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.
Teardrop
Santo & Johnny Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They say a little tear can hurt an awful lot
But it'll break your heart when it's cause by someone who's forgot
They say a little tear won't ever walk away
Till someone who's gotta stay home comes home to stay
I'm countin' my teardrops as I sit alone and cry
I'm countin' my teardrops as they fall one by one
And I'll keep countin' teardrops till you back again
Things aren't right my world is at an end
And my dreams have gone to pieces seems I just can't win
Since you've been gone I don't know what I'll do
Cause my dream world's built around dreams that'll never come true
I'm countin' my teardrops as they fall one by one
Each tear reminds me that you said goodbye
I'm countin' my teardrops as I sit alone and cry
Now I'll keep countin' teardrops till you back again
And I'll keep countin' teardrops till you back again
The song "Teardrop" by Santo & Johnny is a heartfelt tribute to a loved one who is moving on with their life while acknowledging that sometimes things do not always go as planned. The lyrics convey the idea that even if the singer's beloved partner finds happiness with someone else, they will remain faithful and supportive. The first verse declares that the singer wishes their partner happiness, which is the most important thing, even if that happiness comes from someone else. The second verse, in Spanish, reiterates this sentiment in a slightly different way, but adds a promise to be there if the partner ever needs support during times of sadness. The chorus underscores the singer's steadfast commitment, as they promise to wipe away any tears shed by their partner and vow to be there before the next teardrop falls.
Overall, the message of the song is one of enduring love and friendship, even in the face of adversity and change. The lyrics are simple and straightforward but are delivered with sincerity and warmth, aided in no small part by Santo & Johnny's soft and soothing instrumental accompaniment.
Line by Line Meaning
If he brings you happiness
If your partner makes you happy
Then I wish you all the best
I wish you the best in your relationship
It's your happiness that matters most of all
Your happiness is the most important thing
But if he ever breaks your heart
If your partner ever hurts you
If the teardrops ever start
If you start to cry
I'll be there before the next teardrop falls
I'll be there to comfort you even before you start crying
Si te quire de verdad
If he loves you truly
Y te da felicidad
And he brings you happiness
Te deseo lo mas bueno pa' los dos
I wish the best for both of you
Pero si te hare llorar
But if he ever makes you cry
A mi me puedes hablar
You can talk to me
Y estare contigo cuando triste estas
And I'll be with you when you're sad
I'll be there anytime
I'll be there whenever you need me
You need me by your side
You need me to be with you
To drive away every teardrop that you cried
To make you stop crying
And if he ever leaves you blue
And if your partner ever makes you sad
Just remember, I love you
Remember that I love you
And I'll be there before the next teardrop falls
And I'll be there to comfort you even before you start crying
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@zagozago9893
One of the most beautiful pieces of music ever recorded.
@bloke372
Isn't it just. This was the very record I bought way way back in 1959. Played it to death. It is still one of my all time favorite's
@bloke372
This was the very first vinyl record I ever bought way ,way back in the late fifties. I still play it and I never tire listening to it
@johnhautla2119
Sometimes a sad song can pick you up and make you realize how lucky you are.
@kroov2008
John Hautla took my words out of my mouth
@soakedinbleach7880
John Hautla or maybe how lucky you were...
@johnhautla2119
@wonderfulnmarvelous I hate meat loaf!
@arslanelahmer2729
๐
@TC-lk9xy
During this time right now , covid19 , this reigns true !
@unsane7188
I love older music. I let friends of mine hear it and they just shrug their shoulders. I really donโt understand how they canโt feel it in their bones.