Lou Monte
| Lou Monte | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Louis Scaglione |
| Born |
April 2, 1917 Manhattan, New York City, US. |
| Died | June 12, 1989 (aged 72) Pompano Beach, Florida |
| Genres | Novelty, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Years active | 1954–1989 |
| Labels | Roulette Records, Jubilee Records, Regalia Records, Musicor Records, Laurie Records, AFE Records |
Lou Monte (April 2, 1917 – June 12, 1989) was an Italian American singer best known for a number of best-selling, Italian-themed novelty records which he recorded for both RCA Records and Reprise Records in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He also recorded on Roulette Records, Jubilee Records, Regalia Records, Musicor Records, Laurie Records, and AFE Records.
Monte developed a following playing clubs in and around the New Jersey area. When World War II broke out, Monte had to put his career on hold and enlisted in the Army. When he was discharged, he started his club date schedule and caught the attention of WAAT AM-970 in Newark, New Jersey. Seeing Monte's potential, the station gave him his own radio show. The show offered Monte a chance to refine his act and he soon gained a sizable following. The station rewarded him by convincing its sister TV outlet, WATV-13, to give him some airtime.
Beginning with this exposure, Monte made a couple of recordings on local labels. Joe Carlton was an A&R man for RCA Victor Records and heard the Italian minstrel performing in a spaghetti joint south of Secaucus. He liked Monte's singing style and the way he accompanied himself on the guitar. He offered Monte a contract with RCA Victor which lasted seven years. Joe Carlton would go on to start Carlton Records.
Monte's first big hit came in 1954, with the release of his version of "Darktown Strutters' Ball". In 1962, Monte would release his first million-seller, "Pepino the Italian Mouse", which was awarded a gold disc. Co-written by Ray Allen and Wandra Merrell and sung alternately in English and a pastiche of Calabrese, "Pepino the Italian Mouse" tells the humorous tale of a mischievous mouse who lives within the walls of a man's home and who pesters him by eating his cheese, drinking his wine and frightening his girlfriend. Arranged by Joe Reisman, the single is credited to Don Costa Productions. "Pepino" peaked at number five on Billboard's Hot 100 in mid-January and fared even better in certain markets, including Monte's native New York City, where the single spent two weeks at number one on WABC at the end of December.
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