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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZLANZA, Mario(b Alfred Arnold Cocozza, 31 Jan. '21, Philadelphia PA; d 7 Oct. '59). Singer; a tenor of operatic quality who never appeared on the stage: he got a late start and lacked self-discipline, but was extremely popular '50s. Studied while working as a piano mover; sang in service shows while in the military; worked his way up to the Hollywood Bowl and was a hit in film That Midnight Kiss with Kathryn Grayson. Other films: Toast Of New Orleans '50 (soundtrack single 'Be My Love' was no. 1 '50), The Great Caruso '51 ('Vesta La Giubba' from Pagliacci, an international best-seller for Caruso in '04 and '07, was a no. 21 hit for Lanza; 'The Loveliest Night Of The Year' was a no. 3 hit: adapted from 'Over The Waves', an 1888 waltz by Juventino P. Rosa, words by Paul Francis Webster and arr. by Irving Aaronson), Because You're Mine '52 (title song was top ten hit), Serenade '56, The Seven Hills Of Rome '58, For The First Time '59. His voice was dubbed for actor Edmund Purdom in '54 film of The Student Prince ('24 show by Sigmund Romberg and Dorothy Donnelly ran for 608 performances); the soundtrack LP was a lovely album, but a casualty of hi-fi, remade by Lanza in stereo when he was eating himself to death, and the perfectly good original was withdrawn. Other hits were 'Because' '51, Rimsky-Korsakoff's 'Song Of India' '53, 'Drink, Drink, Drink' from Student Prince. All the soundtrack LPs were best-sellers, several incl. Student Prince at no. 1; also Xmas LP '59 and Lanza Sings Caruso Favorites '60; I'll Walk With God '62 also charted. |