Born Joseph Paolino Jr. on March 9, 1929, he began singing at a club in Philadelphia when he was 11.
Mr. Valino, who once sang with the Woody Herman and the Benny Goodman Bands, enjoyed his best years in the 1950s, when he recorded "Garden of Eden" - his most popular song - "Tenderly" and "MacArthur Park." He also sang the title song in the John Wayne movie Legend of the Lost.
Though he never took music lessons, he played several instruments, including piano, guitar and drums.
In Philadelphia, Mr. Valino was noted for having discovered a song that Frank Sinatra made popular. Mr. Valino was the first to record "Learning the Blues," by Philadelphia area composer Vicki Silver. Unfortunately, it was Sinatra's version, released a short time after Mr. Valino's, that became a big hit.
Mr. Valino was in Hollywood in the 1960s and 1970s, returning to the Philadelphia area for a heart bypass operation in 1977. Through the next several years, he had several heart attacks and a stroke, and underwent a second bypass operation. He passed away on Thursday, December 26, 1996.
-Andy Wallace, The Philadelphia Inquirer (12/28/96)
In English from the original aria "Vesti la Giubba"…Superbly arranged by Joe Scussa
"ON WITH THE PLAY!"
Down through the years, these words have echoes the great tragedy of Leoncavallo's immortal opera…I PAGLIACCI.
The original aria, VESTI LA GIUBBA, first gained fame when the incomparable Enrico Caruso recorded it in March of 1907. This version…a direct word-for-word translation of Joe Valino, the gifted artist featured here.
Recording PAGLIACCI in English was first a dream…then became an obsession with Joe. In a way, the story of the tragic clown closely parallels his life, which is, perhaps, the reason for the depth of feeling…or "soul"…which is so apparent in this magnificent recording.
We feel that this work represents a "first" in the reproduction of really good music for the commercial market. We hope many more will follow it.
- Steve Buchanan
CROSLEY RECORDS #219
ORCHESTRA UNDER DIRECTION OF JOE SCUSSA
1960
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