Carmen Cavallaro
Carmen Cavallaro was born in New York City. Known as the
“Poet of the Piano”, he showed a gift for music from age three, picking out tunes on a toy piano. His parents were encouraged to develop the child’s musical talents and he studied classical piano in the United States. As a young pianist, he toured Europe performing in many capitals.
In 1933 Cavallaro joined Al Kavelin's orchestra, where he quickly became the featured soloist. After four years he switched to a series of other big bands, including Rudy Vallee's in 1937. He also worked briefly with Enric Madriguera and Abe Lyman.
Cavallaro formed his own band, a five-piece combo, in St. Louis, Missouri in 1939. His popularity grew and his group expanded into a 14-piece orchestra, releasing some 19 albums for Decca over the years. Although his band traveled the country and played in all the top spots, he made a particular impact at the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco, which became a favored venue, and which also later became a favorite spot of George Shearing and Mel Tormé. Other venues where he drew large audiences included New York’s Waldorf-Astoria, Chicago’s Palmer House and the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles. In 1963 he had a million-seller hit recording of the song Sukiyaki.
One of Cavallaro's vocalists, Guy Mitchell, later became famous in his own right.
Cavallaro's single best-selling recording was his pop version of "Chopin's 'Polonaise.'"
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
All of the midi files have been abbreviated on the server.
Approximately twenty measures of each. Some, (*), have
a full piano chorus + a snippet of Carmen Cavallaro's rendition.
All are available as FULL General Midi (plays on your
sound card), .pdf files (for printing the sheet
music) and tapes or CD of "Carmen Cavallaro Midified".
The tape or cd features the same midi files but in some cases I add
a rhythm section plus orchestral background.
All of the mp3 files are complete.
Single midi files $6.00 each.pdf files $6.00 each
To order anything by email click here
For a somewhat out of date and incomplete list of midi files click here
Why midi and mp3 files? Midi files contain information, not sound.
This information is sent to your sound card or synth. What you hear is the
result of your hardware, not neccesarily what I hear.
I have recorded many, not all of my midi files, using my synths. The mp3 files
allow you to hear what I intended not what your hardware defines.
Mp3 files are compressed sound files, not quite as good as original .wav
files. If you order the cd - you will get the best sound as I intended it to be.
Many of these songs consist of two choruses. If what you hear
doesn't sound like Carmen, be patient. The first chorus is
usually a straight piano rendition. The second chorus
is the CARMEN CAVALLARO rendition.
mp3 Body And Soul
(piano solo)
my synths
mp3 If I could Be With You
(One Hour Tonight)
piano solo - my synths
midi Laura
(piano solo)
mp3 Laura
(piano solo) my synths
mp3 Night And Day
(piano solo) my synths
midi Paradise
(piano solo)
mp3 Paradise
(piano solo) my synths
midi So Rare
(piano solo)
mp3 So Rare
(piano solo) my synths