Biography of Roberto Murolo
(Naples, 1912 - 2003)

The son of poet Ernesto Murolo and Lia Cavalli, Roberto was born in Naples on 23 January 1912. At an early age he had already attracted attention for his big passion for music, singing and the guitar. A passion that led him to form the "MIDA" Quartet with which he toured all of Europe from 1939 to 1946.
On returning home in 1946, he began his inexorable career as a solo artist in the concert and recording fields. He also appeared in films such as Matarazzo's "Catene" (1950) with Amedeo Nazzari, and performed on the radio and the newly-introduced television.
After the many successes on various 78 r.p.m.'s, including A casciaforte and "Scalinatella", Murolo recorded the famous "Napoletana", an anthological collection of twelve records of Neapolitan songs from the 13th Century until modern times, put together between 1959 and 1963 with Edoardo Caliendo.
In the mid-Seventies he broke off his recording activity, but not his concert career which saw him performing on stages all over the world until 1997.
In 1990 he returned to recording again, with the album "'Na voce, 'na chitarra", which also includes songs by and with song-writers very dear to him, such as "Spassionatamente" by Paolo Conte, "Lazzari felici" by Pino Daniele, "Senza fine" by Gino Paoli, Caruso with Lucio Dalla at the piano, "Ammore scombinato" together with his friend Renzo Arbore, "'Sta musica" with Consiglia Licciardi and "L'ammore ca nun vene", two texts by Enzo Gragnaniello.
1992 saw the release of a new album called "Ottantavoglia di cantare", celebrating his 80th birthday and marking a new milestone in his musical career. His successes on the CD include "Don Raffaè" sung together with Fabrizio De Andrè, and the touching "Cu'mmè" written by Gragnaniello and sung with Mia Martini.
In 1993 the same trio of Murolo, Martini and Gragnaniello recorded the album "L'Italia è bbella" which contains the fine song "Vieneme".
In 1995 the untiring Roberto Murolo recorded "Anima e core" with the Portuguese singer Amalia Rodriguez. At the start of the same year, the President of the Republic, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, made him a Grand'Ufficiale della Repubblica (Great Officer of the Republic) for the artistic merits of a lifetime devoted to music.
2002 saw the release of his last "effort": "Ho sognato di cantare", the album announcing the end of his public commitment. 
On the 8th of March this year, during the Sanremo Song Festival, Murolo received the Career Award, which was awarded to Tony Renis in 2000 and to the memory of Domenico Modugno in 2001.
For his 90th birthday - 23 January 2002 - RaiSat Album dedicated a special to the intense career of this extraordinary interpreter of Neapolitan music. The program, called "Roberto Murolo Day - Ho sognato di cantare", was created and hosted by Renzo Arbore.
Roberto Murolo died in his Naples home in March the following year.

Biography of Roberto Murolo
(Naples, 1912 - 2003)

The son of poet Ernesto Murolo and Lia Cavalli, Roberto was born in Naples on 23 January 1912. At an early age he had already attracted attention for his big passion for music, singing and the guitar. A passion that led him to form the "MIDA" Quartet with which he toured all of Europe from 1939 to 1946.
On returning home in 1946, he began his inexorable career as a solo artist in the concert and recording fields. He also appeared in films such as Matarazzo's "Catene" (1950) with Amedeo Nazzari, and performed on the radio and the newly-introduced television.
After the many successes on various 78 r.p.m.'s, including A casciaforte and "Scalinatella", Murolo recorded the famous "Napoletana", an anthological collection of twelve records of Neapolitan songs from the 13th Century until modern times, put together between 1959 and 1963 with Edoardo Caliendo.
In the mid-Seventies he broke off his recording activity, but not his concert career which saw him performing on stages all over the world until 1997.
In 1990 he returned to recording again, with the album "'Na voce, 'na chitarra", which also includes songs by and with song-writers very dear to him, such as "Spassionatamente" by Paolo Conte, "Lazzari felici" by Pino Daniele, "Senza fine" by Gino Paoli, Caruso with Lucio Dalla at the piano, "Ammore scombinato" together with his friend Renzo Arbore, "'Sta musica" with Consiglia Licciardi and "L'ammore ca nun vene", two texts by Enzo Gragnaniello.
1992 saw the release of a new album called "Ottantavoglia di cantare", celebrating his 80th birthday and marking a new milestone in his musical career. His successes on the CD include "Don Raffaè" sung together with Fabrizio De Andrè, and the touching "Cu'mmè" written by Gragnaniello and sung with Mia Martini.
In 1993 the same trio of Murolo, Martini and Gragnaniello recorded the album "L'Italia è bbella" which contains the fine song "Vieneme".
In 1995 the untiring Roberto Murolo recorded "Anima e core" with the Portuguese singer Amalia Rodriguez. At the start of the same year, the President of the Republic, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, made him a Grand'Ufficiale della Repubblica (Great Officer of the Republic) for the artistic merits of a lifetime devoted to music.
2002 saw the release of his last "effort": "Ho sognato di cantare", the album announcing the end of his public commitment. 
On the 8th of March this year, during the Sanremo Song Festival, Murolo received the Career Award, which was awarded to Tony Renis in 2000 and to the memory of Domenico Modugno in 2001.
For his 90th birthday - 23 January 2002 - RaiSat Album dedicated a special to the intense career of this extraordinary interpreter of Neapolitan music. The program, called "Roberto Murolo Day - Ho sognato di cantare", was created and hosted by Renzo Arbore.
Roberto Murolo died in his Naples home in March the following year.