st
# 77 MARCH 21 , 2016
he reinvented according ded in the US.
to his personal taste and
After a series of concerts in
In 1949, Carosone was rhythmic style.
Europe, the sextet – which
asked to put together a
trio for the Shaker club In 1956, Carosone met now included the drumin Naples. He signed the the lyricist Nisa (his real mer Aldo Pagani – landed
Dutch guitarist Peter Van name being Nicola Saler- in Cuba, starting off a meWood, the introducer of no), with whom he would morable American tour.
the guitar pedal board, establish a long-lasting The group performed in
and Gegè di Giacomo, ne- friendship. The trio would Caracas, Rio de Janeiro,
comprise and, on 6 January 1958,
phew of the famous Nea- subsequently
politan poet Salvatore di the singer Piero Giorgetti in New York at the prestito then turn into a six-per- gious Carnegie Hall, whiGiacomo.
ch up until then had been
son group.
reserved to classical music
The artist’s first commercial success was the song Carosone’s sextet exhibi- – only exception being the
Maruzzella, composed by ted in an international tour jazz clarinet player Benny
him in 1954, on a text by in 1956. In 1957, he wro- Goodman and his quarEnzo Bonagura. Besides te his and Nisa’s greatest tet’s performance in 1938.
Maruzzella,
Carosone’s success: Torero. For 14
songs are primarily inspi- weeks, Torero remained At the height of his career,
red by the rich repertoire at number 1 on the US hit on 7 September 1959, Caof Neapolitan h