Tribute to Mario Lanza on BBC Radio 2, 20:00 GMT

Tonight, June 17th 2011 BBC radio 2 plays tribute to Mario Lanza.  Mario Lanza was born Alfredo Arnold Cocozza on 31 January 1921 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - from his mother’s maiden name, Maria Lanza. While still at school young Alfredo became a local champion weightlifter but he had a second God-given talent … an immediately identifiable operatic tenor singing voice which was ultimately to bring him worldwide acclaim. He began studying singing at the age of 15, and was signed to Columbia Artistes Management, kick-starting his future career performing in local concerts. During the Second World War Lanza served in the US Army from 1943 and he sang in many concerts for his fellow comrades, billed as ’the Service Caruso’, as well as performing in the chorus of the popular Forces show, Winged Victory.

Lanza made his professional operatic stage debut in 1948, performing in Madame Butterfly at the New Orleans Opera House. However he decided his singing talents were better displayed on the silver screen which also brought him to a much wider, worldwide public, and his performances in New Orleans proved to be the last professional operatic performances of his career onstage (although he made several guest appearances in other concerts in later years). The following year Lanza made his movie debut, co-starring with Kathryn Grayson in That Midnight Kiss, performing a selection of popular song standards and classical pieces. Lanza followed it with another cinema hit, The Toast Of New Orleans, which teamed him with Grayson once again. In the film he performed Be My Love, composed by Sammy Cahn and Nicholas Brodszky, and Lanza’s recording sold over one million copies in the US alone, when released by RCA Records. Be My Love became closely identified with him for the rest of his life.

The musical memories will never be allowed to die. This collection of Lanza favourites includes many more songs associated with his relatively short career. One can only conjecture as to what the future would have held for Mario Lanza, had he lived. However, his electrifying singing voice lives on and this collection will bring back many rich memories for countless fans and admirers everywhere.

Available on Amazon in both CD and Digital Versions
iTunes UK
Amazon MP3
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Available on Amazon in both CD and Digital Versions
iTunes UK
Amazon MP3
Amazon CD