Mario Lanza
Dubbed "the greatest voice of the twentieth century" by Arturo Toscanini, Mario Lanza was one of America's most successful singers and movie stars in the years immediately following World War II. Born Alfredo Arnold Cocozza, he was the son of Italian immigrants, adopting his stage name from the masculine form of his mother's maiden name, Maria Lanza. From the age of 15, he studied to be a professional singer, later signing to the Columbia Artists Management agency as a concert singer; however, his career took a left turn in 1943, when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Billed as "the Service Caruso," Lanza performed for his fellow infantrymen and also sang in the production Winged Victory; upon his return from duty, he relocated to New York, where he performed concert dates and appeared on radio. One of his audition tapes found its way to MGM's Hollywood studios, and after MGM chief Louis B. Mayer subsequently saw Lanza perform live, he signed the singer to a seven-year contract.
After making his first -- and final -- appearance on the professional opera stage in 1948 in the New Orleans Opera's production of Madama Butterfly, Lanza made his MGM debut the following year in The Midnight Kiss, scoring a hit with the soundtrack's "Celeste Aida" (from Verdi's Aida). The Toast of New Orleans followed, launching his first million-selling hit, "Be My Love." In 1951 Lanza starred as his idol in the biopic The Great Caruso, scoring another million seller with "The Loveliest Night of the Year." In 1951 he mounted his own CBS radio series, and the following year starred in Because You're Mine; the title song, penned by Sammy Cahn and Nicholas Brodszky, earned an Academy Award nomination, and became Lanza's third and final million-selling effort.
After completing the music for the MGM production of The Student Prince, Lanza walked out on the project; by allowing the studio to retain rights to the recordings, he was able to avoid a breach of contract lawsuit, with the single "The Drinking Song" rising to the top of the U.S. charts. In the wake of his walkout Lanza became a recluse, disappearing from the limelight for over a year while battling addictions to food, alcohol, and tranquilizers; he also faced a series of battles with the IRS. Finally, in 1956 he resumed his film career in the Warner Bros. production Serenade; however, the next year, disillusioned with American life, he moved to Italy, settling in Rome to star in 1958's The Seven Hills of Rome. That same year Lanza toured the U.K., making one final film, For the First Time. He died in 1959 of a heart attack; his passing was later rumored to have been a Mafia hit ordered following his refusal to perform at the request of mob boss Lucky Luciano, but these allegations have never been substantiated, and in fact have been refuted by the Lanza family.
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Mario Lanza
Vocale muziek (wereldlijk en religieus) - Released by Music Manager on 5 mei 2008
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Be My Love - 21 Popular Songs & Ballads (Live)
Pop - Released by H&H Music Ltd on 6 sep. 2010
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Mario Lanza, Vol. 2 (Collection "Les voix d'or")
Franse chansons - Released by Marianne Mélodie on 1 jan. 2008
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Mario Lanza Live
Jazz - Released by Black Sheep Music on 17 jul. 2012
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You'll Never Walk Alone
Pop - Released by Ling Music Group on 8 jul. 2011
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Mario Lanza's Vesti La Giubba
Klassiek - Released by Charly Records on 24 jun. 2006
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Mario Lanza Selected Favorites Volume 8
Pop - Released by Charly Records on 20 jun. 2006
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LANZA, Mario: The Great Lanza (1949-1951)
Klassiek - Released by Naxos on 3 mrt. 2003
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Mario Lanza - Gold Collection
Pop - Released by Retro Music Box on 12 mrt. 2021
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Sérenades (Mono Version)
Divers - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1952
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Airs d'opéras (Mono Version)
Divers - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1952
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Récital (Mono Version)
Divers - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1953
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Verdi: Rigoletto, extraits (Mono Version)
Divers - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1952
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Le grand Caruso (From "The Great Caruso", Mono Version)
Divers - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1957
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Les sept collines de Rome, vol. 1 (Mono Version)
Pop - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1958
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Mario! (Mono version)
Mario Lanza, Franco Ferrara et son orchestre, Franco Potenza et son choeur
Pop - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1959
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Les héros de Verdi (Mono Version)
Jussi Björling, Robert Merrill, Leonard Warren, Mario Lanza
Divers - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1963
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Vintage Music No. 90 - LP: Mario Lanza
Originele soundtracks - Released by Vintage Music on 8 mei 2010
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That Midnight Kiss
Originele soundtracks - Released by Bela Records on 25 jan. 2009
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That Midnight Kiss (From "That Midnight Kiss" Original Soundtrack)
Originele soundtracks - Released by JB Production CH on 1 jul. 2015
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