This is a bit of a departure from the usual fare found on OldiesMusicNut, yet it’s in keeping
with the general theme of Baby Boomer music. The video I put together features some of
the music I grew up on (literally). My earliest influences came from the Italian side of my
family. My grandparents migrated to the U.S. from Piedmont, Italy in the early 20th
century.

A few of the tunes should be familiar to any Oldies But Goodies fan. Elvis Presley
had big hits with two of them: “O Sole Mio” became “It’s Now Or Never;” and “Torno A
Soriento” became “Surrender.” Another tune, “Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu,” also known as
“Volare,” was a big hit for Bobby Rydell, and has been recorded by numerous artists
over the decades.

Piedmont itself is a very interesting part of the world. For example, it’s the
area of ancient Italy where Hannibal came down out of the Alps with his infantry,
cavalry and those elephants. The Italian name is Piemonte, which literally means
“foot of the mountains.” Indeed, one of the spectacular features of Piedmont is
The Italian Alps.

Piedmont is known for its fine wines, great cheeses and wonderful cuisine. It is also
known for some of its industries – Olivetti, Fiat and Lancia, among others, call it home.

One other thing that Piedmont is known for is the highly-prized white truffle,
which is a favorite of famous chefs the world over.

I didn’t intend for this post to be a travelogue or history lesson. You can learn a lot
more cool stuff by following some of the links.

I am rather proud of this video, though. I hope you’ll watch and enjoy it. Hint: It’s much better in fullscreen mode!