(103) MARIO LANZA - AN AMERICAN TENOR and INSPIRATION TO ELVIS

Here is a YouTube Video of Mario Lanza in 1954. I'm not sure how Elvis first knew about opera or this American tenor, but wouldn't be surprised it was on television. Elvis loved television and he watched it a lot (even watching several sets at a time in the 1970's). This is The Chrysler sponsored show "Shower of Stars," and possibly Elvis even saw this show which featured Mario.

Americans were (and are) so accustom to opera singers being European because it's often sung in Italian and so it's a surprise to hear Mario's American speaking voice and to hear him sing a song in English in operatic voice.



Marios on this blog because Elvis, "the Walking Encyclopedia of Music," told me that he had studied Lanza's vocal techniques, in order to hit the high notes of a song he is very famous for, "It's Now Or Never" and "Surrender."