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'''Mario Lanza''' (January 31, 1921 - October 7 1959) was a popular [[United States|American]] tenor and actor whose short career spanned from the late 1940s to the late 1950s.

'''Mario Lanza''' (January 31, 1921 - October 7 1959) was a popular [[United States|American]] tenor and actor whose short career spanned from the late 1940s to the late 1950s.

==Early life and career==

==Early life and singing career==

Mario Lanza was born '''Alfredo Arnold Cocozza''' on January 31, 1921 to Antonio (Tony) Cocozza and Maria Cocozza (née Lanza) in [[Philadelphia|South Philadelphia]]. Tony, who was a [[World War I]] veteran receiving full disability benefits from the government due to injuries sustained in the war, and Freddie, which is what young Mario was called by friends and family, often listened to the records of tenors [[Beniamino Gigli]], [[Tito Schipa]], [[Giovanni Zenatello]], and especially [[Enrico Caruso]]. Maria, who gave up her dreams of becoming an opera star to raise her son, was thrilled when Freddie began to talk of perusing a career singing in the opera. Maria took Freddie to an audition with Irene Williams, a former opera singer and then voice teacher. Williams was impressed with Freddie's voice and agreed to be his teacher. Under Williams, young Freddie worked hard to learn how to read music and develop the foundations of a solid vocal technique.

Mario Lanza was born '''Alfredo Arnold Cocozza''' on January 31, 1921 to Antonio (Tony) Cocozza and Maria Cocozza (née Lanza) in [[Philadelphia|South Philadelphia]]. Tony, who was a [[World War I]] veteran receiving full disability benefits from the government due to injuries sustained in the war, and Freddie, which is what young Mario was called by friends and family, often listened to the records of tenors [[Beniamino Gigli]], [[Tito Schipa]], [[Giovanni Zenatello]], and especially [[Enrico Caruso]]. Maria, who gave up her dreams of becoming an opera star to raise her son, was thrilled when Freddie began to talk of perusing a career singing in the opera. Maria took Freddie to an audition with Irene Williams, a former opera singer and then voice teacher. Williams was impressed with Freddie's voice and agreed to be his teacher. Under Williams, young Freddie worked hard to learn how to read music and develop the foundations of a solid vocal technique.

In 1947, Mario Lanza, along with soprano [[Frances Yeend]] and bass-baritone [[George London]], would form a group called the [[Bel Canto Trio]]. The Bel Canto Trio performed 86 concerts throughout the [[United States]], [[Canada]] and [[Mexico]] between July 1947 and May 1948.

In 1947, Mario Lanza, along with soprano [[Frances Yeend]] and bass-baritone [[George London]], would form a group called the [[Bel Canto Trio]]. The Bel Canto Trio performed 86 concerts throughout the [[United States]], [[Canada]] and [[Mexico]] between July 1947 and May 1948.

==References==

==References==

*[http://www.warniesworld.net/gpage.html Dead Tenor's Society] - Mario Lanza

*[http://www.warniesworld.net/gpage.html Dead Tenors' Society] - Mario Lanza

==External links==

==External links==