In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument

Mambo Italiano

Music by Bob Merrill

"Mambo Italiano" is a popular song written by Bob Merrill in 1954 for the American singer Rosemary Clooney. Merrill wrote it under a recording deadline, scribbling hastily on a paper napkin in an Italian restaurant in New York City, and then using the wall pay-phone to dictate the melody, rhythm and lyrics to the studio pianist, under the aegis of the conductor Mitch Miller, who produced the original record. Merrill's song provides an obvious parody of genuine mambo music, cashing in on the 1954 mambo craze in New York while at the same time allowing Miller to set up a brilliant vehicle for Clooney's vocal talents. It is also a late example of an American novelty song in a tradition started during World War II by the Italian-American jazz singer Louis Prima, in which nonsense lyrics with an Italian-American sound are used in such a way as to present a benignly stereotyped caricature of Italian-American people (who had been classed with "enemy alien" status and discouraged from speaking Italian) as likable, slightly brash, pleasure-loving folk. Although Clooney's own family background was Irish-American (while Merrill's was Jewish), she could perform such "Italianized" material with an entirely convincing accent, which she had readily picked up from Italian-American musicians and their families.

Release Date: 1954

Mambo Italiano

From Rosemary Clooney to Lady Gaga and countless movie and television appearances in between, this hit song continues to entertain in a new TB voicing. Upbeat, rhythmic and pure fun so all you calabrese do the mambo like-a crazy!

Voicing: TB

Songbooks, Arrangements and/or Media

Displaying 1-3 of 3 items.

Various Arrangers : Girls Love to Mambo

Ready for samba! "The Girl from Ipanema" - The legendary Brazilian composer Antonio Jobim's most famous song in a memorable setting. "Blame It on the Bossa Nova" - You'll capture the sound of an era when you perform this campy hit from 1963 at the zenith of the Bossa Nova craze! Opening with a two part call and response, it moves into a fully harmonized chorus with some clever lyrics that will create smiles all around. "Mas Que Nada" - This classic bossa nova tune will give a smooth Brazilian flavor to your next jazz or show choir concert. Originally recorded by Sergio Mendez & Brazil '66. Includes Portugese and English lyrics. "Mambo Italiano" - Here is an irresistible choral setting of Rosemary Clooney's famous hit from 1955 that will be tons of fun to perform! A delightful concert change of pace! "One Note Samba" - This samba standard absolutely sparkles with cheerful rhythm! Perfect for high school singers and up with plenty of solo opportunities, you'll work your diction skills and dazzle your audience. "Papa Loves Mambo" - Direct from the 1950's comes this delightful little song and recorded by a myriad of artists through the decades. Mark Hayes' arrangement is full of fun and life and will be appealing to all ages. Try some movement adding a little uh to your performance and a little mambo to your stage. Absolutely timeless!

Songlist: The Girl from Ipanema, Blame It on the Bossa Nova, Mas Que Nada, Mambo Italiano, One Note Samba, Papa Loves Mambo

Dean Martin : Dean Martin Songbook

Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor and comedian. He was one of the best known musical artists of the 1950s and 1960s. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made Of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "Mambo Italiano", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That A Kick In The Head?" One of the organizers of "The Rat Pack", he was a major star in four areas of show business: concert stage, recordings, motion pictures, and television. Here are 30 timeless classics from this famed Rat Pack member arranged for piano/vocal/guitar.

Songlist: Ain't That A Kick In The Head, Bumming Around, Everybody Loves Somebody, Good Mornin' Life, Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight, Houston, I Take A Lot Of Pride In What I Am, I Will, (Remember Me) I'm The One Who Loves You, If, In The Chapel In The Moonlight, In The Misty Moonlight, Innamorata (Sweetheart), Just In Time, Lay Some Happiness On Me, Mambo Italiano, Memories Are Made Of This, Nobody's Baby Again, The Object Of My Affection, On An Evening In Rome, Return To Me, Send Me The Pillow You Dream On, Smile, Somewhere There's A Someone, Standing On The Corner, Sway (Quien Sera), That's Amore (That's Love), Volare (Nel Blu, Dipinto Di Blu), You Belong To Me, You're Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You

Various : Female Singers of the 1950s

Over 30 top hits by Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney, Patti Page, Joni James, Marilyn Monroe, Connie Francis, Dinah Shore, Peggy Lee, Mary Ford, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Eydie Gorme, and many others!

Songlist: Allegheny Moon, Botch-A-Me (Ba-Ba-Baciami Piccina), Cross Over The Bridge, Dark Moon, Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend, Everybody Loves A Lover, A Guy Is A Guy, How Important Can It Be, How Much Is That Doggie In The Window, It's A Most Unusual Day, It's So Nice To Have A Man Around The House, Make Yourself Comfortable, Mambo Italiano, May You Always, Memories Of You, Mr. Wonderful, Mockin' Bird Hill, (Put Another Nickel In) Music! Music! Music!, My Happiness, My Heart Cries For You, Pledging My Love, Ricochet Romance, Sentimental Journey, A Sweet Old Fashioned Girl (Skoob-El-Ee-Doo-Bee-Dum), Teach Me Tonight, There Goes My Heart, This Ole House, Too Young To Go Steady, Vaya Con Dios (May God Be With You), What A Diff'rence A Day Made, and more

Individual Folios

Displaying 1-2 of 2 items.

Alan Billingsley : Mambo Italiano

Here is an irresistible choral setting of Rosemary Clooney's famous hit from 1955 that will be tons of fun to perform! A delightful concert change of pace! Available separately: SATB, SAB, SSA, ShowTrax CD. Combo parts available digitally (tpt 1, tpt 2, tsx, tbn, barsx, gtr, b, dm). Duration: ca. 2:35.

Arranger: Alan Billingsley | Composer: Bob Merrill Performed By: Rosemary Clooney

Jill Gallina : Mambo Italiano

From Rosemary Clooney to Lady Gaga, and countless television and movie appearances in between, this hit single continues to entertain with this new choral arrangement. Upbeat, rhythmic, and pure fun, this is a perfect novelty number for any performance.

Arranger: Jill Gallina | Composer: Bob Merrill Performed By: Rosemary Clooney