Mario Merola (singer)


Mario Merola was an Italian singer and actor. He has been nicknamed "The King of the Sceneggiata", a type of regional drama originating in Naples and later finding more widespread recognition.
WWW mariomerola.it/ricordo.as...

Career

Mario Merola began his career as a longshoreman at the Port of Naples. His first public singing performance occurred by chance, when he sang during a celebration of the Virgin Mary, at the church of Sant’Anna alle Paludi when the scheduled singer, Mario Trevi, was delayed.
In 1964, he first performed at the Festival of Naples with the song Doce è ’o silenzio, with Elsa Quarta.
He performed at the festival a number of times in the 1960-70s. He also performed and won in 2001, performing L’urdemo emigrante with his son Francesco.
He recorded about 40 records of sceneggiata music and had additional credits in filmed versions. He toured abroad with a Neapolitan company to present the sceneggiata to emigrant Italian communities. During the 1970s, Merola performed at the White House, showcasing the Neapolitan genre.
In addition to his own music career, Merola was a talent scout, contributing to the early careers of Massimo Ranieri, Nino D'Angelo, and Gigi D'Alessio, among others.
At the Sanremo Music Festival 1994, he formed "Team Italy", performing "Una vecchia canzone italiana" with Nilla Pizzi, Wess, Wilma Goich, Manuela Villa, Tony Santagata, Jimmy Fontana, Gianni Nazzaro, Lando Fiorini, Rosanna Fratello, and Giuseppe Cionfoli. The group recorded an album of the same name, featuring collective and individual recordings.

Personal life and death

Merola married Rosa Serrapiglia on 5 April, 1964. They had three children: Roberto, Loredana, and Francesco, who occasionally performed alongside his father.
In 1997, Merola was hospitalized for three weeks at Naples’ Vecchio Pellegrini Hospital for a cardiorespiratory crisis. He subsequently recovered.
On 26 November, 2005, Merola was appointed a Knight of Malta, alongside Bruno Venturini and Mario Trevi.
Merola died on November 12, 2006, at the age of 72 in Castellammare di Stabia, after breathing difficulties.
His funeral was held on November 14, 2006, at the Basilica of Santa Maria del Carmine Maggiore in Naples in the same church where he was married. It was attended by family, political figures, and professional colleagues. An estimated 40,000 people gathered outside. A large number followed the procession to his burial at the Monumental Cemetery of Naples.

Legacy

During the Sanremo Festival 2000, Bono of U2 fell into the crowd during a performance and encountered Mario Merola.
In 2004, Hugo Race released The Merola Matrix, an album of 16 songs using excerpts from some of Merola's older songs and film scenes.
In 2008, the restaurant‑museum Felicissima sera opened in Naples, displaying photos, objects and memorabilia related to the singer. It also includes a letter written by Eduardo De Filippo to Merola dated 29 October 1976. His children, Roberto and Francesco, collaborated with designer Nadia Wanderlingh among others.
In 2009, a commemorative bust of Merola was erected in the Sant’Anna alle Paludi district of Naples. Created by sculptor Domenico Sepe, it bears the inscription: “Mario Merola, ambassador of Neapolitan songs in the world.”
On 18 September, 2010, a memorial concert for Merola was held at the Stadio San Ciro in Portici, featuring, among others, Francesco Merola, Tullio De Piscopo, Sal Da Vinci, Gigi Finizio, Gianni Fiorellino, Mario Da Vinci, Valentina Stella, Gloriana, and Gigi D'Alessio.

