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| alias =
| alias =
| origin = [[Brooklyn]], New York, U.S.
| origin = [[Brooklyn]], New York, U.S.
| genre = [[Rock and roll]], [[surf rock]], [[instrumental rock]]
| genre = {{Hlist|[[Rock and roll]]|[[Surf music|surf rock]]|[[instrumental rock]]}}
| years_active = 1959–1978
| years_active = 1959–1978
| label = [[Canadian-American Records]]
| label = [[Canadian-American Records]]
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== Career ==
== Career ==
=== Early life ===
=== 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.<ref name="SPACE">{{cite web
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.<ref name="SPACE">{{cite web
| url=http://www.spaceagepop.com/santoand.htm|publisher=Spaceagepop.com
| url=http://www.spaceagepop.com/santoand.htm|publisher=Spaceagepop.com
| title=''Santo and Johnny'' at the Space Age Pop Music Page
| title=''Santo and Johnny'' at the Space Age Pop Music Page
Line 45: Line 45:
| title=''Santo & Johnny'' at the History of Rock
| title=''Santo & Johnny'' at the History of Rock
| access-date=August 30, 2007}}</ref>
| access-date=August 30, 2007}}</ref>
Their father was drafted into the [[United States Army|Army]] while they were children and was stationed for some time in [[Oklahoma]]. After hearing a [[steel guitar]] by radio, he wrote to his wife, "I'd like the boys to learn to play this instrument".<ref name="SJB">{{cite web|url=http://santoandjohnny.com/Bio.php|title=Santo & Johnny Bio|publisher=Santoandjohnny.com|access-date=August 18, 2015|archive-date=February 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227213749/http://santoandjohnny.com/Bio.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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".<ref name="SJB">{{cite web|url=http://santoandjohnny.com/Bio.php|title=Santo & Johnny Bio|publisher=Santoandjohnny.com|access-date=August 18, 2015|archive-date=February 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227213749/http://santoandjohnny.com/Bio.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>


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.<ref name="HoR" />
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.<ref name="HoR" />


Within two years, Santo was performing in amateur shows using a new [[Gibson Guitar Corporation|Gibson]] six-[[String (music)|string]] steel guitar and had started receiving lessons from a steel guitar teacher who had studied in [[Hawaii]]. By the age of fourteen, Santo was composing songs, and formed an [[instrumental]] trio with a guitarist and drummer. This trio appeared at local dances and parties, performing both original compositions and some Hawaiian standards. With money Santo made from these performances, he bought a [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender steel guitar]], one with three necks, each with eight [[String (music)|strings]]. This allowed him to experiment even more, and he tried different tunings until he found ones that appealed to him.
Within two years, Santo was performing in amateur shows using a new [[Gibson Guitar Corporation|Gibson]] six-string steel guitar and had started receiving lessons from a steel guitar teacher who had studied in [[Hawaii]]. By the age of 14, Santo was composing songs, and formed an instrumental trio with a guitarist and drummer. This trio appeared at local dances and parties, performing both original compositions and some Hawaiian standards. With money Santo made from these performances, he bought a [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender steel guitar]], one with three necks, each with eight strings. This allowed him to experiment even more, and he tried different tunings until he found ones that appealed to him.


When Johnny reached the age of twelve, he began to play accompaniment to Santo on a standard [[electric guitar]]. The brothers soon formed a duo and became rather popular in school, eventually performing at events in the New York boroughs. They recorded a [[Demo (music)|demonstration record]] that they circulated to local New York record companies.
When Johnny reached the age of 12, he began to play accompaniment to Santo on a standard [[electric guitar]]. The brothers soon formed a duo and became rather popular in school, eventually performing at events in the New York boroughs. They recorded a [[Demo (music)|demo]] that they circulated to local New York record companies.


When Johnny turned 16, he told their father that they would be quitting school to pursue a career as "rock stars", to which their father responded "The only stars are in the sky."<ref name="Villages-News.com">{{cite web| url=https://www.villages-news.com/johnny-farina-bringing-musical-talent-original-lead-singers-show/ | title=Johnny Farina bringing musical talent to 'Original Lead Singers' show| date=August 22, 2016|publisher=Villages-News.com|access-date=August 24, 2016}}</ref>
When Johnny turned 16, he told their father that they would be quitting school to pursue a career as "rock stars", to which their father responded "The only stars are in the sky."<ref name="Villages-News.com">{{cite web| url=https://www.villages-news.com/johnny-farina-bringing-musical-talent-original-lead-singers-show/ | title=Johnny Farina bringing musical talent to 'Original Lead Singers' show| date=August 22, 2016|publisher=Villages-News.com|access-date=August 24, 2016}}</ref>
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|work=NPR's Online Music Show
|work=NPR's Online Music Show
|access-date=September 29, 2022}}</ref> although Johnny later said that her name was put on by mistake.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jan/18/santo-johnny-sleep-walk Old music: Santo & Johnny – Sleep Walk] Jon Dennis, The Guardian, January 18, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2017</ref>
|access-date=September 29, 2022}}</ref> although Johnny later said that her name was put on by mistake.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jan/18/santo-johnny-sleep-walk Old music: Santo & Johnny – Sleep Walk] Jon Dennis, The Guardian, January 18, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2017</ref>

