron2281]

@@PhantomOutlaw What I love about Bobby Darin is that he throughly loved what he did and it showed. He had a great time on stage.

[@bowtoyoursensei554]

A few -- Michael Buble and Harry Connick Jr. -- are continuing the tradition. So glad they are!

[@extensioncordgaming8266]

Micheal Buble still does it, and Frankie Valli still tours.

[@BrisLS1]

I was born in the wrong decade. Thanks for sharing this!

[@michaelargenti1253]

Bobby Darin's in my Hall of Fame. He was a pretty good actor too.

[@googee4358]

My favorite KZbin video of 2023. Damn imagine he’d never know his song has traveled this far from then vs now. Music is simply the best thing in life close to water.

[@davidhutcheson2609]

What a Song.👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👌

[@queenmicale9686]

Wow he is the best ever!!! What an entertainer. Great voice and showman to. Gone to soon. One of the best singers ever. No one comes close. No microphone, just singing. That's the way it's done. Never missed a beat. We will always miss u Bobby. NEVER FIRGOTTEN. RIP. BOB. LOVE YA. your voice will live on forever. .😇👏👏👏👏👏😟😟😥😥😥😥😥💔🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@efrencastellon2291]

One of the coolest songs I ever heard ❤❤😂

[@67lionsoflisbon37]

The one and only and very best version of this great song. What a singer!

[@ManuelDiaz-on7tg]

I could listen to this every day…. GREAT song by a GREAT singer. Bobby Darin nails it

[@eyesjamesq]

Luckily I was born early enough to have seen this on Ed Sullivan live.

[@katmackie778207]

Lol me too

[@Coeurduvent1]

Me, too!

[@beeenn649]

EEK!

[@bdoon51]

E 3:26 d Sullivan was a troll Why did he get a TV show? Bobby Darrin was Walden Cassetto dating another Italian who changed her beautiful name to a WASP name, Connie Francis

[@davidbjornstad7759]

It didn't (and doesn't) get any better than this.

[@AndySaenz]

Why is it that everyone back then was so well dressed? Better dressed than today’s artists? He looks great and sounds great! So I like this! 👍🏼

[@user-vm5ud4xw6n]

It was the style then. You just didn’t make an appearance without looking your best. If you think that’s something you should see the way people dressed around the 50-60’s just to go on an airplane. Flying was a huge deal and you didn’t dare go out not dressed up. Even little kids wore a pretty dress for the girls and a little sports jacket /maybe a tie for the boys!

[@justinakavanagh3058]

His whole body just oozed talent. Not many can match him.

[@madmextupapa]

As i am a 64 yr old - genuine cool 😎 sad he passed at 37.

[@mikegarippo7815]

Who cares what your age is, and how is it even relevant to your comment?

[@madmextupapa]

@@mikegarippo7815 I’m 65 now and -very very sad he passed at 37. I advise you to pick up critical skill thinking 😎

[@marcseyes1665]

I agree!!! He was so swag for his time.. and i'm 19 years old

[@vernwallen4246]

MR Sullivan always gave credit when credit was due.

[@mrsbluesky8415]

Man I just love the jazzy swinging sound of Bobby Darrin. Wish I could’ve seen him live in person.

[@jamestrujillo5195]

Bobby Darin had something many singers didnt have. He was very strict on the beat of every song. Hes definitely legendary and one of the greatest singers of all time

[@clivefuller-hale5073]

He was so very talented a vocal all rounder and this is a top notch version of the song he made his own. Many thanks for posting.

[@OceanSwimmer]

Bobby was gone too soon -- true. I'm so grateful he lived & shared his talent to many people. Thank you Bobby Darin.

[@nancyverano6249]

Bobby was vintage cool.

[@davegrier523]

WOW! What a stud. Got more chops in one finger than anybody out there now....

[@mortalclown3812]

Oh. My. God. Ed was over the damn moon about him. Tousled his hair!?!!!!🥰😂✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

[@rustydog1236]

Irony is that's a toupee LOL

[@53nobel]

People will watch this 1000 years from now

[@randysalles2292]

Freakin brilliant!

[@kennethstark9383]

What a cool dude 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧👍

[@user-cc9ru3be9q]

So smooth, so easy.

