Monday 23 January 2017

Teddy Randazzo - May 1959

Rock'n'roller Teddy Randazzo was in Brazil in May 1959 on his way to Buenos Aires, Argentina where he'd been signed by a local TV station. Teddy performed every night at Jardim de Inverno Fasano, on Avenida Paulista, whose ad on Estadão claims: 'astro cinematográfico Teddy Randazzo, o mais sério candidato à corôa de James Dean'.

Randazzo's rock-ballad 'Pretty blue eyes' had been covered by German-Brazilian singer George Freedman for California Records, a small Sao Paulo label but Randazzo's records themselves were not released here.

As Fasano was a posh upper middle-class joint, most Brazilian rock fans could not afford to go and see him, so we could say Teddy Randazzo's tour in Brazil was unfortunately a non-event... or a badly managed one.
30 April 1959 - advertisement on daily 'O Estado de S.Paulo' announces Teddy Randazzo's shows every night from 1st to 7 May 1959, at Jardim de Inverno Fasano.
26 April 1959 - Estadão's columnist Mary Wynne says: No dia 1o. de Maio chegará no Fasano um jovem cantor norte-americano. Teddy Randazzo é especialista em 'rock and roll' e outras musicas queridas da mocidade dos States, apresentando-se trajando 'blue jeans' e cantando tipo Elvis Presley. É possível um show matinée numa tarde, especialmente reservada para o 'younger set' de São Paulo, tudo em beneficio a uma 'sweet charity'. 
29 April 1959 - o Fasano entrará no páreo na sexta-feira quando estreará o jovem cantor de rock'n'roll Teddy Randazzo. Imaginem se se repetir a enchente da noite de Nat 'King' Cole. Naquela noite, quando eu dizia ao ser. Ruggerio Fasano que eu gostaria de ver o mesmo movimento todas as noites, ele respondeu, 'Oh, não, eu não aguentaria!'. 
5 April 1959 - Estadão's columnist Mary Wynne says columnist Egas Muniz told her Jardim de Inverno Fasano would sign some international attractions to perform at their restaurant on Avenida Paulista. US singer Damita Jo would be engaged from 17 to 23 April 1959; Teddy Randazzo would be there from 1st to 7 May 1959.
1st May 1959 - columnist Mary Wynne says: Jardim de Inverno Fasano, com excelente cozinha e impecável serviço, jantar desde as 19:00 horas, musica para dançar com dois ótimos conjuntos a partir das 22:00 horas... jovem cantor norte-americano Teddy Randazzo, especialista em 'rock and roll'. 
3 May 1959 - Here's the proof Teddy Randazzo performed at Jardim de Inverno Fasano for at least 5 days in May 1959. It is really baffling that no photo of Randazzo's ever appeared in any newspaper or magazine. It is really mind-boggling.

20 May 1959 - a little note written by Miguel Vaccaro Netto at daily 'Ultima Hora' says: 'Teddy Randazzo esteve em São Paulo. Passa da gravadora Vik para a ABC-Paramount, a mesma gravadora de Paul Anka.' 
Teddy Randazzo & Lois O'Brien in the movie 'Mr Rock and Roll' starred by Alan Freedman, released by Paramount Pictures on 16 October 1957. This is an E.P. released by RCA Italiana.
Teddy Randazzo & Alan Freed, 'Mr Rock and Roll' himself...