Music festival participation

Festival of Naples

  • 1964
  • * "Doce è 'o silenzio" with Elsa Quarta, 12th Festival of Neapolitan Song – not finalist
  • 1965
  • * "T'aspetto a maggio" with Achille Togliani, 13th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 7th place
  • * "Tu stasera si Pusilleco" with Enzo Del Forno, 13th Festival of Neapolitan Song – not finalist
  • 1966
  • * "Ciento catene" with Maria Paris, 14th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 5th place
  • * "Femmene e tammorre" with Daisy Lumini, 14th Festival of Neapolitan Song – not finalist
  • 1967
  • * "Allegretto ma non troppo" with Mario Abbate, 15th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 6th place
  • * "Freve 'e gelusia" with Maria Paris, 15th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 9th place
  • 1968
  • * "Cchiù forte 'e me" with Ben Venuti, 16th Festival of Neapolitan Song – not finalist
  • * "Comm'a nu sciummo" with Mario Trevi, 16th Festival of Neapolitan Song – not finalist
  • 1969
  • *"'O masto" with Antonio Buonomo, 17th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 5th place
  • * "Abbracciame" with Giulietta Sacco, 17th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 7th place
  • * "Ciento appuntamente" with Luciano Rondinella, 17th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 13th place
  • 1970
  • * "Chitarra rossa" with Mirna Doris, 18th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 5th place
  • * "'Nnammurato 'e te!" with Luciano Rondinella, 18th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 6th place
  • * "'O guastafeste" with Luciano Rondinella, 18th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 12th place
  • 1971
  • * "Stella nera" with Luciano Rondinella, 19th Festival of Neapolitan Song – program closed for organizational reasons
  • 2001
  • * "L'urdemo emigrante" with Francesco Merola, 24th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 1st place/winner

Sanremo Festival

Selected discography

33 rpm

  • 1967 – Mario Merola |Mario Merola
  • 1967 – Mario Merola |Mario Merola
  • 1970 – 6 sceneggiate cantate da Mario Merola
  • 1972 – Cumpagne ‘e cella, Mario Trevi – Mario Merola
  • 1972 – Passione eterna |Passione eterna
  • 1973 – Volume primo
  • 1973 – Volume secondo
  • 1973 – Canzoni 'nziste
  • 1973 – Madonna verde
  • 1973 – Tribunale |Tribunale
  • 1975 – Classiche napoletane Vol. 6 – Merola canta Libero Bovio
  • 1975 – Mario Merola e Pino Mauro
  • 1975 – 5 sceneggiate cantate da Mario Merola
  • 1975 – Vol. 5°
  • 1975 – Eternamente tua
  • 1976 – Volume quarto
  • 1977 – Legge d'onore
  • 1977 – Licenza 'e carcerato
  • 1978 – Canta Napoli
  • 1978 – 6 sceneggiate
  • 1979 – Si chesta e' 'a legge – Vol. 9°
  • 1980 – Zappatore sceneggiata
  • 1980 – 'A dolce vita
  • 1981 – Chiamate Napoli 081
  • 1982 – Carcerato |Carcerato
  • 1982 – '''O rre d' 'a sceneggiata |'O rre d' 'a sceneggiata''

