Artist:Santo & Johnny
Song:Sleepwalk
Album:Sleepwalk
The instrumental Sleepwalk topped the charts in 1959. It was the only big hit for Santo & Johnny. Some of their other songs charted so they are not a one hit wonder. But Sleepwalk was their only memorable song. Santo and Johnny Farina are brothers from Brooklyn, NY. Santo was born Oct. 24, 1937. Johnny was born Apr. 30, 1941. While he was stationed in the US Army during WWII, their father heard a steel guitar on the radio and insisted to his wife that the boys should learn how to play it. When he returned, he found a music teacher who taught the boys steel guitar. Back in those days, the steel guitar was mostly identified with Hawaiian music. So the chances that Santo & Johnny would be pop stars was very slim. As teens they played local clubs. Santo played steel guitar and Johnny played standard electric guitar. One night they couldn't sleep and they wrote Sleepwalk. The record became a hit when famed DJ Alan Freed said it would be a hit. Payola was real in those days. Santo & Johnny signed with Canadian-American Records. Sleepwalk topped the charts. It was their only big hit. Santo & Johnny continued to record regularly until the late 60s. They played the oldies circuit for years. Johnny still does that but Santo is retired. This CD from the reissue label Jasmine is the first two Santo & Johnny albums. They are original recordings. Beware of rerecordings. Here's Santo & Johnny performing Sleepwalk on the Dick Clark Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show Aug. 1,1959.
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