Search - Mario Lanza :: Cocktail Hour: Mario Lanza

How much did popular music change in the latter half of the 20th century? A good answer might begin with the career of Mario Lanza, the proclaimed "Hollywood tenor." Luciano Pavarotti would probably be the closest modern parallel, though Pavarotti's "popular" success outside classical has been decidedly limited--does anyone remember "Yes, Giorgio"? By contrast, Lanza was a superstar of records, radio, and films by his 20s, his soaring tenor maturing remarkably early and drawing many comparisons to the great Enrico Caruso. Lanza died of a massive heart attack at just 38. This bountiful double-disc collection of Lanza radio performances is a good way to get acquainted with his spectacular voice, gathering together a sometimes dizzying array of popular ballads, operatic arias, Italian folk songs, and even lovably quasi-Mexican American kitsch like "The Donkey Serenade." --Jerry McCulley