45 rpm

  • 1963 – Malufiglio/L'urdemo avvertimento |Malufiglio/L'urdemo avvertimento
  • 1963 – Scugnezziello/'O primmo giuramento
  • 1963 – So' nnato carcerato/Quatt'anne ammore
  • 1963 – Femmena nera/L'ultima buscia
  • 1963 – Dicite all'avvocato/Nun ce sarrà dimane
  • 1963 – Quatto mura/Gelusia d'ammore
  • 1963 – Se cagnata 'a scena/Amici
  • 1963 – 'O primmo giuramento/Scugnezziello
  • 1963 – L'urdemo bicchiere/Velo niro
  • 1963 – Tu me lasse/Malommo
  • 1964 – Malommo/Tu me lasse
  • 1964 – 'A fede /Velo niro
  • 1964 – Canciello 'e cunvento/Dduje sciure arancio
  • 1964 – Rosa 'nfamità/Nu poco 'e tutte cose
  • 1964 – Doce è 'o silenzio/'Mbrellino 'e seta
  • 1964 – Suonno 'e cancelle/Ddoje vote carcerato
  • 1964 – 'O zampugnaro/Acale 'e scelle
  • 1964 – Te chiammavo Maria/Schiavo senza catene
  • 1964 – 'A sciurara/Se ne ghiuta
  • 1965 – Tu stasera sì Pusilleco/T'aspetto a maggio
  • 1965 – Legge d'onore/Parola d'onore
  • 1966 – 'Nu capriccio/'A prucessione
  • 1966 – L'ultima 'nfamità/Carmela Spina
  • 1966 – Canzona marinaresca/'Nu capriccio
  • 1966 – Scetate/'O zampugnaro
  • 1966 – Core furastiero/Carmela Spina
  • 1966 – Pusilleco addiruso/L'ultima 'nfamità
  • 1966 – 'O mare 'e Margellina/Surdate
  • 1966 – Canzona marinaresca/Pusilleco addiruso
  • 1966 – Femmene e tammorre/Dipende a te
  • 1966 – Ciento catene/Tengo a mamma ca m'aspetta
  • 1966 – E bonanotte 'a sposa/Mamma schiavona
  • 1966 – 'A voce 'e mamma/Surriento d' 'e 'nnammurate
  • 1967 – 'A bandiera/Senza guapparia
  • 1967 – Allegretto...ma non troppo/'E vvarchetelle
  • 1967 – Freva 'e gelusia/N'ata passione
  • 1967 – 'E quatte vie/Luna dispettosa
  • 1967 – Dal Vesuvio con amore/Fantasia
  • 1968 – Ammanettato/Mamma schiavona
  • 1968 – Malaspina/Bonanotte 'a sposa
  • 1968 – Comm' 'a 'nu sciummo/Malasera
  • 1968 – Cchiù forte 'e me/Uocchie 'e mare
  • 1969 – 'O Milurdino/Signora 'nfamità
  • 1970 – 'Na santa guapparia/Miracolo d'ammore
  • 1970 – Nnammurato 'e te!/'O giurnale
  • 1970 – Chitarra rossa/Salutammela
  • 1970 – L'Urdema Carta/Chella d'o terzo piano
  • 1971 – 'A camorra/Amico, permettete!
  • 1971 – Stella nera/Cielo e mare
  • 1971 – Via nova/Ddoje serenate
  • 1971 – Chitarra Tragica/A Montevergine
  • 1972 – 'O Festino/'A Legge
  • 1972 – Lacreme Napulitane/Tatonno se nne va
  • 1972 – Mamma addò stà/Chiove
  • 1972 – 'A bravura/'A congiura
  • 1972 – Passione eterna/'A dolce vita
  • 1973 – Madonna verde/N'ata passione
  • 1974 – Eternamente tua/Chi s'annammora 'e te
  • 1975 – Inferno d'ammore/Vagabondo d'o mare
  • 1981 – ''Ave Maria/Napoli canta Napoli''

CDs

  • 1973 – Mario Merola e Giulietta Sacco
  • 1975 – 'O Clan d' 'e napulitane
  • 1978 – Mario Merola canta Libero Bovio
  • 1979 – Ave Maria
  • 1980 – Zappatore
  • 1985 – Passione eterna
  • 1989 – 'O mare 'e margellina
  • 1990 – Cuore di Napoli
  • 1993 – 'A sciurara
  • 1993 – Quattro mura |Quattro mura
  • 1994 – Trasmette Napoli
  • 1994 – Una vecchia canzone italiana
  • 1994 – Tangentopoli |Tangentopoli
  • 1997 – Chiamate Napoli... 081
  • 1997 – 'E figlie...
  • 1997 – Lacrime napulitane |Lacrime napulitane
  • 1997 – Carcerato |Carcerato
  • 1997 – Guapparia |Guapparia
  • 1998 – Malommo |Malommo
  • 2000 – Guaglione 'e malavita – Mario Merola e Pino Mauro
  • 2001 – Malavicina
  • 2004 – Auguri vita mia
  • 2005 – Gelosia |Gelosia
  • 2005 – ''Dicite all'avvocato''

Album live

  • 2004 – Mario Merola 40-45-70 |Mario Merola 40-45-70
  • 2005 – ''Merola insieme''

