Italian operetta, song and film music composer Ezio Carabella, was born in Rome to Adolfo and Flavia Moriggi, according to one source (Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani), but to unknown parents according to most other sources. He received diplomas in both piano and organ, and studied composition and orchestra conducting as well at the Conservatorio di musica Santa Cecilia and Conservatorio di Milano; he graduated from the musical school in Pesaro in 1916. In August 1922, his three-act operetta “Don Gil dale Calze Verdi premiered in Rome and in October in Venice. He was one of the pioneers in Italy of musical composition for sound films. He and Felice Lattuada collaborated in 1931 for the music for Gennaro Righelli’s “Patatrac.” This was the beginning of a long career in music for films during which he created more than 85 soundtracks. His only child, the actress Flora Carabella, married Marcello Mastroianni.

He was a Spanish archaeologist.

Born in Naples, Italian American composer Salvatore Cardillo studied piano and composition and graduated from university in Italy before emigrating to the United States in 1903. He became a prolific songwriter and movie soundtrack composer. His most famous song is “Cora ‘Ngrato,” which he wrote, with lyrics in Neapolitan dialect by Riccardo Cordifierro (also known as Alessandro Sisca). Enrico Caruso was the first of many tenors to add it to his repertoire. He was followed by Mario Lanza, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, and others. Tino Rossi who sang it in France, dared to use the original Neapolitan dialect rather than a French translation, as was the custom at a time when songs were only sung in French in France. An extract of this song was even used in Bruce Lee’s 1972 film “The Way of the Dragon.” In 1921, Cardillo composed “Barcarola” with Neapolitan lyrics by Edoardo San Giovanni, published by G. Schirmer Inc. in New York, along with “Oi Luna” (O Silvery Moon) with words by Cordifierro.