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.
Tenderly
Santo & Johnny Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling for you and for me;
Patiently Jesus is waiting and watching
Watching for you and for me!
You who are weary, come home!
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!
Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies
Mercies for you and for me?
Come home! come home!
You who are weary, come home!
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!
Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing
Passing from you and for me;
Shadows are gathering, death-beds are coming
Coming for you and for me!
Come home! come home!
You who are weary, come home!
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!
The lyrics to Santo & Johnny's "Tenderly" are a poignant call to those who are lost or searching for spiritual guidance. The song speaks of Jesus calling out for those who are lost, waiting patiently for them to return home. The lines are written in a gentle and soothing manner, with the repetition of "softly and tenderly" adding to the calming effect of the song.
The chorus of the song urges the listener to come home and find peace and rest in their faith. The line "you who are weary, come home," speaks to those who may be struggling with the challenges of life and are looking for a place of solace. The verses continue to remind the listener that time is fleeting and that death is inevitable, urging them to make the choice to return to their faith before it is too late.
Overall, the lyrics of "Tenderly" offer a message of hope and salvation to those who may be searching for spiritual guidance. The gentle, yet urgent nature of the song provides a comforting reminder that no matter how lost we may feel, we can always find our way home.
Line by Line Meaning
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling
Jesus is calling for you and for me in a soft and gentle manner
Calling for you and for me;
Jesus is calling both you and me to come home
Patiently Jesus is waiting and watching
Jesus is patiently waiting for us and watching over us
Watching for you and for me!
Jesus is keeping an eye out for both you and me
Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading
There is no reason for us to delay when Jesus is imploring us to come home
Pleading for you and for me?
Jesus is begging both you and me to come home to him
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies
There is no reason for us to hesitate and ignore the mercies that Jesus is offering
Mercies for you and for me?
Jesus is offering mercy to both you and me
Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing
Time is running out and we must act now
Passing from you and for me;
Time is passing for both you and me and we must act quickly
Shadows are gathering, death-beds are coming
Death is approaching and we must be prepared
Coming for you and for me!
Death will come for both you and me, and we must be ready to face it
Come home! come home!
Jesus is urging us to come home to him
You who are weary, come home!
Jesus wants those who are tired and burdened to come home to him
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Jesus is sincerely and gently calling us
Calling, O sinner, come home!
Jesus is calling all sinners to come home to him
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL MICKELSON, WILL L. THOMPSON, ERNEST FORD, JACK FASCINATO, WILL THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@adriennetheapis2122
The evening breeze
Caressed the trees
Tenderly
The trembling trees
Embraced the breeze
Tenderly
And then you and I
Came wandering by
And lost in a sigh
Were we
The shore was kissed
By sea and mist
Tenderly
I shan't forget
How two hearts met
Breathlessly
Your arms opened wide
And closed me inside
You took my words
You took my love
Tenderly
@fernandojavierhernandez3806
...De qué país perdido en el romanticismo eres...?
...Quizá seas paisana mía...!!!
...Créeme, los románticos y amorosos como nosotros somos especímenes en extinción.
Nadie nos aprecia porque es difícil que los cerdos aprecien las perlas...
...No tienes idea de cuánta razón tienes.
Es una...
De muchísimas canciones bellísimas...
Supongo que también te han de agradar muchas de Santo&Jhonny Farina, antes de que exista tanta difusión del internet....
Me costó mucho conocer su material.
Pero hay más
Busca, Shangri la, de Maxwell
Te va a fascinar...
Saludos desde Cancún Quintana Roo...
México
@pepemetzgermeister
Amé este comentario. Porque a mí me pasó más o menos lo mismo, sólo que nunca la busqué. Tampoco tuve en la vida intensión alguna de buscarla. De hecho fueron, un día -hace ya 2 o 3 años-, los pajarillos de la casualidad quienes se posaron sobre mis hombros, sin darme cuenta, mientras escuchaba (como acostumbro) música rándom en Youtube cuando, cual si de súbito y TAMAÑO BOFETÓN se tratase, empieza a reproducirse esta canción.
Me incorporé como por instinto, torpemente y no con poca dificultad.
Ciertamente estaba recostado en un viejísimo (y no muy placentero) sillón individual que me llevé a mi cuarto, y donde suelo acomodarme para escuchar música, adoptando para ésto posiciones comodísimas, pero imposibles para los propósitos de aquellos quienes divulgan los beneficios de mantener una postura adecuada. Pero, 1.5 (o tal vez 2, tal vez 3... 4) segundos después, tenía ya la cara pegada a la pantalla.
