Early Life
Stuarti was born Lorenzo Scapone in Rome, Italy. His parents fled Italy for the United States when Benito Mussolini came to power, but he was left behind with an aunt who placed him in the Monte Cassino Abbey, where he was raised by monks. He joined his family in Newark, New Jersey in 1934, where he finished school and worked with his father, a baker by trade.[2]
In 1940, he joined the Merchant Marines and was assigned aboard the Liberty Ship SS Charles Pratt,[3] a Panamanian based tanker. On December 21, 1940, the ship was torpedoed by a German U-Boat. He survived the attack and after his service in the Merchant Marines, he returned to Italy for voice training in order to pursue his ambition of singing professionally. He studied for a time at the Accademia di Santa Ceccila in Rome.[2]
Broadway Career
Stuarti's first Broadway show was Hollywood Pinafore[4] followed by Nellie Bly.[5] Then in 1946, he was cast in the role of Passepartout in the Cole Porter/Orson Welles musical Around the World.[6] The production was not considered a success though, closing after a run of just seventy-five performances. Additional Broadway credits included As the Girls Go,[7] Two on an Isle, Me and Juliet,[8] and By the Beautiful Sea.[9][10] During this time he was performing under the stage names "Larry Laurence" (sometimes spelled "Lawrence") and "Larry Stuart".[11]
Recording Career
Toward the end of 1954, he took the name "Enzo Stuarti" at the suggestion of Ed Sullivan, who thought he should have a more Italian-sounding name.[2] He began reworking his voice and focusing on a career as a semi-classical vocalist. His first big break came when Jubilee Records signed him in 1960. Stuarti's debut album, We're Not Strangers (JPL 1041) enjoyed moderate success, but it was a last-minute engagement at the Plaza Hotel's Persian Room that began to get the singer noticed.[2] The press response was favorable and this prompted Jubilee to try a two-faceted promotion push. First came his second album, Enzo Stuarti at the Plaza (JLP 5022) followed by presenting the singer in an arranged promotional concert at Carnegie Hall, which was recorded and later released as a two-record set, Enzo Stuarti Arrives at Carnegie Hall (JGM2-5055). Well recorded and well produced, the album helped to establish Stuarti's standing as a vocalist and night club performer, and he considered the performance to be one of the high points of his career.[2] Next came a tribute album to the late tenor Mario Lanza, with whom Stuarti had understudied[2] and to whom he was sometimes compared.[12] This album was repeatedly re-released on several different labels under various titles.[12]
He released over 30 recordings for several labels, including Jubilee, Epic, Columbia, Roulette, Diplomat and Spin-O-Rama. During the 1960's and into the early 70's, he was a frequent guest on televisions shows such as The Tonight Show and appeared in a series of commercials for Ragú spaghetti sauce, where his catchphrase was "That's A'Nice!"[1] He played major venues in Las Vegas, New York City, and Atlantic City. He also performed at events such as Italian-American festivals. In 1983, he performed at a mass wedding presided over by Sun Myung Moon.[2]
Critical opinions of Stuarti's music were mixed. A Washington Post writer called his voice "rich in bravura and overpowering in its fullness".[2] Time described his voice as one of "cocktails-and-dancing dimensions," but said "he makes the most of it" with the help of electronic amplification.[12] Other critics complained that he was overly loud, with one writer saying "he concentrated on volume to the exclusion of style.
Personal Life
While studying in Rome, he responded to an advertisement by Ferrari race cars for test drivers. He needed the income and applied, driving professionally for a brief period. He developed a passion for cars, eventually owning more than 700 of them.[2]
Stuarti married twice. In 1942 he married Esther Mesce, with whom he had two children. They divorced in 1972. He married Thelma Donohoo in 1975.[2] He retired in 2004, and died on December 16, 2005, in Midland, Texas
All the Things You Are
Enzo Stuarti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That makes the lonely winter seem long.
You are the breathless hush of evening
That trembles on the brink of a lovely song.
You are the angel glow that lights a star,
The dearest things I know are what you are.
Some day my happy arms will hold you,
And some day I'll know that moment divine,
In Enzo Stuarti's song "All The Things You Are," the lyrics paint a picture of a love that is so pure and powerful that it can overcome anything, including the loneliness of winter. The first line of the song, "You are the promised kiss of springtime," sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics. It suggests that the object of the singer's love is like a promise of hope and renewal after a long, dark winter.
The second line, "That makes the lonely winter seem long," further emphasizes this idea. It suggests that the singer's love for this person is so strong that it can make even the longest and coldest of winters seem bearable. The third line, "You are the breathless hush of evening," further adds to the romantic imagery of the song. It suggests a sense of stillness and calm that descends upon the world when the object of the singer's love is near.
The final line, "When all the things you are, are mine!" brings the song to a climax. It suggests a sense of longing and anticipation for a time when the singer's love for this person will be fully realized. The lyrics of "All The Things You Are" suggest a powerful and all-consuming love that can overcome even the coldest and darkest of winters.
Line by Line Meaning
You are the promised kiss of springtime
You are the hope and renewal that comes with the arrival of spring after a long and lonely winter.
That makes the lonely winter seem long.
You have the power to amplify the feeling of loneliness during winter by being absent.
You are the breathless hush of evening
You are the stillness and peace that comes with the end of a tumultuous day.
That trembles on the brink of a lovely song.
The peace that you bring is so strong, it feels like it could burst into a beautiful melody at any second.
You are the angel glow that lights a star,
Your presence gives everything a warm and comforting light, much like how a star illuminates the darkness.
The dearest things I know are what you are.
You are the most precious and valuable thing among everything that I hold dear.
Some day my happy arms will hold you,
I look forward to the day when I can embrace you and hold you close in my arms.
And some day I'll know that moment divine,
I anticipate the sublime experience of being with you, a moment that transcends time and space.
When all the things you are, are mine!
When I finally possess everything that you are, I will have reached the pinnacle of happiness and fulfillment.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TRADITIONAL, ALF CLAUSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dave Greene
Stupendous Stuarti, and terrific accompaniment too, with shimmering strings!