Chianese worked as a bricklayer with his father and attended night school during the 1950s, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Speech and Theater from Brooklyn College in 1961. His earliest stage work occurred in 1952 with a Gilbert and Sullivan repertory company of singers, actors, and musicians called The American Savoyards, under the direction of Dorothy Raedler.
After a decade of doing theatre, both in college and off-Broadway shows, Chianese attended his first professional acting class at HB Studios, with renowned teacher Walt Witcover in Manhattan. Acting became Chianese's passion, along with musical theater. His first Broadway show was Oliver! in 1965. Since then he has worked at regional theatres, off-Broadway and on Broadway all through the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. To supplement income in the dry periods, he sang and played rhythm guitar in saloons and restaurants. Chianese's first television credit was due to George C. Scott recommending him for his acclaimed series East Side, West Side. In 1974, Francis Ford Coppola cast him as "Johnny Ola" in The Godfather, Part II, which set a film career in motion, culminating with several films (and plays) with Al Pacino.
Before getting the call for Godfather II, Chianese was working for the Drug Commission of New York State as a recreational worker in a rehab center. He was teaching guitar to women who were serving time for drug-related crimes.
Chianese is a musician, having released a CD (fittingly titled "Hits") in 2000, where he sings American and Italian songs. He even performed Salvatore Cardillo's sentimental classic "Core 'ngrato" ("Ungrateful Heart"), on the third-season finale of The Sopranos.
His manager is Brian Liebman, who is also the manager of soap opera star Mark Consuelos.
He is a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominic_Chianese
Ramona
Dominic Chianese Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the mountains high
Seem to kiss the sky
Someone is out yonder, o'er the hills
Waiting patiently, Waiting just for me
Ramona, I hear the mission bells above
Ramona, they're ringing out our song of love
To always remember the rambling rose you wear in your hair
Ramona, when day is done you'll hear my call
Ramona, we'll meet beside the water fall
I dread the dawn when I awake to find you gone
Ramona I need you my own
Let's wander out yonder o'er the hills
By a babbling brook
Where we'll find a nook
To build our own love nest, o'er the hills
Darling of my heart, Never more to part
Ramona, I hear the mission bells above
Ramona, they're ringing out our song of love
I press you, caress you, and bless the day you taught me to care
To always remember the rambling rose you wear in your hair
Ramona, when day is done you'll hear my call
Ramona, we'll meet beside the water fall
I dread the dawn when I awake to find you gone
Ramona I need you my own
The lyrics of Dominic Chianese's Ramona evoke a sense of longing for a loved one who is waiting patiently "out yonder, o'er the hills." The imagery of the mountains kissing the sky and the babbling brook where the two lovers will build their own love nest offers a picturesque backdrop to a heartfelt love song. The lyrics describe the singer's adoration for Ramona, evident in the repetition of her name throughout the song. He speaks of the mission bells ringing out their song of love and the importance of the rambling rose that she wears in her hair. The lyrics express the singer's fear of losing Ramona, as he dreads the dawn when he awakes to find her gone.
Line by Line Meaning
I wander out yonder o'er the hills
Where the mountains high
Seem to kiss the sky
Someone is out yonder, o'er the hills
Waiting patiently, Waiting just for me
I am walking in the hills, where the tall mountains touch the sky. There is someone out there, waiting just for me, patiently.
Ramona, I hear the mission bells above
Ramona, they're ringing out our song of love
I press you, caress you, and bless the day you taught me to care
To always remember the rambling rose you wear in your hair
Ramona, when day is done you'll hear my call
Ramona, we'll meet beside the water fall
I dread the dawn when I awake to find you gone
Ramona I need you my own
Ramona, I hear the sounds of the mission bells above us, ringing out our love song. I hold you close and bless the day you taught me how to love and care for you. I will always remember the rose you wear in your hair. When day is done, I will call for you and we will meet by the waterfall. I fear the morning when I will wake to find you gone, Ramona, because I need you to be mine.
Let's wander out yonder o'er the hills
By a babbling brook
Where we'll find a nook
To build our own love nest, o'er the hills
Darling of my heart, Never more to part
Let's walk out into the hills by a babbling brook, where we can find a secluded spot to build our own love nest. Darling of my heart, we will never be apart.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: L. Wolfe Gilbert, Mabel Wayne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind