Carlo Buti (14 November 1902 – 16 November 1963) was an Italian interpreter of popular and folk music. He was known as "the Golden Voice of Italy", and was possibly the first superstar of Italian music in the twentieth century. He recorded 1574 songs during his career.
Biography
Buti was born in
Florence, Italy. As a boy, he mastered the
Tuscan folk song technique known as ''
stornello''. He was soon being paid by other men to
serenade their girlfriends. He received limited vocal training from
Raoul Frazzi. He was featured on Italian radio. His first recording contract (1930) was with
Edison-Bell Records. In 1934 he signed with
Columbia Records.
Buti has been called the
Bing Crosby and the "
Frank Sinatra of Italy", because of his preference for the popular songs of the day over the more
opera
Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...
tic-type songs. He retired in 1956 after having recorded 1574 songs. At the time, his was the most-recorded voice in Italian music history. His unique warm and melodic "tenorino" style of high quasi-
falsetto phrasing sung in the "mezza voce" made him an international success. He also starred in several Italian movies. He died at his home in
Montelupo Fiorentino
Montelupo Fiorentino is a '' comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Florence in the Italian region Tuscany, located about southwest of Florence.
Geography
The area is predominantly hilly and is crossed by the river Pesa that, particu ...
, in Tuscany, Italy, at the age of 61.
One of his songs ''"Vivere"'' appears on the score to the 2000 film ''"
Titus
Titus Caesar Vespasianus ( ; 30 December 39 – 13 September 81 AD) was Roman emperor from 79 to 81. A member of the Flavian dynasty, Titus succeeded his father Vespasian upon his death.
Before becoming emperor, Titus gained renown as a mili ...
"'' by
Elliot Goldenthal
Elliot Goldenthal (born May 2, 1954) is an American composer of contemporary classical music and film and theatrical scores. A student of Aaron Copland and John Corigliano, he is best known for his distinctive style and ability to blend various ...
.
Among his most memorable songs:
[''Una Vita per la Canzone'']
*"
Faccetta Nera
"'Faccetta Nera'" ("Little Black Face" or "Pretty Black Face") is a popular marching song
A march, as a musical genre, is a piece of music with a strong regular rhythm which in origin was expressly written for marching to and most frequently p ...
"
*"
La Paloma
"La Paloma", "The Dove" in English, is a popular Spanish song that has been produced and reinterpreted in diverse cultures, settings, arrangements, and recordings over the last 140 years. The song was written by the Spanish Basque composer Seb ...
" ISWC: T-800.326.614-7
*"
Amapola"
*"
Tornerai"
* La piccinina (Ferry Boat Serenade) ISWC: T-005.008.751-8
*"Dove Sta Zazà"
*"Amore Amore"
*"Il Primo Amore non si Scorda mai"
*"Fiorin Fiorello l'amore è bello"
*"Signorinella Pallida"
Filmography
* ''
Naples in Green and Blue'' (1935)
* ''
For Men Only'' (1938)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buti, Carlo
1902 births
1963 deaths
20th-century Italian male singers