Songwriters Hall of Fame

Tenor Enrico Caruso has been credited as ‘perhaps the most legendary singer who ever lived’ and the individual most ‘responsible for the early growth of the recording industry.’

Caruso was born in Naples, Italy on February 27, 1873. He made his operatic debut in 1894. Under the tutelage of Vergine and under conductor Vincenzo Lombardi, Caruso’s first success came with his performance of ‘La Gioconda’ in 1897. After being acclaimed throughout Europe, Caruso came to America in 1902 and began his long association with the New York Metropolitan Opera. In 1904, his first recording for Victor Records created a sensation. The great tenor’s death on August 2, 1921 was internationally mourned.

Among his more than 40 hit recordings were ‘I Pagliacci-Vesti La Giubba (On With the Play)’ (#1, 1907), ‘La Boheme (Farewell Sweet Love)’ (#4, 1908), ‘Love is Mine’ (#1, 1912), ‘Dreams of Long Ago’ (#2, 1912), ‘Your Eyes Have Told Me What I Did Not Know’ (#4, 1913), ‘O Sole Mio (My Sunshine)’ (#3, 1916), ‘Santa Lucia (Neapolitan Folk Song)’ (#4, 1916) and ‘Over There’ (#1, 1918).