Rosemary Clooney - Mambo Italiano

Rosemary Clooney - Mambo Italiano

Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 -- June 29, 2002) was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the novelty hit "Come On-a My House" written by William Saroyan and his cousin Ross Bagdasarian (David Seville), which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me" (a cover version of the Italian song Ba-Ba-Baciami Piccina by Alberto Rabagliati), "Mambo Italiano", "Tenderly", "Half as Much", "Hey There" and "This Ole House", though she would go on to success as a jazz vocalist.

Clooney's career languished in the 1960s, partly due to problems related to depression and drug addiction, but revived in 1974, when her White Christmas co-star Bing Crosby asked her to appear with him at a show marking his 50th anniversary in show business. She continued recording until her death in 2002.

"Mambo Italiano" is a popular song written by Bob Merrill in 1954 and recorded by Rosemary Clooney. Merrill actually wrote it on deadline, scribbled hastily on a paper napkin in an Italian restaurant in New York, United States using the wall pay-phone to dictate the melody, rhythm and lyrics to the recording studio pianist, under the aegis of conductor Mitch Miller. The song became a hit for Rosemary, reaching #10 on the charts in the United States and number one in the UK Singles Chart early in 1955.

The original record was produced by Mitch Miller.

The 1988 Jonathan Demme film, Married to the Mob, featured Clooney's version playing while the opening credits rolled.

Also in 1988 the song figured prominently in the 22-year off-broadway production of "Tony & Tina's Wedding" as well as various national touring productions since.

In 2000 it was remixed and re-released by Shaft, reaching #12 on the UK Singles Chart. The bands Groove Armada and Basement Jaxx have each recorded their own electronic music versions of the song. A Russian version of "Mambo Italiano" was recorded by Philipp Kirkorov in 2001, and appeared on his album Vchera, Segodnya, Zavtra. Paula Tsui recorded a Mandarin version, Cha shao bao. A sample from Clooney's version was used in the song "Imma Tell" by Tech N9ne in 2002. The song was also sampled in "Mambo", performed by VIP featuring Sin, from Sin's and VIP's 2006 mixtape "Rane Vol. 1".

Other versions of "mambo Italiano" have been recorded by Dean Martin, Bette Midler, Gérard Darmon, Alma Cogan (1955) and Renato Carosone, and in French, Dario Moreno.

In 2009, the Renato Carosone/Nisa recording was featured in an advertisement for Visa Inc.

In 2010, it was performed during the live rounds of the BBC TV Show Over The Rainbow by the eventual winner, Danielle Hope.

[thegypsytheacidqueen]

Cleaning out 78's my mom had saved, and this is one of them!

[christophers]

The Best version of this song is done by rosemary Clooney

[foad]

She had a fantastic voice and phrasing

[mark]

I don't think anyone else, even Dean Martin, has surpassed Clooney's rendition of this song. This is Clooney at her best: spicy, effervescent and unforgettably fun!

[anaflorencia]

I am Italian too, and I love this song. I have also met Rosemary Clooney and she was sweet lady.
Its good to get mentioned and sung about, find the positives in Life.

[Jeff-qrcg]

First heard this in a café in Assisi, Umbria, Italia. Such fun!

[jaynawilliams]

I used to watch Rosemary Clooney on the TV. I really liked her. She was beautiful and talented. These toirch singers of the 50's got me into music.

[sharonthompson]

Rosemary Clooney is just too fabulous for words, her warm superladylike cheery delivery oozes all American girl beauty rose.

[jussix]

That's a very nice and fine performance...! 🕵🏻🙂👍👍

[muffsmercury]

Such a legend. Although she was not rock and roll her often fast tempo songs did fit in well with such.

[ghalibmahmudlaskar]

Legendary Rosemary Clooney was the best presentable Artist ever in the International Music Scenario 🙏🙏

[ghalibmahmudlaskar]

What an energetic lively melodious high scaled voice of All time Great Singing Star Ma'am Rosemary Clooney 🙏🙏

[janicewright]

Yes now I see her picture the kids at school were right know wonder.i loved her songs and played them.a lot when.i worked at /G.J C in 1956 at Box Hill sorry its not there. Gee.modern life has really changed but we o always remembered having a wonderful time R I P rosemary

[LauraC-hqsm]

I have to say
I love her smile at the end.

[redmercury]

makes me want to listen to Eartha Kitt's rendition of C'est Si Bon. love Eartha. she has such a fantastic voice. Rosemary Clooney rocked the house with this song.

[TXKafir]

I'm not Italian but I think if I was, this song would really get my soul jumping.

[danielradu]

Best version. After listening M.
Italiano by Rosemary the others singing it
may" take a stroll.

[misterd]

I like the attitude with which she sings this.

[artokoivunen]

Oh my those years...music is so great.

[kevinkirklen]

So gorgeous. Beautiful voice. Classic.