Mike Mosiello
Encyclopedia
Mike Mosiello (December 2, 1896-June 3, 1953) was an Italian-born American trumpet
player.
in Italy
into a musical family. His father, Tobia Mosiello, played the clarinet
and his godfather
was a trumpet player and bandleader
. At the age of two Mike and his family migrated to the USA, settling in New York
. Here young Mike took up trumpet playing around the age of six.
During World War I
Mosiello enlisted as a military musician in the United States Marine Corps
and was stationed in Europe
. Back in New York after the war he seriously began a career as a professional musician.
Mosiello played with the orchestras of several famous bandleaders, among them Vincent Lopez
. He was however not least one of the most prolific studio musicians of the 1920s, appearing on hundreds of records, often adding to the jazz
flavour to many contemporary Tin Pan Alley
hits. His most important recordings as a "hot" soloist were probably those made for Victor
under the direction of Nathaniel Shilkret
, and his countless sides made for the obscure Grey Gull
company. Mosiello seems to have been something of the leader of the latter company's studio band and recorded several compositions of his own with this group (see below). Among his most frequent co-musicians on these recordings (and on many made for other labels and bandleaders as well) were reedman and guitarist Andy Sannella
and accordionist Charles Magnante
. Sannella, in an interview shortly before his death, spoke very highly of Mosiello's skills as a musician.
From the 1930s onwards, Mosiello was mainly active in radio
and in the pit orchestras of various theatre
s. During the 1940s he toured with pianist and comedian Victor Borge
but also lead a band of his own at the "Top Hat" Club in New Jersey
.
Since 1922 Mosiello was married to Antointette Greco, to whom he dedicated his composition Antoinette, I Love You. They had a son and a daughter.
Mike Mosiello died of pancreatic cancer
in Asbury Park, New Jersey
at the age of merely 56.
Since none of Mosiello's many compositions seem to have been published the only source for these are the credits on the original records issued. Below is a list of known such Mosiello compositions and issues:
A few of these records have been reissued on the CD Grey Gull Rarities from Jazz Oracle http://www.jazzoracle.com/catalogue/BDW_8038.asp.
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
player.
Biography
Mosiello was born in Frasso TelesinoFrasso Telesino
Frasso Telesino is a comune in the Province of Benevento in the Italian region Campania, located about 40 km northeast of Naples and about 20 km west of Benevento...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
into a musical family. His father, Tobia Mosiello, played the clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
and his godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
was a trumpet player and bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
. At the age of two Mike and his family migrated to the USA, settling in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Here young Mike took up trumpet playing around the age of six.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Mosiello enlisted as a military musician in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and was stationed in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Back in New York after the war he seriously began a career as a professional musician.
Mosiello played with the orchestras of several famous bandleaders, among them Vincent Lopez
Vincent Lopez
Vincent Lopez was an American bandleader and pianist.Vincent Lopez was born of Portuguese immigrant parents in Brooklyn, New York and was leading his own dance band in New York City by 1917...
. He was however not least one of the most prolific studio musicians of the 1920s, appearing on hundreds of records, often adding to the jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
flavour to many contemporary Tin Pan Alley
Tin Pan Alley
Tin Pan Alley is the name given to the collection of New York City music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century...
hits. His most important recordings as a "hot" soloist were probably those made for Victor
Victor Talking Machine Company
The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American corporation, the leading American producer of phonographs and phonograph records and one of the leading phonograph companies in the world at the time. It was headquartered in Camden, New Jersey....
under the direction of Nathaniel Shilkret
Nathaniel Shilkret
Nathaniel Shilkret was an American composer, conductor, clarinetist, pianist, business executive, and music director born in New York City, New York to an Austrian immigrant family.-Early career:...