Collected partial

  • 1988 – Ciao paisà
  • 1990 – 14 successi
  • 1991 – Tutto Merola vol. 1
  • 1991 – Tutto Merola vol. 2
  • 1999 – Melodie napoletane
  • 2000 – Tutto Merola vol.1/I grandi classici
  • 2000 – Tutto Merola vol.2/I grandi successi
  • 2001 – Quattro mura |Quattro mura
  • 2002 – Disco d'oro vol. 1
  • 2002 – Disco d'oro vol. 2
  • 2002 – Da Napoli con amore
  • 2003 – Malommo
  • 2003 – Napoli – Antologia della canzone napoletana
  • 2003 – Monografie napoletane vol. 7 Mario Merola
  • 2003 – Monografie napoletane vol. 8 Mario Merola
  • 2003 – Monografie napoletane vol. 9 Mario Merola
  • 2003 – Cuore di Napoli |Cuore di Napoli
  • 2004 – Chella d' 'e rrose
  • 2004 – Mario Merola contiene medley
  • 2004 – Cient'anne |Cient'anne
  • 2004 – Mario Merola – Storia della canzone napoletana
  • 2004 – Mario Merola canta Napoli
  • 2005 – I protagonisti vol. 2
  • 2005 – 'A peggio offesa sta 'ncoppa all'onore
  • 2005 – Bella Napoli vol. 2
  • 2005 – Numero 1 |Numero 1
  • 2005 – Cinematografo |Cinematografo
  • 2005 – I miei festival di Napoli
  • 2005 – Napoli ieri e oggi |Napoli ieri e oggi
  • 2005 – 'A Fede
  • 2005 – Disco oro
  • 2005 – Due in uno: La sceneggiata ''Mario Merola & Nino D'Angelo
  • 2005 – Napoli |Napoli
  • 2005 – A città 'e Pulecenella – Tangentopoli
  • 2005 – Collezione |Collezione
  • 2005 – Quatt'anne ammore
  • 2005 – O'Rre da sceneggiata
  • 2005 – Napule ca se ne va
  • 2005 – Mario Merola the classic collection
  • 2006 – Carosello napoletano |Carosello napoletano
  • 2006 – Giuramento |Giuramento
  • 2006 – Napoli prima e dopo 45 successi – Mario Merola, Nino D'Angelo, Gigi D'Alessio
  • 2006 – I grandi successi |I grandi successi
  • 2006 – Bar Napoli
  • 2007 – Core 'e Napule Mario Merola & Nino D'Angelo
  • 2007 – Antologia sonora della canzone napoletana - cofanetto 2
  • 2007 – Antologia sonora della canzone napoletana - cofanetto 3
  • 2007 – Antologia sonora della canzone napoletana - cofanetto 4
  • 2007 – Antologia sonora della canzone napoletana - cofanetto 5
  • 2007 – Antologia sonora della canzone napoletana - cofanetto 7
  • 2007 – Antologia sonora della canzone napoletana - cofanetto 8
  • 2007 – Antologia sonora della canzone napoletana - cofanetto 9
  • 2007 – Antologia sonora della canzone napoletana - cofanetto 13
  • 2007 – Antologia sonora della canzone napoletana - cofanetto 14
  • 2007 – Antologia sonora della canzone napoletana - cofanetto 15
  • 2008 – 'A collezione 1 - 'O mare 'e margellina
  • 2008 – 'A collezione 2 - 'A sciurara
  • 2008 – 'A collezione 3 - Malommo
  • 2008 – 'A collezione 4 - Surriento d' 'e nnammurate
  • 2008 – 'A collezione 5 - Fantasia
  • 2008 – 'A collezione 6 - Comm' 'a 'nu sciummo
  • 2008 – Gli Indimenticabili vol. 2 Mario Merola
  • 2008 – Malu Figlio - Mario Merola & Pino Marchese
  • 2008 – Amori e tradimenti
  • 2008 – So' nnato carcerato
  • 2009 – La tradizione. La sceneggiata
  • 2009 – I miei successi |I miei successi
  • 2010 – Canta Napoli 10
  • 2010 – Il meglio di Mario Merola
  • 2010 – Senza guapparia
  • 2010 – Cinematografo |Cinematografo
  • 2011 – Viva Napoli vol. 3
  • 2013 – Le sceneggiate di Mario Merola''

Individual

  • 1992 – Cient'Anne
  • 1992 – Futtetènne
  • 2001 – Ll'urdemo emigrante
  • 2002 – Si tu papà
  • 2002 – Mamma de vicule
  • 2004 – Get another rum
  • 2004 – E' figli 'e Napule
  • 2005 – ''Cu' mme''

Filmography