Tony Mottola
Essentials
The Tony Mottola catalog of recordings is extensive. 78’s, transcriptions, 45’s, LPs, Compact discs, and TV and film soundtracks serve as a roadmap to track his artistic development. Mottola kept pace with the expanding styles in music by producing recordings across various genres: pop, jazz, easy listening, bossa nova, Latin, big band, film, and TV show themes. In the 1960s and ’70s, the Mottola sound permeated the radio airwaves.
ESSENTIAL Tony Mottola includes all known Carl Kress & Tony Mottola duets and selections across five decades of recording & performing that feature the guitarist.
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1930’s
September 27, 1939
RECORDING SESSION FOR VOCALION RECORDS, NYC.
DOLLY DAWN AND HER DAWN PATROL
George Hall Orchestra featuring Dolly Dawn-vocal, Tony Mottola-guitar, Johnny Guarnieri-piano.
SHINE
SOURCE: Vocalion 5160
Al Caiola, Orphie Stathopoulo, Tony Mottola, Epiphone Factory, NYC, 1939. SOURCE: Epiphone, The House Of Stathopoulo, Jim Fisch & L.B. Fred, Amsco Publications, 1996.
Tony Mottola with The George Hall Orchestra, c. 1936-1937, courtesy of the Estate of Tony Mottola.
1940’s
Carl Kress & Tony Mottola
At the start of their relationship in 1941, Tony Mottola was 23 years old (Kress was 11 years his senior). Right from the beginning of FUN ON THE FRETS, the youngster from New Jersey displays a fabulous technique with an immaculate execution (which he does across all eleven titles from this 1941 transcription recording session). Five years earlier, Mottola was first recognized and then brought to New York City by Lew Green Sr., who, having heard him broadcasting on New Jersey radio with a then-unknown singer (Frank Sinatra), sponsored the sixteen-year-old, enabling him to join the powerful NYC Musicians Union, Local 802, and perform on the Steinie Bottle Boys Swing Club radio show which Green was then producing. (Mottola replaced Dick McDonough on the show).
As for Kress, he’s inspired by his new partner and is playing at the top of his game. That both of them are still using acoustic guitars in 1941, in the shadow of Charlie Christian, who had been blazing an amplified guitar trail for the last two years, is a bit surprising, especially for Mottola. One can only imagine the youngster chomping at the bit to “amp up” (which he eventually did in 1945).
1941 Gibson publicity photo with Carl Kress & Tony Mottola promoting amplified guitars and amplifiers. At the time this picture was taken, Kress & Mottola were still playing acoustic Gibson guitars, courtesy of the Estate of Tony Mottola.
ca. 1941
RECORDING SESSION FOR NBC RADIO-RECORDING DIVISION, NYC.
CARL KRESS & TONY MOTTOLA
Carl Kress-guitar, Tony Mottola-guitar
SOURCE (selections 1-5): NBC Radio-Recording, THESAURUS 983
SOURCE (selections 6-10): Fun On The Frets: Early Jazz Guitar, Yazoo Records 1061
July 22, 1944
EDDIE CONDON’S JAZZ CONCERT, BLUE NETWORK RADIO BROADCAST, TOWN HALL, NYC.
CARL KRESS & TONY MOTTOLA
Eddie Condon-Host, Carl Kress-guitar, Tony Mottola-guitar.
DAVENPORT BLUES (Beiderbecke)
SOURCE: Eddie Condon – The Town Hall Concerts, Volume 3, Jazzology – JCE 1005/1006, 1988
May 29, 1945
RECORDING SESSION FOR CAPITOL RECORDS, WMCA, NYC.
CARL KRESS
Carl Kress-amplified guitar, Tony Mottola-amplified guitar
JAZZ IN G (Kress-Mottola)
JAZZ IN G is all that survives from Kress’s two 1945 sessions; it’s a duet with Tony Mottola, who considered Kress a mentor. Tony leads here, and we get a good introduction to Carl’s unique sound and chordal conception. This is also a preview of a later partnership with George Barnes.
