Cardillo, S. (Salvatore)

Born in Naples, Italian American composer Salvatore Cardillo studied piano and composition and graduated from university in Italy before emigrating to the United States in 1903. He became a prolific songwriter and movie soundtrack composer. His most famous song is “Cora ‘Ngrato,” which he wrote, with lyrics in Neapolitan dialect by Riccardo Cordifierro (also known as Alessandro Sisca). Enrico Caruso was the first of many tenors to add it to his repertoire. He was followed by Mario Lanza, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, and others. Tino Rossi who sang it in France, dared to use the original Neapolitan dialect rather than a French translation, as was the custom at a time when songs were only sung in French in France. An extract of this song was even used in Bruce Lee’s 1972 film “The Way of the Dragon.” In 1921, Cardillo composed “Barcarola” with Neapolitan lyrics by Edoardo San Giovanni, published by G. Schirmer Inc. in New York, along with “Oi Luna” (O Silvery Moon) with words by Cordifierro.