Gorni Kramer
Encyclopedia
Gorni Kramer was an Italian songwriter
, musician
and band leader.
(Lombardy
). Despite the exotic sound of Gorni Kramer in Italian language
, which lead part of his audience to believe he was a foreigner or had adopted a fancy pseudonym
, it was his real name. Gorni was in fact his family name, and Kramer his first name, after the US cyclist Frank Kramer who became road race world champion in 1912, who Gorni's father was a fan of.
Kramer learnt music at a very young age, thanks to his father, a musician. The first instrument he learned how to play was the accordion
, with which he performed as a child in his father's band
.
He then studied double bass
at the Conservatory
in Parma
and obtained his diploma in 1930. He started working as a musician for dance bands, then in 1933, aged 20, he formed his own jazz
group. This new American musical genre was forbidden by the Italian fascist regime
, but Gorni Kramer could get to know it thanks to some fellow musicians who worked on board the liners connecting Europe
and North America
.
In the middle of 1930s he became a successful songwriter. He composed the music for "Crapa pelada" - lyrics by Tata Giacobetti
- a 1936 hit performed by Alberto Rabagliati
. In 1939 he wrote "Pippo non lo sa", one of Trio Lescano
's most famous songs. In spite of his songs' popularity, Gorni Kramer and his orchestra were still ignored by the Italian state radio EIAR
, who boycotted them because they played jazz.
During World War II
, he worked with Natalino Otto
, a singer also banned by EIAR because of swing
. Kramer wrote "Ho un sassolino nella scarpa", one of Otto's greatest hits. In the period he also began a long-lasting cooperation with Quartetto Cetra
- for them he wrote memorable songs such as "Nella vecchia fattoria", "In un palco della Scala", "Donna", "Concertino".
In 1949 Gorni Kramer started working for Garinei and Giovannini, a very famous duo of impresario
s who produced musical comedies. Writing music for their shows was his main activity for the following ten years. Their most successful productions were Gran Baldoria, Attanasio cavallo vanesio, Alvaro piuttosto corsaro, Tobia candida spia, Un paio d’ali. They featured very popular songs such as "Un bacio a mezzanotte", "Non so dir ti voglio bene", "Le gocce cadono", "Chèrie", "Simpatica".
Gorni Kramer debuted on television in 1957 with Il Musichiere music show hosted by Mario Riva
. He composed the show's theme song "Domenica è sempre domenica". Other shows ensued: Buone vacanze, Giardino d'inverno, L'amico del giaguaro, Leggerissimo.
In mid 1960s Gorni Kramer gradually reduced his public performances, but he continued to work as a music publisher and a TV author.
He died in Milan
in 1995.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and band leader.
Biography
He was born Kramer Gorni at Rivarolo MantovanoRivarolo Mantovano
Rivarolo Mantovano is a comune in the Province of Mantua in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 110 km southeast of Milan and about 30 km southwest of Mantua...
(Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
). Despite the exotic sound of Gorni Kramer in Italian language
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, which lead part of his audience to believe he was a foreigner or had adopted a fancy pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
, it was his real name. Gorni was in fact his family name, and Kramer his first name, after the US cyclist Frank Kramer who became road race world champion in 1912, who Gorni's father was a fan of.
Kramer learnt music at a very young age, thanks to his father, a musician. The first instrument he learned how to play was the accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, with which he performed as a child in his father's band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
.
He then studied double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
at the Conservatory
Music school
The term music school refers to an educational institution specialized in the study, training and research of music.Different terms refer to this concept such as school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department or conservatory.Music instruction can be provided...
in Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
and obtained his diploma in 1930. He started working as a musician for dance bands, then in 1933, aged 20, he formed his own jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
group. This new American musical genre was forbidden by the Italian fascist regime
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
, but Gorni Kramer could get to know it thanks to some fellow musicians who worked on board the liners connecting Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
In the middle of 1930s he became a successful songwriter. He composed the music for "Crapa pelada" - lyrics by Tata Giacobetti
Tata Giacobetti
Giovanni "Tata" Giacobetti was one of the singers of Quartetto Cetra, a very famous Italian vocal quartet.-Biography:...
- a 1936 hit performed by Alberto Rabagliati
Alberto Rabagliati
Alberto Rabagliati was an Italian singer.- Early career:Rabagliati was born in Milan.In 1927 he moved to Hollywood as the winner of a Rudolph Valentino look-alike contest...
. In 1939 he wrote "Pippo non lo sa", one of Trio Lescano
Trio Lescano
Trio Lescano or Lescano Trio was a vocal trio singing close harmony. The trio became extremely popular in Italy in the 1930s and 1940s. The trio was an Italian version of American groups such as the Andrews Sisters or Boswell Sisters, and was formed by three Dutch sisters Alexandra , Judith , and...
's most famous songs. In spite of his songs' popularity, Gorni Kramer and his orchestra were still ignored by the Italian state radio EIAR
Ente Italiano per le Audizioni Radiofoniche
The Ente Italiano per le Audizioni Radiofoniche was the only public service broadcaster in Italy and the only one allowed to do so.-History:...
, who boycotted them because they played jazz.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he worked with Natalino Otto
Natalino Otto
Natalino Otto, stage name of Natale Codognotto was an Italian singer. He started the swing genre in Italy.-Early years:Natalino Otto was born at Cogoleto, province of Genoa, in northern Italy....
, a singer also banned by EIAR because of swing
Swing (genre)
Swing music, also known as swing jazz or simply swing, is a form of jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and became a distinctive style by 1935 in the United States...
. Kramer wrote "Ho un sassolino nella scarpa", one of Otto's greatest hits. In the period he also began a long-lasting cooperation with Quartetto Cetra
Quartetto Cetra
Quartetto Cetra, or simply I Cetra, was an Italian vocal quartet established during the 1940s.The group originated from the previous Quartetto Ritmo following the replacement of one singer. Felice Chiusano filled the vacancy left by Enrico Gentile and joined Tata Giacobetti, Virgilio Savona and...
- for them he wrote memorable songs such as "Nella vecchia fattoria", "In un palco della Scala", "Donna", "Concertino".
In 1949 Gorni Kramer started working for Garinei and Giovannini, a very famous duo of impresario
Impresario
An impresario is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays or operas; analogous to a film producer in filmmaking, television production and an angel investor in business...
s who produced musical comedies. Writing music for their shows was his main activity for the following ten years. Their most successful productions were Gran Baldoria, Attanasio cavallo vanesio, Alvaro piuttosto corsaro, Tobia candida spia, Un paio d’ali. They featured very popular songs such as "Un bacio a mezzanotte", "Non so dir ti voglio bene", "Le gocce cadono", "Chèrie", "Simpatica".
Gorni Kramer debuted on television in 1957 with Il Musichiere music show hosted by Mario Riva
Mario Riva
Mario Riva , was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 51 films between 1941 and 1960. He was born in Rome, Italy and died in Verona, Italy after falling from a stage.-Selected filmography:* Adam and Eve...
. He composed the show's theme song "Domenica è sempre domenica". Other shows ensued: Buone vacanze, Giardino d'inverno, L'amico del giaguaro, Leggerissimo.
In mid 1960s Gorni Kramer gradually reduced his public performances, but he continued to work as a music publisher and a TV author.
He died in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
in 1995.