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On this day, October 24, 1937, Santo Farina of Santo & Johnny was born.
Santo & Johnny
Santo & Johnny, guests of the television
program "Tutto è pop", Turin, 1972
Background information
Origin: Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres: Rock and roll, surf rock, instrumental rock
Years active: 1959–1978
Labels: Canadian-American Records
Members: Santo Farina – steel guitar, Johnny Farina – rhythm guitar
Website: santoandjohnny.com
Santo & Johnny were an American rock and roll instrumental duo of Italian descent from Brooklyn, New York, composed of brothers Santo Farina (born October 24, 1937) and Johnny Farina (born April 30, 1941).
They are known best for their instrumental melody "Sleep Walk", one of the biggest hits of the golden age of rock 'n' roll, which became a regional success and eventually scored the top of the Billboard pop chart when it was released nationally during 1959.[3]
Career
Early life
Santo Anthony Farina and John Steven Farina were born in Brooklyn, New York, to Anthony and Josephine Farina: Santo on October 24, 1937, and Johnny on April 30, 1941. Their father was drafted into the United States Army while they were children and was stationed for some time in Oklahoma. After hearing a steel guitar on the radio, he wrote to his wife, "I'd like the boys to learn to play this instrument".
Upon returning from World War II, the boys' father found a music teacher who gave the boys steel guitar lessons. When Santo was a teenager, he was able to get a local music store to modify an acoustic guitar, allowing him to play it like a steel guitar.
{snip}
Legacy
"Sleep Walk" continues to be popular owing to consistent radio airplay as well as its usage for commercials, television programs, and movies. Santo & Johnny were inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 2002.
The duo broke up in 1976. After this split, Johnny continued to perform as a solo artist, and is still touring as of 2021. By contrast, Santo retired from the music industry in the 1970s, for reasons he did not disclose.
{snip}
Santo & Johnny, guests of the television
program "Tutto è pop", Turin, 1972
Background information
Origin: Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres: Rock and roll, surf rock, instrumental rock
Years active: 1959–1978
Labels: Canadian-American Records
Members: Santo Farina – steel guitar, Johnny Farina – rhythm guitar
Website: santoandjohnny.com
Santo & Johnny were an American rock and roll instrumental duo of Italian descent from Brooklyn, New York, composed of brothers Santo Farina (born October 24, 1937) and Johnny Farina (born April 30, 1941).
They are known best for their instrumental melody "Sleep Walk", one of the biggest hits of the golden age of rock 'n' roll, which became a regional success and eventually scored the top of the Billboard pop chart when it was released nationally during 1959.[3]
Career
Early life
Santo Anthony Farina and John Steven Farina were born in Brooklyn, New York, to Anthony and Josephine Farina: Santo on October 24, 1937, and Johnny on April 30, 1941. Their father was drafted into the United States Army while they were children and was stationed for some time in Oklahoma. After hearing a steel guitar on the radio, he wrote to his wife, "I'd like the boys to learn to play this instrument".
Upon returning from World War II, the boys' father found a music teacher who gave the boys steel guitar lessons. When Santo was a teenager, he was able to get a local music store to modify an acoustic guitar, allowing him to play it like a steel guitar.
{snip}
Legacy
"Sleep Walk" continues to be popular owing to consistent radio airplay as well as its usage for commercials, television programs, and movies. Santo & Johnny were inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 2002.
The duo broke up in 1976. After this split, Johnny continued to perform as a solo artist, and is still touring as of 2021. By contrast, Santo retired from the music industry in the 1970s, for reasons he did not disclose.
{snip}
Santo & Johnny "Sleep Walk"
NRRArchives
360K subscribers
Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show. August 01, 1959. A bit of a shakey kinesope.
NRRArchives
360K subscribers
Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show. August 01, 1959. A bit of a shakey kinesope.
Tue Oct 24, 2023: On this day, October 24, 1937, Santo Farina, of Santo & Johnny, was born.
Mon Oct 24, 2022: On this day, October 24, 1937, Santo Farina, of Santo & Johnny, was born.