They are best known for their instrumental "Sleep Walk", which became a regional hit and eventually reached the top of the Billboard pop chart when it was released nationally in 1959.
At present, Santo is semi-retired and Johnny tours and records new material with his own band. Johnny is also the president of Aniraf, Inc., an international record company based in New York.
Santo and Johnny Farina were born in Brooklyn, New York; Santo on October 24, 1937 and Johnny on April 30, 1941. Their father was drafted into the Army while they were children and was stationed for some time in Oklahoma. After hearing a steel guitar on the radio, he wrote to his wife, "I'd like the boys to learn to play this instrument".
Upon returning from World War II, the boys' father found a music teacher who gave the boys steel guitar lessons. When Santo was a teenager, he was able to get a local music store to modify an acoustic guitar, allowing him to play it like a steel guitar.
Within two years, Santo was performing in amateur shows on a new Gibson six-string steel guitar and had started receiving lessons from a steel guitar teacher who had studied in Hawaii. By the age of fourteen, Santo was composing songs, and formed an instrumental trio with a guitarist and drummer. This trio appeared at local dances and parties, performing both original compositions and some Hawaiian standards. With money Santo made from these performances, he bought a Fender steel guitar, one with three necks, each with eight strings. This allowed him to experiment even further, and he tried different tunings until he found ones that appealed to him.
When Johnny reached the age of twelve, he began to play accompaniment to Santo on a standard electric guitar. The brothers soon formed a duo and became rather popular in school, eventually performing at events in the New York boroughs. They recorded a demo which they circulated to local New York record companies.
In 1958, Mike Dee & The Mello Tones (Santo Farina, steel guitar; Johnny Farina, guitar and their uncle Mike Dee, drums) recorded a self-penned instrumental which they called "Deep Sleep". Loosely inspired by the song "Softly, As In The Morning Sunrise" (Sigmund Romberg, 1929), it had the same chord progression but a simpler melody line.
"Deep Sleep" became "Sleep Walk" and in September 1959 it topped the American charts.
The brothers eventually came to the attention of a music publishing company and signed a song writer's contract and eventually a contract with Canadian-American Records. Their first release, "Sleep Walk", was composed by the two brothers. (The original single credits three Farinas, including an "A. Farina" for the composition. It's sometimes reported that their mother or sister helped, but this is apparently false.) It was recorded at Trinity Records in Manhattan. "Sleep Walk" entered Billboard's 'Top 40' on August 17, 1959. It rose to the No. 1 position for two weeks in September (the 21st and the 28th) and remained in the 'Top 40' list until November 9. It was the last instrumental to hit #1 in the 1950s and earned Santo & Johnny a gold record. The follow-up song "Tear Drop" was also a hit, though their LP Santo & Johnny was less successful in the United States.
After touring Europe, Mexico, and Australia, Santo & Johnny signed to an Italian record label and had several hits in Europe that included "Sleep Walk", "Love Story", "Maria Elena", "Ebb Tide", "Love is Blue", "Enchanted Sea", and others.[citation needed] In 1964, they released an album of The Beatles covers; "And I Love Her" hit #1 in Mexico and held the spot for 21 weeks. In 1973, Santo & Johnny recorded the theme to the movie The Godfather, which went to #1 in Italy and stayed at that spot for 21 weeks. They received a gold record in Italy and were inducted into the Italian Music Hall of Fame.
Johnny Farina currently operates the official Santo And Johnny worldwide website, which includes current tour dates, discography, biography, trivia and new merchandise Farina also currently operates the official Johnny MySpace page, which includes current tour dates, discography, biography, and audio samples from his new solo albums.
"Sleep Walk" continues to be popular due to consistent radio airplay as well as its usage in commercials, television shows, and movies. One of the first covers was by Betsy Brye (stage name of Bette Anne Steele) in 1959. While Santo & Johnny wrote lyrics for "Sleep Walk", they never recorded a lyrical version, but Betsy Brye's version included these lyrics. It has been also covered by The Shadows, Stray Cats, The Ventures, Jake Shimabukuro, Amos Garrett, Kenny Vance and the Planotones, Larry Carlton, Deftones, Chet Atkins, Danny Gatton, Leo Kottke, The Sir Douglas Quintet, Jonathan Richman, Larry Berwald, and Joe Satriani. Indie group Modest Mouse also covered the song with lyrics and entitled their version "Sleepwalkin'". A version by Brian Setzer received a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of 1998. "Sleep Walk" was used throughout the 1992 Stephen King film, Sleepwalkers. "Sleep Walk" also plays a role in the 1995 Terry Gilliam sci-fi film, 12 Monkeys. It is also played in the end scene of "La Bamba" after protagonist Ritchie Valens dies. The song can also be heard in "Eddie and the Cruisers" as well as in the film "Hearts in Atlantis" starring Anthony Hopkins. Tim Kring's 'Heroes' which aired on NBC also featured "Sleep Walk" playing on a record in a diner, from the episode '1961'.
Santo & Johnny were inducted into The Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 2002.
Blue Moon
Santo & Johnny Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
月明かり ふたりだけの船
浮かべ見つめあって話をしようよ
小さな頃の夢
苦手な味 好きな季節も
僕はまだまだ君のこと知らないけど
ちょっと無理して笑ったりして
空もしょんぼりさ
Baby 月が結んだ出会い
僕があげられるものは何もないから
「代わりに漕ぐよ」なんて言ったら
ちょっと目を逸らした隙に消えちゃいそう
でも気づいてないフリできない
僕はそんな君を守りたいから
Woo, woo, woo, woo
またそうやって 誰かの幸せばっか願って眠れないん?