, and his countless sides made for the obscure Grey Gull
Grey Gull Records
Grey Gull Records was a record label based in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America from 1919 through 1930. According to the Massachusetts Department of Corporation and Taxation, Grey Gull was officially incorporated on 31 December 1919. It was dissolved on 31 March 1934 Grey Gull...
company. Mosiello seems to have been something of the leader of the latter company's studio band and recorded several compositions of his own with this group (see below). Among his most frequent co-musicians on these recordings (and on many made for other labels and bandleaders as well) were reedman and guitarist Andy Sannella
Andy Sannella
Anthony G. "Andy" Sannella was an American musician and bandleader.Sannella, who was born in Indiana, was a multiinstrumentalist; according to jazz historian John Chilton he played violin, piano, organ, clarinet, alto saxophone, guitar , banjo and vibraphone...
and accordionist Charles Magnante
Charles Magnante
Charles Magnante was an American piano-accordionist, arranger, composer, author and educator. His artistry helped raise the image of the accordion from an instrument considered suitable only for folk music to an instrument accepted in many music genres.- Background :Magnante's father was a...
. Sannella, in an interview shortly before his death, spoke very highly of Mosiello's skills as a musician.
From the 1930s onwards, Mosiello was mainly active in radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and in the pit orchestras of various theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
s. During the 1940s he toured with pianist and comedian Victor Borge
Victor Borge
Victor Borge ,born Børge Rosenbaum, was a Danish comedian, conductor and pianist, affectionately known as The Clown Prince of Denmark,The Unmelancholy Dane,and The Great Dane.-Early life and career:...
but also lead a band of his own at the "Top Hat" Club in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
Since 1922 Mosiello was married to Antointette Greco, to whom he dedicated his composition Antoinette, I Love You. They had a son and a daughter.
Mike Mosiello died of pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
in Asbury Park, New Jersey
Asbury Park, New Jersey
Asbury Park is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, located on the Jersey Shore and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 16,116. The city is known for its rich musical history, including its association with...
at the age of merely 56.
Compositions
- Adeline (Grey Gull 1821)
- Antoinette I Love You (Madison 50023)
- Baby Mine (Grey Gull 1878, Van Dyke 81878)
- Blue Ridge Blues (Grey Gull 1819, Supreme 1819, Van Dyke 81819)
- Blue Waters (Grey Gull 1845, Van Dyke 81845, Madison 5087)
- Come Again (Grey Gull 1780, Van Dyke 71780; also issued as Darlingest)
- Carolina (Madison 6024; possibly also issued as Virginia on Madison 6009)
- Crying For You (Grey Gull 1876)
- Dream Boy (Grey Gull 1847)
- Dreaming Of You (Grey Gull 1785, Van Dyke 71785)
- Hittin' Em Low (Grey Gull 1891)
- Italian Waters (Grey Gull 1750, Van Dyke 71750)
- Just Blues (Grey Gull 1739, Supreme 1739, Radiex 909, Van Dyke 71739, Madison 1649)
- Just Once More (Grey Gull 1783, Van Dyke 71783)
- Just You Honey (Grey Gull 1798; also issued as That Wicked Stomp on Grey Gull 1888 and as Waiting For You on Grey Gull 1890!)
- Linda (Grey Gull 1888)
- Lonesome Me (Madison 5069)
- Love Me Dear (Grey Gull 1877)
- Necking Nellie Home (Madison 50009)
- Step On It (Madison 50009)
- Stomp Along (Grey Gull 1749, Phonycord 563; also issued as Black Stomp)
- Sweetheart It's You (Van Dyke 81891; also issued as Emilia on Grey Gull 1752 and Radiex 1752)
- Sweet Henry (Grey Gull 1822)
- Two Red Lips (Van Dyke 914, Madison 5063; also issued as I Found My Sunshine Under An Umbrella on Madison 50011)
- Wow Wow Blues (Grey Gull 1751, Van Dyke 901, 5001 & 71751, Madison 5001, 50001 & 1935, Goodson 156; on some issues renamed Ja Da Blues)
- You Ought To See Her Now (Grey Gull 1779, Van Dyke 71779)
A few of these records have been reissued on the CD Grey Gull Rarities from Jazz Oracle http://www.jazzoracle.com/catalogue/BDW_8038.asp.