Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolfo Colombo, known professionally as Russ Columbo, was born on January 14, 1908, in Camden, New Jersey, to Italian immigrant parents Nicola and Giulia Colombo. He was the twelfth child in his family and began playing the violin at a young age, making his professional debut at 13. The family relocated to Los Angeles when Columbo was 16, where he attended Belmont High School before leaving at 17 to study violin under Calmon Luboviski and tour with various bands.

Columbo's career in entertainment began in 1928 with appearances in motion pictures, including a Vitaphone short with Gus Arnheim and His Orchestra. He eventually pursued a career in music, performing vocals and playing the violin. He recorded with Okeh Records and Victor, and his style of singing, known as crooning, became popular despite his personal dislike for the term. Columbo was also a nightclub owner and had a significant radio presence, which contributed to his growing popularity.

In New York City, Columbo's career flourished with the help of his manager, Con Conrad, who secured a radio slot for him on NBC, leading to a recording contract with RCA Victor and a large fan base. Columbo was romantically linked to actress Dorothy Dell, although their relationship ended due to publicity stunts orchestrated by Conrad.

Columbo was known for his romantic ballads, including "You Call It Madness, But I Call It Love," "Prisoner of Love," and "Too Beautiful for Words." His life and burgeoning career were tragically cut short when he died in an accident on September 2, 1934, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 26.