こんな傷だらけでどこへいくん
ここにおいでよ ayy
僕にはそんな顔しなくていい
そう思いながらくしゃっと笑う君が眩しい
優しさを振り翳すわけじゃない君はもう (あほじゃん)
きっと何度傷ついても
ちょっと無理して笑っちゃうから
空も晴れるのさ
Baby もっとワガママになってみせてよ
君を困らせる全部
「代わりに持つよ」触れかけた心
そっと分けてくれるまで待つよ
Baby もう幸せを受け取って
これ以上なにも望めやしない
今は 頭を撫でて側にいるだけさ
Once in a blue moon
つぎの月夜まで
また気づいてないフリをしよう (ayy, ayy)
僕はそんな君を守りたいから
Woo yeah, woo, woo eh eh eh, woo, woo (yeah), oh, oh
Santo & Johnny's song "Blue Moon" is a romantic and melancholic piece, reflecting on the mystery and beauty of moonlit nights. The lyrics describe two people who have just met, feeling a connection despite not knowing each other very well. The singer cherishes this moment and reaches out to protect the person he just met, wanting to keep her safe and happy.
The song has a dreamy quality to it, enhanced by the haunting guitar melodies and the occasional "Woo, woo, woo" that punctuates the verses. The lyrics capture a feeling of fleetingness and impermanence, as if the encounter between the two people could only last for a moment before disappearing forever. Nevertheless, the singer is determined to hold onto the memory of this night and make it count.
Overall, "Blue Moon" is a poignant love song that captures the essence of a powerful and ephemeral moment between two people.
Line by Line Meaning
霧がかった 神秘的な夜
A mysterious night, covered in fog
月明かり ふたりだけの船
Moonlight on a boat alone with just the two of us
浮かべ見つめあって話をしようよ
We float and stare at each other, talking
小さな頃の夢
Dreams from when we were young
苦手な味 好きな季節も
The taste we dislike and the season we like
僕はまだまだ君のこと知らないけど
But I still don't know much about you
きっとなんかのためにさ
Surely, for some reason
ちょっと無理して笑ったりして
We force ourselves to smile
空もしょんぼりさ
The sky is also gloomy
Baby 月が結んだ出会い
Baby, a meeting made by the moon
僕があげられるものは何もないから
I have nothing to give
「代わりに漕ぐよ」なんて言ったら
I say, 'I'll row instead'
ちょっと目を逸らした隙に消えちゃいそう
And you seem like you could disappear while my gaze is turned away
でも気づいてないフリできない
But I can't pretend I haven't noticed
僕はそんな君を守りたいから
Because I want to protect you like that
またそうやって 誰かの幸せばっか願って眠れないん?
Do you find yourself unable to sleep because you're always wishing for someone else's happiness?
こんな傷だらけでどこへいくん
With all these scars, where are we going?
ここにおいでよ ayy
Come here ayy
僕にはそんな顔しなくていい
You don't have to make that kind of face towards me
そう思いながらくしゃっと笑う君が眩しい
But you are stunning while smiling bashfully like that
優しさを振り翳すわけじゃない君はもう (あほじゃん)
You aren't pretending to be kind anymore (you're a fool)
きっと何度傷ついても
Surely, no matter how many times we're hurt
ちょっと無理して笑っちゃうから
We'll still force ourselves to smile
空も晴れるのさ
And the sky will clear
Baby もっとワガママになってみせてよ
Baby, show me more of your selfishness
君を困らせる全部
Everything that troubles you
「代わりに持つよ」触れかけた心
I'll hold that heart you almost let go of instead
そっと分けてくれるまで待つよ
I'll wait for you to gently share it with me
Baby もう幸せを受け取って
Baby, accept happiness
これ以上なにも望めやしない
We can't ask for anything else
今は 頭を撫でて側にいるだけさ
Right now, I'm just patting your head, by your side
Once in a blue moon
Once in a blue moon
つぎの月夜まで
Until the next moonlit night
また気づいてないフリをしよう (ayy, ayy)
Let's pretend not to notice again (ayy, ayy)
僕はそんな君を守りたいから
Because I want to protect you like that
Woo yeah, woo, woo eh eh eh, woo, woo (yeah), oh, oh
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: eill, Ryo Miyata
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adaptable Vision
Blue moon
You saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own
Blue moon
You knew just what I was there for
You heard me saying a pray for
Someone I really could care for
Blue moon
You saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own
Blue moon
Without a love of my own
Adaptable Vision
Blue moon
You saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own
Blue moon
You knew just what I was there for
You heard me saying a pray for
Someone I really could care for
Blue moon
You saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own
Blue moon
Without a love of my own
SOMEGUY Youknwo
In my head it sounds perfect
Your lameo husband
Duuuude that was neat.
90sHONEY
@Your lameo husband that's the version with lyrics by Sha Na Na, it's really good
Oliver Chaos [SwizzPower]
Was thinking about Fallout instantly ^^
Eru Salinas
Una joya, para viajar por la carretera. Mirando los cielos y las nubes desplazarse suavemente.
Gabriel Lungo
Que imensa sensibilidade para criar esta releitura incrível
Alegria VIDA
Blue moon, para una velada romántica junto a mi chica, viendo la noche y sus estrellas, charlando sentados con dos copas de vino, una sonrisa y viéndonos a los ojos....Un momento inolvidable
Maryurie Martinez
Perfect 😍
Ecomerce Master
No se puede. A mi chica le gusta Harry styles. Y. Billie Elish trash music