[@ZeraphineDoll]

The coolness, I can’t take it, I just can’t ❤❤

[@susannebass1883]

Bobby Darin, the Cool of Cools!

[@lpompey6610]

I've adored this song forever, my mother and aunt did too. They've passed on so now I listen to it every chance I get

[@barbaraalves4478]

the best ever ever ever version of this song he owns it

[@2Oldcoots]

Bobby Darin was a "Stone Cold Natural!"

[@bhodges00]

That was a great song and performer.

[@martinleavitt6094]

👍

[@corineusa1454]

What a great time to be alive & young!

[@user-pr8cw7zx1t]

A most superb performance by the GREAT magnificoent crooner BOBBY DARIN ! Profoundly overlooked , was one of the great crooners that emerged from the R&R Era of the 1950 s !

[@jackietreehorn8527]

Ed really love Bobby's performance, golden moment...

[@danielbixel8633]

I was pretty young when Bobby Darrin was doing this but I’m glad I get to appreciate it now. He really was a crooner with a talent for showmanship and can pepper the tune with little bits of spice. “Look out old Macky’s back” and a smile.

[@lyallg7925]

Daniel, he was more than a crooner… he covered every genre in his 37 years on earth… keep discovering Bobby through KZbin… you’ll be gobsmacked.

[@murielleschick5894]

Bobby The Best. …🎉🎉❤🎉🎉

[@rorygay3529]

BRAVO. Bobby always seems to be enjoying himself.

[@vingotaq777]

When guys could be cool without even trying 😎👍

[@nancyhammons3594]

Dressed very nice and not one swear word, that's cool.

[@vickiross1025]

He's much cooler than Fonzie.

[@reneleclerc6119]

If you're trying to be cool, you're not.

[@BG-xn5ni]

This is a brilliant live performance

[@donaldpatterson7971]

One of the best, he died to young...

[@christopherbako]

Boss 😅 he Killed It😊

[@markmussari6397]

I love when Ed tousles his hair at the end.

[@dale9724]

Perfection.

[@stephenwhiteman4668]

Best version ever

[@billyphillips7204]

Wow that dude is smooth! Incredible!

[@Adolf_Biden]

A true legend!

[@leeanderson5955]

This is one of those songs that transports me to a specific place in my childhood. Great song.

[@Beargizmo3]

I was just listening to the album version through headphones as I washed dishes. Played it 4 times..it did the same thing for me. My mother loved this song way back when as did I. The orchestras playing, building in intensity is just so great. Grabbed me as a kid And then I Played Beyond the Sea.

[@zovalentine7305]

Rest in peace 🙏 Bobby Darin 14 May 1936 ~ 20 December 1973⚘

[@davidborboa4301]

What a showman

[@dawnstoehrer8107]

BOBBY WAS HEART ❤️ HE WAS THE BEST ENTERTAINER OF THE 20 th CENTURY LOVED HIM STILL “” MR SWING “ ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@john7857]

Fantastic performance Bobby Darrln

[@jtclay468]

Now this is real talent.. all the way to the moves,voice just a real good entertainer! He was quite the man back in the day RIP Bobby

[@davidharrison3399]

Now that’s Music................ my opinion

[@madgegold241]

I'm a huge fan of Bobby Darin. There are so many different style of songs that he does so well.

[@vincentdefeo5917]

Of course bobby could sing great was he not Italian?like dino,frank,perry,tony benette,jerry vale,frankie avalon,bobby rydell,Pavarotti, so many more grat Italian singers cant nane them all

[@mr_bubbles2409]

I feel you

[@mr_bubbles2409]

I like oldies but it is sad that most are dead or retired

[@madgegold241]

@@mr_bubbles2409 Yes, it seemed to be the price to pay of a rock ' n' roll lifestyle. But Bobby Darin suffered ill health through his career. Sad.

[@iamnotafederalagent5552]

@@mr_bubbles2409 im dedicating my life to try and bring this typa music back, its gonna be pretty hard though cause not a lot of people care for this music anymore

[@terrybear5398]

Loved Bobby Darren. Such a fine talent. So sad he left so young.

[@user-np3fc4uf4k]

Now that's a live performance

[@jonkirkwood469]

CBS's studio orchestra was great. Who could miss with them behind you? One of my favorite covers of this song.