Mis ojos la recorrían como locos, pero sin enfocarse en nada concreto, como si en algún píxel solitario estuviera escondido el secreto perdido del sentido de la vida; la piedra filosofal que andaban buscando Harry, Ron y Hermione; una grapa de metanfetamina que, de pura casualidad y sin darse cuenta, alguien hubiere dejado tirada por'ay; o la media cajetilla de cigarros que no encontraba desde hacía 2 horas que me había bajado a la cocina para asaltar el refrigerador aprovechando que eran las 3 de la mañana y, por ende, mis padres estaban definitiva y completamente getones.
Mis ojos moviéndose por la pantalla... Una y otra vez, una y otra vez. No entendía qué estaba sucediendo!.. Una y otra vez, una y otra vez, mientras escuchaba y al mismo tiempo recordaba. Estaba en auténtico trance. Mis ojos no paraban... una y otra vez, una y otra vez... Una y otra y otra maldita vez...
Veía a mi padre, era domingo al rededor de las 11 de la mañana...
La canción sonaba, el Sol brillaba, y la puerta de la casa estaba abierta como cuando era domingo y el Sol brillaba al rededor de las 11 de la mañana...
La canción sonaba, mis ojos se movían en la pantalla y era de madrugada...Era domingo, el Sol brillaba, eran las 11 de la mañana y veía a mi padre escuchar música como solía hacerlo todos los putos domingos al rededor de las 11 de la mañana, SIEMPRE Y CUANDO! el Sol brillara como solía brillar con el fresco del otoño matinal que hacía en Valle cuando yo estaba bien morro.
- Pam, pam pám pammmmmm... - Balbuceaba yo, cuando estaba bien morro, todos "los domingos de música de Papá Oso".
- Pam, pam pám pam... - Balbuceé esa madrugada, hace 2 o 3 años... no recuerdo bien cuando...
- Paaam, paaam, pammpammpampammpammpammpammm- Balbuceo, mientras escribo. Son las 12:04 de la mañana...
...
Terminó la canción, parpadeo rápido como para sacudirme la confusión de la cara... escucho el silencio... observo la nada... y me quedo así por un rato.
Parpadeo, de nuevo... en el teclado pulso el botón donde solía haber un "0" y un "=" que ya casi se han borrado por completo... la canción empieza, de nuevo... me acomodo bien en el sillón, hurgo para sacar debajo, y prendo la mitad del cigarro que siempre dejo bien reservado.
Es domingo, tengo no-sé-cuántos-pinches-años, escucho música y me fumo la mitad del cigarro que siempre dejo BIEN RESERVADO.
@adriennetheapis2122
The evening breeze
Caressed the trees
Tenderly
The trembling trees
Embraced the breeze
Tenderly
And then you and I
Came wandering by
And lost in a sigh
Were we
The shore was kissed
By sea and mist
Tenderly
I shan't forget
How two hearts met
Breathlessly
Your arms opened wide
And closed me inside
You took my words
You took my love
Tenderly
@franciscodiaz7659
Está música..... me transporta a lugares tan maravillosos y me relaja.
@funkybrekfst
Como me hace sonreír esta canción...y llorar al mismo tiempo.
Tan preciosa
@fernandojavierhernandez3806
...De qué país perdido en el romanticismo eres...?
...Quizá seas paisana mía...!!!
...Créeme, los románticos y amorosos como nosotros somos especímenes en extinción.
Nadie nos aprecia porque es difícil que los cerdos aprecien las perlas...
...No tienes idea de cuánta razón tienes.
Es una...
De muchísimas canciones bellísimas...
Supongo que también te han de agradar muchas de Santo&Jhonny Farina, antes de que exista tanta difusión del internet....
Me costó mucho conocer su material.
Pero hay más
Busca, Shangri la, de Maxwell
Te va a fascinar...
Saludos desde Cancún Quintana Roo...
México
@jorgealbertoandrademunoz5511
Increíblemente bella esta melodía.....saludos amiga.
@FelipaoElTrovador
Que buena música...no hay nada como llegar del trabajo, relajarse y tomarse un cafecito escuchando esta canción jejeje XD
@526gerker
WOW!!! Esta música ... es increible los arreglos que hiciceron para varias canciones, es espectacular. Me encanta, es romántica. te transporta...
@danielaviles2747
Particular éxito de pieza de arte musical.
Recuerdo invaluable de infancia
Complemento insustituible; impulso de triunfar ..
INSTRUMENTAL HISTORY II. 🕴❤ Pista:4. Farina Brothers.
@sdlogan866
Una belleza de canción.
@chocomarin24
Esta cancion se la dedique a mi hijo y cada que la escucho revivo esos momentos con el