Singer-songwriter, composer and violinist born in Naples, Italy, whose father gave him his instrumental and musical training.
He is best known for writing “O Sole Mio” with words by his friend Giovanni Capurro, although in 1973, it was decided in a lawsuit that additional songwriting credit should be given to Capua’s assistant and transcriber Alfredo Mazzucchi.
Other songs now credited to Capua and Mazzucchi include “Santa Lucia Luntana” and “Tornaa Surriento”.
Having to work to make enough money to continue to compose he led an orchestra and in the intervals taught singing.
Although his compositions are often associated with Venice, Capua was Neopolitan, and recently the Venice city council has been making noises about banning “O Sole Mio” from its canals, where gondoliers have serenaded tourists for years with the popular tune.
He died in Milan, Italy, in 1917 when he was 51 years old.
John Schneider recordings
It’s Now Or Never (Eduardo di Capua/Wally Gold/Alfredo Mazzucchi/Aaron Schroeder)
Sources:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eduardo_di_Capua
- http://www.answers.com/topic/eduardo-di-capua-classical-musician?cat=entertainment
- http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?tt=url&trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.napoletanita.it%2Fdicapua.htm&lp=it_en&.intl=us
- http://www.originals.be/eng/main.cfm?c=t_upd_show&id=4574
- http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/eduardo-di-capua_%28Dizionario-Biografico%29/
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/525468-Eduardo-di-Capua