SOURCE: Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions, notes by Dan Morgenstern, Mosaic Records, MD12-170, 1997.
c. September 1945
RECORDING SESSION FOR SONORA RECORDS, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.
JOE BIVIANO, HIS ACCORDION AND RHYTHM SEXTETTE
Joe accordion, Tony Mottola-amplified guitar, Tony Colucci-acoustic guitar, Michael Colicchio-piano, Ward Lay-bass.
THAT’S A PLENTY
SOURCE: SONORA 1111 A
February 6, 1947
RECORDING SESSION FOR CAPITOL RECORDS, WMCA, NYC.
CARL KRESS
Carl Kress-amplified guitar, Tony Mottola-amplified guitar, Bob Haggart-bass, Terry Snyder-drums, Paul Ricci-clarinet.
BLONDE ON THE LOOSE (Kress, Mottola)
BLONDE ON THE LOOSE, a Kress original in minor, swings at a good clip. The guitar duo starts it off, well backed by the inestimable Bob Haggart.
SOURCE: Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions, notes by Dan Morgenstern, Mosaic Records, MD12-170, 1997.
WALKING BEHIND MISS LUCY (Kress, Haggart)
MISS LUCY (Kress certainly had ladies on his mind) omits the clarinet and proceeds at a relaxed tempo. Bass plays melody on the bridge, the two guitars riff, Haggart walks (he’s featured on this and gets off the SALT Peanuts lick, and Kress takes the last bridge.
SOURCE: Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions, notes by Dan Morgenstern, Mosaic Records, MD12-170, 1997.
SARONG NUMBER (Kress, Mottola)
The ending’s cute-Kress had humor, as his next title, SARONG NUMBER, bears out. This is a bit of exotica with a samba feel. Kress leads, with clarinet touches, and Snyder plays percussion (bongos? small tom-toms?). Clarinet brings on a new theme, and then the opening melody returns, voiced for two guitars and clarinet in unison.
SOURCE: Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions, notes by Dan Morgenstern, Mosaic Records, MD12-170, 1997.
May 20, 1947
RECORDING SESSION FOR CAPITOL RECORDS, WMCA, NYC.
CARL KRESS
Carl Kress-amplified guitar, Tony Mottola-amplified guitar, Bob Haggart-bass, Terry Snyder-drums, Paul Ricci-clarinet.
THE GOOSE FROM GANDER (Kress, Mottola)
Ricci returns for THE GOOSE FROM GANDER (another Kress original and title). Nice voicings here again, and effective tempo changes and interplay.
SOURCE: Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions, notes by Dan Morgenstern, Mosaic Records, MD12-170, 1997.
SWAN OF TONNELLE AVENUE (Kress, Mottola)
SWAN OF TONNELLE STREET, a minor blues that modulates, offers more improvised playing than the other pieces, but there’s arranged stuff as well. Guitarists will relish the Kress-Mottola teamwork.
SOURCE: Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions, notes by Dan Morgenstern, Mosaic Records, MD12-170, 1997.
Tony Mottola publicity photo, c. mid 1940’s, courtesy of the Estate of Tony Mottola.
1950’s
c. August-September 1950
RECORDING SESSION FOR MGM RECORDS, NYC.
TONY MOTTOLA
Tony Mottola: composer (show theme & background music), performer, musical director.
DANGER (TV Series Theme)
Note: First episode broadcast, September 19, 1950
SOURCE: MGM Records – 111
Yul Brynner, Tony Mottola, CBS Television broadcast of “Danger”, c. 1951, courtesy of the Estate of Tony Mottola.
November 16, 1953
RECORDING SESSION FOR SESAC RECORDING, NYC.
