Maurizio Bassi (born 1960) is an Italian music composer and musician. He is best known as the singer of
Baltimora
Baltimora was an Italian music project from Milan, active from 1984 to 1987. They are best known for their 1985 single " Tarzan Boy" and are often considered a one-hit wonder in the United Kingdom and the United States. In other European countri ...
along with Naimy Hackett and
Jimmy McShane
James Harry McShane (23 May 1957 – 29 March 1995) was a singer from Northern Ireland, best known as the front-man of Italian band Baltimora, with the hit song "Tarzan Boy".
History
McShane was born in Derry, Northern Ireland. Hired as a st ...
. He is also the father of Emiliano and Matteo Bassi.
Career
Not much is documented about Bassi other than he had released two solo singles/EPs in both 1974 (Mau Bassi* / Vittorio Inzaina - Perchè Solo Noi / Welcome To Costa Smeralda (7")) and 1981 (Arrivederci / Di Tutto Un Pop). He gained worldwide recognition with his Italian-based project,
Baltimora
Baltimora was an Italian music project from Milan, active from 1984 to 1987. They are best known for their 1985 single " Tarzan Boy" and are often considered a one-hit wonder in the United Kingdom and the United States. In other European countri ...
. He formed it with both Naimy Hackett and
Jimmy McShane
James Harry McShane (23 May 1957 – 29 March 1995) was a singer from Northern Ireland, best known as the front-man of Italian band Baltimora, with the hit song "Tarzan Boy".
History
McShane was born in Derry, Northern Ireland. Hired as a st ...
.
Notable singles by the band include: "
Tarzan Boy
"Tarzan Boy" is the debut single by Italian-based act Baltimora. The song was written by Maurizio Bassi and Naimy Hackett, and released in 1985 as the lead single from Baltimora's debut album '' Living in the Background''. The song was re-rec ...
", "
Woody Boogie
"Woody Boogie" is an Italo disco song recorded and released by Italy-based act Baltimora. It was the group's second single, released in 1985, from the band's debut album '' Living in the Background'', on which it features as fourth track. Two prom ...
", "
Living in the Background" and "
Key Key Karimba
"Key Key Karimba" is a song by Italo disco act Baltimora, released in 1987 as the lead single from their second and final studio album '' Survivor in Love''. The song was written and produced by Maurizio Bassi.
Background
After the success creat ...
" The most successful of the singles was "Tarzan Boy". The band split in 1987; however in 1993, Bassi re-recorded and released "Tarzan Boy" as a remix. This remix bounced back into the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in March 1993, climbing to No. 51, at the time of its appearance in a
Listerine commercial. The song was also featured in the films ''
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III'' is a 1993 American superhero film written and directed by Stuart Gillard. It is the sequel to '' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze'' (1991), and the final installment in the original ...
'' (1993), ''
Beverly Hills Ninja'' (1997) and was then referenced in ''
A Million Ways to Die in the West
''A Million Ways to Die in the West'' is a 2014 American Western dark comedy film directed by Seth MacFarlane and written by MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild. The film features an ensemble cast including MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Am ...
'' (2014).
Bassi is said to have been the actual singer of the band but chose McShane to lip sync all the lyrics in the videos.
Recent times
McShane passed away from
AIDS-related illness in 1995 and Bassi has made no singles or contributions since. However, his sons are both active in the music industry.
References
External links
Maurizio Bassi on SecondHand SongsMaurizio Bassi on IMDB
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bassi, Maurizio
Living people
Italian composers
1960 births