Welcome to our series that highlights Italian artists — both new and old — that have had an impact in America and are beloved by Italian-Americans.

History and Background

Renato Carosone, known as a revolutionary within traditional Neapolitan music, was born as Renato Carusone in 1920.

As children, Carosone and his siblings would join their parents in singing Neapolitan songs by the piano. His father was a music lover who worked in a theatre box office.

After his mother died of tuberculosis in 1927 at the age of 33, his father encouraged him to pursue music. Carosone studied piano and composition at the Conservatory of San Pietro a Majella, graduating at 17 years old in 1937. 

Soon after, he traveled to the northeast African country of Eritrea to work as a pianist and conductor for a series of shows. He later moved to its capital, Asmara, where he played piano for an orchestra.

At the start of World War II, Carosone was enlisted to serve at the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. 

He eventually returned to Asmara to play at a nightclub. There, he met his wife Lita Levidi, who was a ballerina at the next-door theater, and adopted her son. 

Carosone and his new family moved to Italy in 1946. He began reaching success in the 1950s with the formation of his band, Trio Carosone. Other members included Dutch-Italian guitarist Peter Van Wood and Neapolitan drummer Gegè Di Giacomo. 

The band embarked on a world tour that ended with a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York.

Carosone was signed by Capitol Records. The label released his first three albums: Honeymoon in Rome (1957), Renato Carosone! (1959) and Blue Italian Skies (1958). 

Another label, Parlophone, released his fourth studio album, Carnevale Carosone (1960). His last three albums were Pianofortissimamente Carosone (1975), Sempre (1982) and Nu’ canzoncella doce doce (1982).

He died in 2001 at his home in Rome, Italy due to a respiratory illness. He was 81.

Most Popular Song

Carosone, known as the father of Neapolitan singing, played a role in internationalizing Italian music. 

He was best known for his 1956 hit, “Tu vuo fa l’Americano,” which translates to “You want to be American.” 

The song, musically influenced by swing and jazz, is about postwar Italy. 

Its lyrics talk about an Italian man who drinks “whiskey and soda,” dances to rock n’ roll, plays baseball and smokes Camel cigarettes — effectively adopting an American lifestyle, yet remaining dependent on his parents.

“You’d like to be an American, but you were born in Italy,” the chorus says, originally in the Neapolitan dialect. “Listen to me, there’s nothing you can do, okay, napulitano?”

Impact in America

Martin Scorsese’s 1973 film “Mean Streets” featured two Carosone songs. “Marruzella” and “Scapricciatiello” were used to create the atmosphere of Little Italy in New York.  

“Tu vuo fa l’Americano” was included in an American psychological thriller film titled “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” released in 1999. 

American guitarist, singer and songwriter Brian Setzer recorded a version of the song in 2001. 

“Tu vuo fa l’Americano” was remixed by Australian band Yolanda Be Cool and producer DCUP in 2010. The song, titled “We No Speak Americano,” was a top 40 hit in the United States.