The Unforgettable Voice of Tony Bari

In an unusual departure from their stated mission — to "record and present...the classical music of India and contemporary world music" — the folks at Moment Records have released a set of recordings by the late Italian-American singer Tony Bari. In actuality a re-release, The Unforgettable Voice of Tony Bari is a 15-song CD that includes the 12 songs from his 1957 album, Moods Italo-Americano, and three additional tunes that were first released on 45 rpm discs that same year. Bari originally released all these recordings, along with an additional album, on his Tru-Tone Recording label in the late 1950s. Noted for his emotional and bilingual approach to both traditional Italian and popular American songs, he would often sing a verse in Italian and then follow it up with its translation in English. With a relaxed and full-bodied singing style, Bari passionately conveyed lyrics that dealt with such topics as love, love, and love again. The singer, who had many devoted followers in the 1950s, was affectionately crowned "the Champagne Caruso" by columnist Walter Winchell. As Bari possessed a wide vocal range, he was able to project both rumbling basso profundo and sweet tenor passages without difficulty. A lush orchestra, full of such instruments as violins, mandolins, trumpets, guitars, and even the occasional glockenspiel, sensitively complimented Bari's gushing vocalizations. Not only a recording for fans of the artist or nostalgic Italian-Americans, The Unforgettable Voice of Tony Bari is an exceptional CD that celebrates cultural diversity in America and demonstrates how music can be a powerful emotional medium. Though he passed away on 1960, following a prolonged struggle with lung cancer, this album should insure that his passionate voice will continue to resound.