Saturday 3 January 2015

Renato Carosone born 3 January 1920


Renato Carosone (3 January 1920 – 20 May 2001) was among the greatest figures of Italian music scene in the second half of the 20th century. He was also a modern performer of the so-called canzone napoletana, Naples' song tradition. 

Carosone was born in Naples. He studied piano at the Naples Conservatory and obtained his diploma in 1937, when he was just 17. Soon after he signed a contract as a band leader for a tour of Africa, which resulted in him working in Addis Ababa as a pianist. Here he would become a prominent figure of the music scene, performing with his band on several occasions. He returned to Italy only in 1946, after the end of World War II. 

Despite his success abroad, Carosone was a stranger to Italian audiences. He had to start his career afresh, playing the piano for small dance-hall bands. These new performances were strongly influenced by the new rhythms and music styles he had encountered during his ten years' absence from the Italian music scene.

In 1949 he was asked to put together a group for a club's opening night. After some auditions, he signed the Dutch guitarist Peter Van Wood and the Neapolitan drummer Gegè Di Giacomo: the Trio Carosone was born. The trio became a quartet with the addition of the Hungarian Gypsy musician Elek Bacsik on bass, guitar and violin.

Afterwards Van Wood and Bacsik left the group to pursue solo careers. Gegè Di Giacomo remained with Carosone, who contacted other musicians to finally form a real band. During the 1950s Carosone became more and more popular, his orchestra was in great demand both in Italy and abroad, and records sales were soaring high.
 
  
                             

His song Torero - specially composed for a Spanish tour - remained for 14 weeks at number 1 on the US hit parade. Torero was translated into 12 languages and no fewer than thirty cover versions were recorded in the United States alone. On 5 January 1957 Carosone and his band started off a successful American tour with a concert in Cuba. This tour concluded with a triumphant performance at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York.

At the height of his career, Carosone announced his retirement from music in 1960: I'd rather retire now on the crest of the wave, than being tormented later by the doubt that yè-yè fashion and new armies wearing blue-jeans may wipe away all that I have achieved in so many years of work and worries. His decision caused an uproar. Some even suspected obscure criminal threats. Away from the spotlight, Carosone turned to other interests, mainly painting. 

On 9 August 1975 Carosone made his comeback in a televised concert. He then resumed his musical debut with live concerts, performances at the Sanremo Music Festival, and TV appearances until the late 1990s.

Several of his hits were the result of his long and fruitful collaboration with the lyricist Nicola Salerno, who used the pseudonym Nisa. They could understand each other perfectly: just one hint by Carosone, and Nisa wrote a funny, witty little story about it. "'O suspiro", "Torero", "Tu vuò fà l'americano", "Mambo Italiano", "Caravan Petrol", "Pigliate 'na pastiglia","'O Sarracino" were among their greatest hits.
 
He died at the age of 81 in Rome, Italy (Info edited from Wikipedia)


13 comments:

boppinbob said...

For Renato Carosone – The Platinum Collection go here:

http://uploaded.net/file/liyr1x3f

password : sanjose72

A big thank you to San Jose 72 for this link

1. Tu vuo fa l’americano (3’27)
2. Malafemmena (2’49”)
3. Torero (303”)
4. ‘E spingole frangese! (2’44”)
5. La donna riccia (3’46”)
6. T’aspetto ‘e nove (3’39”)
7. Sciu sciu (2’07”)
8. ‘O suspiro (2’40”)
9. La panse (3’31”)
10. ‘O Russo e ‘a Russa (3’12”)
11. Guaglione (2’24”)
12. Tre numeri al lotto(I pappagalli) (2’54”)
13. E la barca torno sola (2’29”)
14. Vino vino (3’22”)
15. Il pericolo №1 (2’52”)
16. La sveglietta (3’23”)
17. L’hai voluto te!(alla faccia tua) (3’07”)
18. T’e piaciuta (2’36”)
.
19. Caravan petrol (3’22”)
20. ‘O sarracino (3’12”)
21. Chella lla (3’03”)
22. Pigliate ‘na pastiglia (3’12”)
23. Io mammeta e tu (3’22”)
24. Maruzzella (3’02”)
25. ‘Stu fungo cinese ! (2’49”)
26. ‘Acasiaforte (2’36”)
27. I tre cumpari (3’02”)
28. Serenatella sciue sciue 93’03”)
29. Luna rossa (3’24”)
30. Piccolissima serenata (3’26”)
31. ‘A Luciana (2’35”)
32. N’ accorde in fa (3’39”)
33. Scapricciatiello (2’15”)
34. Ehi, cumpari! (3’21)
35. Storta va… derita vene! (2’43”)
36. ‘A sunnamblua (2’54”)
.
37. Rock around the clock (3’26”)
38. Johnny guitar (4’02)
39. Boogie woogie italiano (2’45”)
40. Colonel Bogey (2’40”)
41. Blues (3’15”)
42. A tiscet a tascet (2’39”)
43. Magic moments (2’14”)
44. Papa loves mambo (2’39”)
45. Istanbul (3’13”)
46. Il gattino sulla tastiera(kitten on the keys) (2’40”)
47. Mambo italiano (3’02”)
48. Ciribiribin (2’47”)
49. Piccerella (3’18”)
50. Pianofortissimo (3’30”)
51. Allegro motivetto(Joey’s song) (2’15”)
52. Papaveri e papere (2’31”)
53. Mama guitar (3’02”)
54. Buonanotte (2’16”)

jimmie d said...

Torero - What a fun song. Thanks for posting.

Bakeliedjes said...

Hi Bob, this man his so much good and funny music.
Great post.
Theo

David Kaufmann said...

I love the man and cannot find the music anywhere (that I can afford). Is there any chance of a re-up?

I also love the blog which I visit every day.

--lev

boppinbob said...

Hello David, Here's the re-up link

https://krakenfiles.com/view/SOt17GpU4O/file.html

You'll find that there are two tracks missing from above list, due to the fact I fitted this 3 disc set onto 2 CD's and had to omit them. These two tracks have now been lost in the mists of time! Also the blog that I found this collection on is no more. Still I hope this doesn't mar your enjoyment of the wonderful Renato.

David Kaufmann said...

You are a prince.

--lev

Guitarradeplastico,scraping oddities said...

Many thanks

EP:

https://laradiodelinstituto.blogspot.com/search/label/Renato%20Carosone

info musicians in the tracks:


https://italiacanora.forumattivo.com/t849-renato-carosone-discografia-cover-video-testi

http://discografia.dds.it/indice_ft.php?titolo=Renato%20Carosone

boppinbob said...

Thanks GSO for the additional info.

rosieandrobbie said...

Many thanks Bob for the re-up. There is nearly nothing to find in the Net by the Italian quartets of the Fifties Quartets kike Van Wood (The Dutch Peter van Houten), Enzo Gallo and Marino Marini are only to find on You Tube.The one here by Renate Carosone is a very nice and complete one. The music is very simple and that is why I like it. Also music from my Teens. If you can find some quartets please let me know, Greetings from Robbie in a sunny and warm Holland.

boppinbob said...

Hi Rosie & Robbie, Van Wood (19Sep1927) is in the birthday book and so is Marino Marini (11May1924) I have earmarked both those dates. Regarding Enzo Gallo I cannot find any biography about him at all (unless you can help find his birthday).
Regards, Bob

RFelis said...

Please re-up Renato Carosone. Thanks.

boppinbob said...

Hello RF, Here's Renato
https://www.imagenetz.de/eLBmF

RFelis said...

Great!! Many thanks.