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American jazz guitarist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anthony C. "Tony" Mottola (April 18, 1918 – August 9, 2004) was an American jazz guitarist who released dozens of solo albums. Mottola was born in Kearny, New Jersey and died in Denville.
Tony Mottola | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Anthony C. Mottola |
| Born | April 18, 1918 Kearny, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | August 9, 2004 (aged 86) Denville, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 1936–1988 |
| Labels | Command, Project 3 |
Like many of his contemporaries, Mottola began learning to play the banjo, but then took up the guitar. He had his first guitar lessons from his father. He toured with an orchestra led by George Hall in 1936, marking the beginning of his professional life.[1]
Mottola's first recordings were duets with the guitarist Carl Kress.[2][3] By the age of only twenty-one, he was recruited by Kress to serve as a staff guitarist at the CBS Radio network.[4] During his tenure with the network he founded the "Tony Mottola Trio" which was featured on Johnny Desmond's show "Face the Music".[1][5] In 1945, he also collaborated with the accordionist John Serry Sr. in a recording of "Leone Jump" for Sonora Records (MS-476-3) which was played in jukeboxes throughout the U.S.[6][7][8][9][10] In 1946, he also joined forces with Serry and other members of the Joe Biviano Accordion and Rhythm Sextette in a recording for Sonora Records which included Tom Delaney's composition Jazz Me Blues ("Accordion Capers", MS-476).[9] Subsequently in 1948, Mottola's trio collaborated with Carole Coleman and Danny Daniels on the CBS program "Make Mine Music".[11] During his tenure at CBS Mottola also collaborated with Sidney Lumet, Paddy Chayevsky, John Frankenheimer, and Rod Serling.[1]> By 1967, he emerged as an executive at the founding of Project 3 Records.[1]> His only charted single as a soloist was "This Guy's in Love with You", which reached No. 22 on the Billboard magazine Easy Listening Top 40 in the summer of 1968.
During the course of his career, Mottola also emerged as a freelance composer for several luminaries within the world of entertainment including: Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Burl Ives and Mitch Miller.[1]
Mottola worked often on television, appearing as a regular on shows hosted by vocalist Perry Como and comedian Sid Caesar. He was also recruited by a young Yul Brenner to serve as music director for the 1950s series Danger.[12] From 1958 to 1972, he was a member of The Tonight Show Orchestra led by Skitch Henderson,[2][3] then by Doc Severinsen. He composed music for the TV documentary Two Childhoods, which was about Vice President Hubert Humphrey and writer James Baldwin, and won an Emmy Award for his work.[3] In 1980, Mottola began performing with Frank Sinatra, often in duets, appearing at Carnegie Hall and the White House.[2][3][13] He retired from the music business in 1988 but kept playing at home almost every day.[3]
| External audio | |
|---|---|
 You may hear Tony Mottola performing "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" with the accordionist John Serry Sr. and the Joe Biviano Accordion and Rhythm Sextette in 1945 Here on Archive.org | |
| Tony Mottola & Orchestra perform "Under Paris Skies" in 1953 Here on archive.org | |
| Tony Mottola's album "Roman Guitar" Volume Two in 1962 Here on archive.org |
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 You may see Tony Mottola performing with Carol Coleman on "Make Mine Music" in 1949 Here on archive.org |
During the course of his career, Tony Mottola recorded for several labels including Command Records, Project 3 Records, RCA Victor and Sonora Records. His recordings include:[14]
With Ray Charles
With Urbie Green
With Dick Hyman
With Enoch Light
With Charles Magnante
With Joe Reisman
With Doc Severinsen
With Frank Sinatra
With others
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