"Sleep Walk" was recorded at Trinity Records in [[Manhattan]]. It reached ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine's No. 1 position for two weeks during September 1959,<ref name="RecResearch" /> and earned a [[Music recording sales certification|Gold record]] for Santo & Johnny.<ref name="SJB" /><ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book
"Sleep Walk" was recorded at Trinity Records in [[Manhattan]]. It reached ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine's No. 1 position for two weeks during September 1959,<ref name="RecResearch" /> and earned a [[Music recording sales certification|Gold record]] for Santo & Johnny.<ref name="SJB" /><ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book
| first= Joseph
| first= Joseph
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| url-access= registration
| url-access= registration
| url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/118
| url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/118
}}</ref> The follow-up single "Tear Drop" (spelled "Teardrop" on the album ''Encore'')<ref>{{cite web |title=Santo & Johnny – Encore |year=1960 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Santo-Johnny-Encore/master/671907 |publisher=[[Discogs]] |access-date=April 21, 2019}}</ref> was also successful, though their long-playing (LP) record ''Santo & Johnny'' was less successful in the United States.
}}</ref> The follow-up single "Tear Drop" (spelled "Teardrop" on the album ''Encore'')<ref>{{cite web |title=Santo & Johnny – Encore |year=1960 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Santo-Johnny-Encore/master/671907 |publisher=[[Discogs]] |access-date=April 21, 2019}}</ref> was also successful, though their long-playing record ''Santo & Johnny'' was less successful in the United States.


=== Legacy ===
=== 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottysmusic.com/hofplq.htm|title=The Steel Guitar Hall of Fame (list of inductees)|publisher=Scottysmusic.com|access-date=August 30, 2007}}</ref> The duo broke up in 1976.
"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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottysmusic.com/hofplq.htm|title=The Steel Guitar Hall of Fame (list of inductees)|publisher=Scottysmusic.com|access-date=August 30, 2007}}</ref>

The duo broke up in 1976.{{cn|date=April 2024}} After this split, Johnny continued to perform as a solo artist, and is still touring as of 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://guitar.com/features/interviews/larry-carlton-johnny-farina-santo-johnny-instrumental-guitar-music/ |title=Larry Carlton and Johnny Farina on how Santo & Johnny changed instrumental guitar music forever |publisher=Guitar.com |first=Bob |last=Hewitt |date=December 2, 2021 |access-date=April 12, 2024}}</ref> By contrast, Santo retired from the music industry in the 1970s, for reasons he did not disclose.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Old music: Santo & Johnny – Sleep Walk |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jan/18/santo-johnny-sleep-walk |work=[[The Guardian]] |first=Jon |last=Dennis |date=January 18, 2012 |access-date=April 12, 2024}}</ref>


== Discography ==
== Discography ==
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*''The Original Recordings''
*''The Original Recordings''


'''Aniraf Record Co.'''
'''Aniraf Record Co.'''
*''Christmas Mine – Johnny Farina'' (2012)
*''Christmas Mine – Johnny Farina'' (2012)
*''Pure Steel'' (2007)
*''Pure Steel'' (2007) Johnny Farina
*''Christmas Mine'' (2008)
*''Christmas Mine'' (2008) Johnny Farina
*''Italian Being Served'' (2009)
*''Italian Being Served'' (2009) Johnny Farina
*''Christmas Mine – Johnny Farina'' (reissued 2012)
*''Christmas Mine – Johnny Farina'' (reissued 2012)