TONY MOTTOLA AND HIS ORCHESTRA
Tony Mottola-guitar, Lou Stein-piano, Nick Perito-accordion, Bob Haggart-bass, Terry Snyder-drums, Sylvan Shulman-violin, Mac Ceppos-viola, Maurice Brown-cello, Stan Webb-woodwind.
BLUE GUITAR
SOURCE: Dance Party ... And More Bears – AMB 90011.
c. 1959
RECORDING SESSION FOR COLUMBIA RECORDS, NYC.
JOHNNY MATHIS
Open Fire, Two Guitars
Johnny Mathis-vocal, Tony Mottola-guitar, Al Caiola-guitar, Milt Hinton-bass, Frank Carroll-bass.
TENDERLY
SOURCE: Columbia – CL 1270
1960’s
c. 1961
RECORDING SESSION FOR RCA VICTOR RECORDS, NYC.
PERRY COMO
Sing To Me, Mr. C.
Perry Como-vocal, Tony Mottola-guitar, Mitchell Ayers and His Orchestra.
BLUE SKIES
SOURCE: Perry Como, Sing to Me, Mr. C., RCA Victor – LSP-2390
Perry Como Television show, c. 1966, courtesy of the Estate of Tony Mottola.
c. 1967
RECORDING SESSION FOR PROJECT 3 RECORDS, NYC.
BOBBY HACKETT
Bobby Hackett-cornet, Dave McKenna-piano, Tony Mottola-guitar, Bob Daugherty-bass, Don Lamond-drums.
MY FOOLISH HEART
SOURCE: That Midnight Touch, Project 3 Total Sound – PR5006 SD.
1970’s
c. 1972
RECORDING SESSION FOR PROJECT 3 RECORDS, NYC.
TONY MOTTOLA
Tony Mottola-guitar (solos), Bucky Pizzarelli-seven-string guitar.
SATIN DOLL
SOURCE: Two Guitars for Two in Love, Project 3 Records – PR 5074 SD.
February-March 1974
RECORDING SESSION FOR MONMOUTH EVERGREEN RECORDS, NYC.
THE BUCKY PIZZARELLI GUITAR QUINTET
Bucky Pizzarelli, Artie Ryerson, Barry Galbraith, Allen Hanlon, Tony Mottola, Howie Collins-guitars.
Arrangement: Bill Challis
IN A MIST
SOURCE: Bucky Pizzarelli Playing the Piano Music of Bix Beiderbecke, Bill Challis and Carl Kress & Dick McDonough, Monmouth Evergreen Records MES/7066
1980’s
c. 1980
RECORDING SESSION FOR PROJECT 3 RECORDS, NYC.
TONY MOTTOLA
Tony Mottola – Stardust
Tony Mottola-guitar.
STARDUST
SOURCE: Project 3 Records – PR-5058
March 25, 1982
PERFORMANCE DURING THE STATE DINNER IN HONOR OF ITALIAN PRESIDENT ALESSANDRO PERTINI, EAST ROOM OF THE WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON, D.C.
TONY MOTTOLA & BUCKY PIZZARELLI
Frank Sinatra & Perry Como-Hosts
Tony Mottola-acoustic guitar, Bucky Pizzarelli-amplified seven-string guitar.
ITALIAN MEDLEY
At the White House with President Ronald Reagan, March 25, 1982, courtesy of the Estate of Tony Mottola.
February 28, 1983
RECORDING SESSION FOR REPRISE RECORDS, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.
FRANK SINATRA
Frank Sinatra-vocal, Tony Mottola-guitar, arranger.
IT’S SUNDAY
SOURCE: The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings, Reprise Records – 47045-2.
Recording with Frank Sinatra, Los Angeles, courtesy of the Estate of Tony Mottola.
1988
FILM SOUNDTRACK-RUNNING ON EMPTY
MUSIC BY TONY MOTTOLA
Tony Mottola-guitar, composer, Derek Smith-piano.
RUNNING ON EMPTY THEME
SOURCE: imdb.com
