Mention "mandolin" to the average American and a very common cultural association will be the soundtrack from "The Godfather" movie trilogy. The haunting melancholy of its impassioned tremolo became its audio signature, an iconic caricature for an entire generation, somewhat pigeon-holing the potential of the 8-string instrument (in other circles second only to the stereotyping lent by its prominent role in the development of bluegrass music). Of course we're doing what we can do broaden its capabilities in the realm of jazz...

In recent news, Al Viola, the man who played the haunting mandolin on The Godfather soundtrack has died at age 87, after a battle with cancer. Viola became an in-demand guitar player in Hollywood after World War II and went on to feature on more than 500 albums, including classic releases by longtime collaborator Frank Sinatra.

Read news article: The Godfather's Mandolin Man Dead At 87

View terrific video of Al Viola on guitar with Bobby Troup.

Interesting Al Viola Bio.

Posted by Ted at February 25, 2007 10:49 AM