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|-
|-
|align="center"|1960
|align="center"|1960
|"Seashells"
|"Sea Shells"
|"Hop Scotch"
|"Hop Scotch"
|
|90
|
|
|
|
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|"The Breeze and I"
|"The Breeze and I"
|"Lazy Day"
|"Lazy Day"
|
|109
|
|
|
|
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|"Stage to Cimarron"
|"Stage to Cimarron"
|"Spanish Harlem"
|"Spanish Harlem"
|
|101
|
|
|
|
|align="center"|Canadian-American 137
|align="center"|Canadian-American 137
|-
|align="center"|1962
|"Three Cabelleros"
|"Step Aside"
|
|
|
|align="center"|Canadian American 141
|-
|-
|align="center"|1962
|align="center"|1962
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|
|
|align="center"|Canadian-American 151
|align="center"|Canadian-American 151
|-
|align="center"|1963
|"The Wandering Sea"
|"Manhattan Spiritual"
|
|
|
|align="center"|Canadian-American 155
|-
|-
|align="center"|1963
|align="center"|1963
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|"A Thousand Miles Away"
|"A Thousand Miles Away"
|"Road Block"
|"Road Block"
|
|122
|
|
|
|
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|-
|-
|align="center"|1964
|align="center"|1964
|"A Hard Days Night"
|"[[A Hard Day's Night (song)|A Hard Day's Night]]"
|"And I Love Her"
|"And I Love Her"
|
|
|
|align="center"|Canadian-American 177
|-
|align="center"|1964
|"A Hard Day's Night"
|"The Beatle Stomp"
|
|
|
|
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|align="center"|1965
|align="center"|1965
|"Off Shore"
|"Off Shore"
| (One sided record)
| Blank B Side
|
|
|
|
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|-
|-
|align="center"|1965
|align="center"|1965
|"Watermelon Man"
|"[[Watermelon Man (composition)|Watermelon Man]]"
|"Return To Naples"
|"Return To Naples"
|
|
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|-
|-
|align="center"|1967
|align="center"|1967
|"Live for Live"
|"Live for Life"
|"See You in September"
|"See You in September"
|
|
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Santo and Johnny}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Santo and Johnny}}
[[Category:American instrumental musical groups]]
[[Category:American instrumental musical groups]]
[[Category:Rock and roll music groups]]
[[Category:American rock and roll music groups]]
[[Category:Rock music groups from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Rock music groups from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American surf rock music groups]]
[[Category:American surf rock music groups]]
[[Category:Rock music duos]]
[[Category:American rock music duos]]
[[Category:American musical duos]]
[[Category:Musical duos from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Sibling musical duos]]
[[Category:Sibling musical duos]]
[[Category:Family musical groups]]
[[Category:Family musical groups]]

Latest revision as of 15:11, 6 December 2024

For the band's self-titled debut album, see Santo & Johnny (album).
Santo & Johnny
Santo & Johnny, guests of the television program "Tutto è pop", Turin, 1972
Background information
OriginBrooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres
Years active1959–1978
LabelsCanadian-American Records
MembersSanto Farina – steel guitar
Johnny Farina – rhythm guitar
Websitesantoandjohnny.com

Santo & Johnny were an American rock and roll instrumental duo of Italian descent[1] from Brooklyn, New York, composed of brothers Santo Farina (born October 24, 1937) and Johnny Farina (born April 30, 1941).[2]

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

[edit]

Early life

[edit]

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.[4][5] 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".[6]

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.[5]

Within two years, Santo was performing in amateur shows using a new Gibson six-string steel guitar and had started receiving lessons from a steel guitar teacher who had studied in Hawaii. By the age of 14, Santo was composing songs, and formed an instrumental trio with a guitarist and drummer. This trio appeared at local dances and parties, performing both original compositions and some Hawaiian standards. With money Santo made from these performances, he bought a Fender steel guitar, one with three necks, each with eight strings. This allowed him to experiment even more, and he tried different tunings until he found ones that appealed to him.

When Johnny reached the age of 12, he began to play accompaniment to Santo on a standard electric guitar. The brothers soon formed a duo and became rather popular in school, eventually performing at events in the New York boroughs. They recorded a demo that they circulated to local New York record companies.

When Johnny turned 16, he told their father that they would be quitting school to pursue a career as "rock stars", to which their father responded "The only stars are in the sky."[7]

The brothers wrote a song one night when they "couldn't sleep after playing a gig, and started jamming."[7] The song was "Sleep Walk" and during September 1959 it scored at the top of the American charts.

Music career

[edit]

The brothers eventually came to the attention of a music publishing company and signed a songwriter's contract and eventually landed a recording contract with Canadian-American Records. Their first release, "Sleep Walk", was credited as being composed by the two brothers plus Santo's wife, Ann,[8] although Johnny later said that her name was put on by mistake.[9]

"Sleep Walk" was recorded at Trinity Records in Manhattan. It reached Billboard magazine's No. 1 position for two weeks during September 1959,[3] and earned a Gold record for Santo & Johnny.[6][10] The follow-up single "Tear Drop" (spelled "Teardrop" on the album Encore)[11] was also successful, though their long-playing record Santo & Johnny was less successful in the United States.

Legacy

[edit]

"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.[12]

The duo broke up in 1976.[citation needed] After this split, Johnny continued to perform as a solo artist, and is still touring as of 2021.[13] By contrast, Santo retired from the music industry in the 1970s, for reasons he did not disclose.[14]

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]

Canadian-American Records Ltd

  • Santo & Johnny (1959)
  • Encore (1960)
  • Hawaii (1961)
  • Come On In (1962)
  • Around the World... with Santo & Johnny (1962)
  • Off Shore (1963)
  • In the Still of the Night (1964)
  • Santo & Johnny Wish You Love (1964)
  • The Beatles Greatest Hits Played by Santo & Johnny (1964)
  • Mucho (1965)
  • Santo y Johnny en México (1965?)

