Mantovani

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Annunzio Paolo Mantovani (November 15, 1905 – March 29, 1980) was a popular conductor and entertainer in the "easy listening" style.

He was born in Venice, Italy, and his father was the concertmaster of the La Scala orchestra under Arturo Toscanini. His family moved to England in 1912, where he studied at Trinity College of Music in London. After graduation, he formed his own orchestra, which played in and around Birmingham. By the time World War II broke out, his orchestra was one of the most popular in England, both on the BBC and in live performances.

He was also musical director for a large number of musicals and other plays, including ones by Noel Coward. After the war, he concentrated on recording, and eventually gave up live performance altogether. He worked with arranger Ronnie Binge, who developed the cascading string sound that became his hallmark in such hits as Charmaine. His records were regulars in stores selling hi-fi stereo equipment, as they were expertly produced and carefully arranged for stereo reproduction.

He recorded for Decca until the mid-1950s, at which time he switched to their London Records subsidiary. He recorded over 50 albums on that label, many of which were top-40 hits.

These included: Song from Moulin Rouge and Cara Mia, which reached No. 1 in Britain in 1953 and 1954 respectively. The latter was also Mantovani's first U.S. Top Ten hit.

In the United States between 1955 to 1972 he released over 40 albums, with 27 reaching the Top 40 and 11 the Top Ten. His biggest success was with the album Film Encores, which made it to No. 1 in 1957. Similarly, Mantovani Plays Music From 'Exodus' and Other Great Themes, made it to No. 2 in 1961 and sold over one million albums.

Increasingly in the 1960s, Mantovani's music began to diminish in popularity, and became associated with progressively older listeners. As popular interest dwindled, Mantovani finally ended his recording career in 1973 when the Decca label was subsumed by MCA.

Since his death at his home in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in 1980, his music has enjoyed a minor revival, with much of his catalogue reappearing on CD, and an orchestra bearing his name performing concert tours.