Al Caiola

Infobox musical artist
Name = Al Caiola


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Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Alexander Emil Caiola
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Born = Birth date and age|1920|9|7|mf=y Jersey City, New Jersey
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Instrument = Guitar
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Genre = Jazz, country, rock, pop
Occupation = Guitarist, arranger, composer
Years_active = 1955 – 1969; 1980 – present
Label = United Artists
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Al Caiola (born Alexander Emil Caiola, September 7, 1920, Jersey City, New Jersey) is a guitarist who plays jazz, country, rock, western, and pop music. He has been both a studio musician and stage performer. He has recorded over fifty albums and has worked with some of the biggest stars of the 20th Century, including Frank Sinatra, Percy Faith, Buddy Holly, Mitch Miller, and Tony Bennett. During World War II Caiola played with the United States Marine Corps 5th Marine Division (United States) Band that also included Bob Crosby. [http://www.theshedd.org/festival.aspx?artist=25&series=652] Caiola served in the Battle of Iwo Jima as a stretcher bearer. [http://mailman.xmission.com/pipermail/exotica/2004-January/015619.html]

Career

Caiola was an active studio musician in the 1950s centered in the New York area. He released some minor records under his own name in that decade. In addition, he performed under the musical direction of John Serry, Sr. on an album for Dot Records in 1956 ("Squeeze Play"). In 1960 he became a recording star on the United Artists (UA) label for at least ten years. He had prominent pop hits in 1961 with "The Magnificent Seven" and "Bonanza". The style was inspired by Duane Eddy's twangy bass guitar sound. The arrangements were typically by Don Costa using a large orchestral backing. Caiola continuously released singles and albums throughout the 1960s and beyond, though no others appeared on the charts except for an entry in 1964 with "From Russia With Love". UA used him to make commercial recordings of many movie and television themes. A popular and sought-after album is 1961's "Hit Instrumentals From Western TV Themes" which included "Wagon Train (Wagons Ho)", "Paladin", "The Rebel" and "Gunslinger". It has been reissued in other forms since then. "Solid Gold Guitar", probably his most impressive album, contained exciting big arrangements of "Jezebel", "Two Guitars", "Big Guitar", "I Walk the Line" and "Guitar Boogie".

"The Magnificent Seven" album, other than the title track, consisted of a variety of pop songs with a jazzy bent. "Guitars Guitars Guitars" was similar. There was a wide variety to his albums - soft pop, Italian, Hawaiian, country, jazz. The 1960s were his heyday. In the early 1970s he continued on the Avalanche Records label, producing similar work including the album "Theme From the 'Magnificent 7 Ride' '73". Later, on other labels, came some ethnic-themed instrumental albums such as "In a Spanish Mood" in 1982, and Italian instrumentals.

United Artists Albums

* "Guitars Guitars Guitars"
* "The Magnificent Seven"
* "Golden Hit Instrumentals"
* "Hit Instrumentals From Western TV Themes"
* "Solid Gold Guitar"
* "Midnight In Moscow"
* "Midnight Dance Party"
* "Golden Guitar"
* "City Guy Plays Country"
* "Acapulco 1922 and The Lonely Bull" (with Ralph Marterie)
* "Paradise Village"
* "Ciao"
* "Give Me the Simple Life"
* "Greasy Kid Stuff"
* "Cleopatra and All That Jazz"
* "The Best of Al Caiola" (1963)
* "50 Fabulous Guitar Favorites"
* "50 Fabulous Italian Favorites"
* "On the Trail"
* "Tuff Guitar"
* "Guitar For Lovers"
* "Have Guitar Will Travel" (reissue of "Midnight In Moscow")
* "Solid Gold Guitar Goes Hawaiian"
* "Sounds For Spies and Private Eyes" (1965)
* "Tuff Guitar English Style"
* "Tuff Guitar Tijuana Style"

* "Guitars Woodwinds and Bongoes" (Ultra Audio series)
* "Romantico"
* "All Strung Out"
* "Return Of the Seven"
* "King Guitar"
* "Sound Of Christmas" (with Riz Ortolani)
* "It Must Be Him"
* "The Best Of Al Caiola vol.2" (1968)
* "The Power Of Brass" (brass group presented by Caiola)
* "Let the Sunshine In"

ee also

References

External links

* [http://guitar-masters.com/Masters/Al_Caiola.html Al Caiola Page at Guitar Masters]
* [http://www.spaceagepop.com/caiola.htm Al Caiola Page at Space Age Pop]
* [http://www.tsimon.com/caiola.htm A Fan's Website]
* [http://www.allbutforgottenoldies.net/al-caiola-and-his-orchestra.html Song Clips at All But Forgotten Oldies Web Page]
* http://www.geocities.com/shakin_stacks/alcaiola.txt
* [http://worldjournal-gs.blogspot.com/2007/09/al-caiola-and-his-big-guitar.html Caiola's singles discography]