Albert M/ Albertini

Al Alberts, the founder and lead singer of the group the Four Aces, died from kidney failure Friday

Al Alberts' voice still warms hearts across the world.

The lead singer of the 1950s pop group the Four Aces died at his Port Charlotte home Friday. He was 87.

Alberts helped form the the vocal quartet that went on to produce several gold hits and sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

"From the get-go, all I ever wanted to do was sing," Alberts previously told the Sun. "I was either surrounded by musicians or singers all of the time."

Alberts, born Al Albertini, also hosted a local afternoon TV show for three decades in Philadelphia. He moved to Southwest Florida with his wife and producer, Stella, in 2001 when the show went off the air.

Alberts apparently died from kidney failure, his wife said.

"His life was singing, so of course he took it out on me," Stella said with a laugh. "He was one-of-a-kind. He never had a bad thing to say about anyone. All he wanted to do was make people happy, and he did it."

Stella, 79, said when she first started dating Alberts, his group was playing at a small milk bar in Pennsylvania. The owner, who also ran a casino upstairs, suggested the group be called Four Aces, and the name just stuck.

The quartet was best-known for its hits "Three Coins in the Fountain" and "Love is a Many Splendored Thing." The group had 30 Top 40 hits.

Even when Alberts began his TV show, he never stopped singing. In fact, Stella said he would sing around the house up until his final breath. His last public performance was at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County in January 2005.

"We really were kind of scared because people down here didn't know us as much," Stella said. "But it was packed, jammed and sold out weeks before. It was crazy. We were on such a high."

Stella said in the months prior to the concert Alberts had been growing antsy and began missing performing. He also contemplated putting on an encore at the Cultural Center before Stella talked him out of it.

But that was just Alberts -- he always outpaced expectations, Stella said. Despite achieving four gold records, doubt surrounded his pitch for a TV show.

"Al Alberts Showcase" was a talent show based on child singers and dancers.

"They thought we wouldn't last 13 weeks," Stella said. "Sure enough, we were on for 32 years."

Alberts served in the Navy during World War II, before earning a finance degree at Temple University. He married Stella in 1953.

While in the Navy, he went to radio school where his job was to intercept German U-boat messages and pinpoint attack locations.

Aside from Stella, Alberts is survived by his two sons, Chris and Al Jr. His family plans to bury him at sea, with a memorial service in Philadelphia.