Jimmy Roselli
Encyclopedia
Michael John "Jimmy" Roselli (Hoboken, New Jersey
, December 26, 1925 – Clearwater, Florida
, June 30, 2011) was one of the most significant Italian-American pop singers of his time, during an era of formidable competition from such performers as Frank Sinatra
, Dean Martin
, Perry Como
, Frankie Laine
, Vic Damone
and Jerry Vale
.
. It reached #93 pop (according to Billboard's pop charts). The song was recorded in 1964. The following year he had another hit with "Mala Femmena", rendered entirely in Italian, which sold over 3 million records. It reached #43 easy listening (according to Billboard's easy listening charts). Those were his only U.S. hit singles, although his version of "When Your Old Wedding Ring Was New" twice appeared in the UK Singles Chart
. It peaked at #51 in 1983, and #52 in 1987.
At the beginning of his career, "with appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show, with Jimmy Durante, and on the famous Copacabana, critics were calling him a 'miracle'". As the New Yorker Magazine states, "...guys were trying to put a stranglehold on him. He pushed them all away... (although he)was in good terms with a number of mob chieftains". Jimmy Roselli claimed that he had "never done business with organized criminals, but he was resigned to the association between the Mafia and his music"
Indeed, Roselli at times was relegated to selling his music out of the trunk of his car parked in Little Italy
in Manhattan
(he was the founder and owner of M&R Records).
Jimmy Roselli is a favorite among Italian-Americans and his signature tune "Mala Femmina" is featured twice in Martin Scorsese's early classic Mean Streets
. Roselli sang in perfect Neapolitan dialect
. Other Neapolitan songs recorded by Roselli include "Core 'ngrato
", "Anema e core
" and "Scapricciatiello". The known comedian Jerry Lewis
said of him that "Roselli sings as an italian should sing".
A book in the late 1990s entitled Making The Wiseguys Weep: The Jimmy Roselli Story, was published by David Evanier who also published a book on the life of Bobby Darin
- Roman Candle: The Life of Bobby Darin.
Plans to make a movie based on Making the Wiseguys Weep starring John Travolta
never came to pass.
He died in 2011 at his home in Clearwater, Florida.
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
, December 26, 1925 – Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
, June 30, 2011) was one of the most significant Italian-American pop singers of his time, during an era of formidable competition from such performers as Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
, Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
, Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine, born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio , was a successful American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spanned 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to his final performance of "That's My Desire" in 2005...
, Vic Damone
Vic Damone
Vic Damone is an American singer and entertainer.- Early life :Damone was born Vito Rocco Farinola in Brooklyn, New York to French-Italian immigrants based in Bari, Italy—Rocco and Mamie Farinola. His father was an electrician; and his mother taught piano. His cousin was the actress and singer...
and Jerry Vale
Jerry Vale
Jerry Vale is an American singer.-Career:In high school, in order to make some money, he took a job shining shoes in a barbershop in New York City. He sang while he shined shoes, and his boss liked the sound so well that he paid for music lessons for the boy...
.
Life
Jimmy Roselli's biggest and only pop hit was a remake of "There Must Be A Way", a song previously recorded by Joni JamesJoni James
Joni James is an American singer of traditional pop music and jazz standards.-Biography:...
. It reached #93 pop (according to Billboard's pop charts). The song was recorded in 1964. The following year he had another hit with "Mala Femmena", rendered entirely in Italian, which sold over 3 million records. It reached #43 easy listening (according to Billboard's easy listening charts). Those were his only U.S. hit singles, although his version of "When Your Old Wedding Ring Was New" twice appeared in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. It peaked at #51 in 1983, and #52 in 1987.
At the beginning of his career, "with appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show, with Jimmy Durante, and on the famous Copacabana, critics were calling him a 'miracle'". As the New Yorker Magazine states, "...guys were trying to put a stranglehold on him. He pushed them all away... (although he)was in good terms with a number of mob chieftains". Jimmy Roselli claimed that he had "never done business with organized criminals, but he was resigned to the association between the Mafia and his music"
Indeed, Roselli at times was relegated to selling his music out of the trunk of his car parked in Little Italy
Little Italy
Little Italy is a general name for an ethnic enclave populated primarily by Italians or people of Italian ancestry, usually in an urban neighborhood.-Canada:*Little Italy, Edmonton, in Alberta*Little Italy, Montreal, in Quebec...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
(he was the founder and owner of M&R Records).
Jimmy Roselli is a favorite among Italian-Americans and his signature tune "Mala Femmina" is featured twice in Martin Scorsese's early classic Mean Streets
Mean Streets
Mean Streets is a 1973 drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Scorsese and Mardik Martin. The film stars Harvey Keitel and Robert De Niro. It was released by Warner Bros. on October 2, 1973...
. Roselli sang in perfect Neapolitan dialect
Neapolitan language
Neapolitan is the language of the city and region of Naples , and Campania. On October 14, 2008 a law by the Region of Campania stated that the Neapolitan language had to be protected....
. Other Neapolitan songs recorded by Roselli include "Core 'ngrato
Salvatore Cardillo
Salvatore Cardillo was the Italian songwriter whose richly scored sentimental Napuletano classic "Core 'N'grato" written in 1911 for Enrico Caruso, has remained a staple of the Italian tenor concert repertoire, having been recorded by Corelli, Domingo, and Pavarotti.-Bibliography:*Laird, Ross, et...
", "Anema e core
Anema e core (song)
"Anema e core" is a popular song.The music was written by Salvatore d'Esposito. The original Italian lyrics were written by Domenico Titomanlio.-The original Neapolitan version:It was first introduced in 1950, sung by the tenor Tito Schipa....
" and "Scapricciatiello". The known comedian Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, singer, film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his slapstick humor in film, television, stage and radio. He was originally paired up with Dean Martin in 1946, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis...
said of him that "Roselli sings as an italian should sing".
A book in the late 1990s entitled Making The Wiseguys Weep: The Jimmy Roselli Story, was published by David Evanier who also published a book on the life of Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin , born Walden Robert Cassotto, was an American singer, actor and musician.Darin performed in a range of music genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk and country...
- Roman Candle: The Life of Bobby Darin.
Plans to make a movie based on Making the Wiseguys Weep starring John Travolta
John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
never came to pass.
He died in 2011 at his home in Clearwater, Florida.