Italian Folk Songs with BELLA NOTTE

One of my mariachi buddies, Cookie, is good friends with the owner of Tucson's Roma Imports, Italian Grocery Store and Deli.  When Lillian, the owner, started preparing for a feast, her husband wisely suggested she include live music. As under-employed mariachi players, Cookie and I were invited to fit the bill. We had great fun performing for the feast customers, many of whom were excited to sing along!

By now we've played for a dozen feasts. In between gigs at Roma's, however, we are happy to play for any Italian-themed party. Our last gig was at a private party for the Tavola Italian Italian-speakers group.

Planning a party of your own? If your friends are dying to hear "Torna a Suriento," the theme from The Godfather, or "Volare," we're ready for you!

​To book a gig, contact me below, shoot me an email at dr _ ransdell @ yahoo com, or text me at (520) 393-9314.

Hear some sample files below (press on the arrows):

Tarantella

Santa Lucia

Parla Piu Piano (Theme from The Godfather)

Since Cookie and I are mariachi players at heart, we also play a few mariachi-style duets:

Here's the beginning of a standard polka, Perlitas:

And here's my favorite, El zopilote mojado (The Wet Buzzard--I know, the name is crazy!)

When Lillian wanted to experiment, she devised a German feast, so, of course, we had to learn German songs instead!

For example, we learned the famous German drinking song about the Hofbräu Haus.

For variety, we included a few songs from The Sound of Music such as Edelweiss.

We even cheated a bit with a little Elvis--Wooden Heart!