Imperial

  • The Brilliant Guitar Sounds of Santo & Johnny (1967)
  • Golden Guitars (1968)
  • On the Road Again (1968)
  • The Best That Could Happen (1969)

Black Tulip

  • The Original Recordings

Aniraf Record Co.

  • Christmas Mine – Johnny Farina (2012)
  • Pure Steel (2007) Johnny Farina
  • Christmas Mine (2008) Johnny Farina
  • Italian Being Served (2009) Johnny Farina
  • Christmas Mine – Johnny Farina (reissued 2012)

PAUSA (aka: Pause) Records

  • Santo & Johnny (1976)

Singles

[edit]
Year "A" Side "B" Side US
Pop 		US
R&B 		US
Easy Listening 		Label
1959 "Sleep Walk" "All Night Diner" 1 — — Canadian-American 103
1959 "Tear Drop" "The Long Walk Home" 23 — — Canadian-American 107
1960 "Caravan" "Summertime" 48 — — Canadian-American 111
1960 "Sea Shells" "Hop Scotch" 90 Canadian-American 114
1960 "The Breeze and I" "Lazy Day" 109 Canadian-American 115
1960 "Annie" "Lost Love" Canadian-American 118
1960 "Bullseye!" "Twistin' Bells" 49 — — Canadian-American 120
1961 "Theme from Come September" "The Long Walk Home" Canadian-American 128
1961 "Birmingham" "The Mouse" Canadian-American 131
1962 "Stage to Cimarron" "Spanish Harlem" 101 Canadian-American 137
1962 "Three Cabelleros" "Step Aside" Canadian American 141
1962 "Tokyo Twilight" "Miserlou" Canadian-American 144
1963 "On Your Mark" "Manhattan" Canadian-American 151
1963 "The Wandering Sea" "Manhattan Spiritual" Canadian-American 155
1963 "Love Letters In The Sand" "Lido Beach" Canadian American 161
1964 "In The Still of the Night" "Song For Rosemary" Canadian-American 164
1964 "A Thousand Miles Away" "Road Block" 122 Canadian-American 167
1964 "Sugar Stroll" "Rattler" Canadian-American 174
1964 "A Hard Day's Night" "And I Love Her" Canadian-American 177
1964 "A Hard Day's Night" "The Beatle Stomp" Canadian-American 177
1964 "Goldfinger" "Sleepwalk" Canadian-American 182
1965 "Mucho Tempo" "Brazilian Summer" Canadian-American 189
1965 "Off Shore" (One sided record) Canadian-American 190
1965 "Watermelon Man" "Return To Naples" Canadian-American 194
1965 "The Young World" "Come With Me" Canadian-American 204
1965 "Thunderball" "Mister Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" United Artists UA970
1967 "Live for Life" "See You in September" Imperial 66269
1968 "Sleepwalk 68" "It Must Be Him" Imperial 66292
1973 "Piedone Lo Sbirro (Flat Feet)" "Moon Dog" — — — Produttori Associati/Canadian-American 7054

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Csida, J. (1980). The Music/Record Career Handbook. New York: Billboard Publications.
  2. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 72. CN 5585.
  3. ^ a b "Billboard #1 Pop Hits — 1950–1959". Record Research Inc. Archived from the original on July 17, 2007. Retrieved September 1, 2007.
  4. ^ "Santo and Johnny at the Space Age Pop Music Page". Spaceagepop.com. Retrieved August 30, 2007.
  5. ^ a b "Santo & Johnny at the History of Rock". History-of-rock.com. Retrieved August 30, 2007.
  6. ^ a b "Santo & Johnny Bio". Santoandjohnny.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Johnny Farina bringing musical talent to 'Original Lead Singers' show". Villages-News.com. August 22, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  8. ^ "All Songs Considered Episode 13". NPR's Online Music Show. NPR. February 6, 2002. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  9. ^ Old music: Santo & Johnny – Sleep Walk Jon Dennis, The Guardian, January 18, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2017
  10. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 118–9. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  11. ^ "Santo & Johnny – Encore". Discogs. 1960. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  12. ^ "The Steel Guitar Hall of Fame (list of inductees)". Scottysmusic.com. Retrieved August 30, 2007.
  13. ^ Hewitt, Bob (December 2, 2021). "Larry Carlton and Johnny Farina on how Santo & Johnny changed instrumental guitar music forever". Guitar.com. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  14. ^ Dennis, Jon (January 18, 2012). "Old music: Santo & Johnny – Sleep Walk". The Guardian. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
[edit]
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