in 1963, como's musical conductor, mitchell ayres, wanted to hire some new arrangers for como's television show; ray charles recommended perito to ayres. when ayres left to take a job as the conductor of "the hollywood palace", perito became the singer's music director and conductor. como credited perito with the idea of making his 1987 album, "today". perito worked with como through his last performance: his irish christmas special in 1994. when mitchell ayres was killed in a traffic accident in 1969, former como show producer nick vanoff, who was now with "the hollywood palace", suggested perito as ayres' replacement.