Mario Merola (; 6 April, 1934 – 12 November, 2006) was an Italian singer and actor. He has been nicknamed "The King of the Sceneggiata" (Italian: il Re della sceneggiata), a type of regional drama originating in Naples and later finding more widespread recognition.

Career Mario Merola began his career as a longshoreman at the Port of Naples. His first public singing performance occurred by chance, when he sang during a celebration of the Virgin Mary, at the church of Sant’Anna alle Paludi when the scheduled singer, Mario Trevi, was delayed.Mario Merola – Geo Nocchetti Napoli solo andata... Il mio lungo viaggio, Sperling & Kupfer (2005), 2nd chapter Fronte del porto

In 1964, he first performed at the Festival of Naples with the song Doce è ’o silenzio (“Sweet is the silence”), with Elsa Quarta.

He performed at the festival a number of times in the 1960-70s. He also performed and won in 2001, performing L’urdemo emigrante (“The Last Emigrant”) with his son Francesco.Mario Merola – Geo Nocchetti Napoli solo andata... Il mio lungo viaggio, Sperling & Kupfer (2005)

He recorded about 40 records of sceneggiata music and had additional credits in filmed versions. He toured abroad with a Neapolitan company to present the sceneggiata to emigrant Italian communities. During the 1970s, Merola performed at the White House, showcasing the Neapolitan genre.Mario Merola – Geo Nocchetti Napoli solo andata... il mio lungo viaggio, Sperling & Kupfer (2005) 4th chapter Felicissima sera

In addition to his own music career, Merola was a talent scout, contributing to the early careers of Massimo Ranieri, Nino D'Angelo, and Gigi D'Alessio, among others.Mario Merola – Geo Nocchetti Napoli solo andata... il mio lungo viaggio, Sperling & Kupfer (2005), 6th chapter Core 'ngrato

At the Sanremo Music Festival 1994, he formed "Team Italy", performing "Una vecchia canzone italiana" (“An Old Italian Song”) with Nilla Pizzi, Wess, Wilma Goich, Manuela Villa, Tony Santagata, Jimmy Fontana, Gianni Nazzaro, Lando Fiorini, Rosanna Fratello, and Giuseppe Cionfoli. The group recorded an album of the same name, featuring collective and individual recordings.Eddy Anselmi, Festival di Sanremo. Almanacco illustrato della canzone italiana, edizioni Panini, Modena, alla voce Squadra Italia

Personal life and death Merola married Rosa Serrapiglia on 5 April, 1964. They had three children: Roberto (a musical events organizer), Loredana (a homemaker), and Francesco (a singer), who occasionally performed alongside his father.Mario Merola – Geo Nocchetti, Napoli solo andata... Il mio lungo viaggio, Sperling & Kupfer (2005), 1st chapter Malufiglio

In 1997, Merola was hospitalized for three weeks at Naples’ Vecchio Pellegrini Hospital for a cardiorespiratory crisis. He subsequently recovered.Mario Merola – Geo Nocchetti, Napoli solo andata... il mio lungo viaggio, Sperling & Kupfer (2005), chapter Malattia e Famiglia

On 26 November, 2005, Merola was appointed a Knight of Malta, alongside Bruno Venturini and Mario Trevi.“I Cavalieri Crociati approdano al Gran Hotel La Sonrisa”, La Repubblica, 29 November 2005, p. 14

Merola died on November 12, 2006, at the age of 72 in Castellammare di Stabia, after breathing difficulties.Enzo D’Errico, “Merola 1934–2006”, Corriere della Sera, 13 November 2006.

His funeral was held on November 14, 2006, at the Basilica of Santa Maria del Carmine Maggiore in Naples in the same church where he was married. It was attended by family, political figures, and professional colleagues. An estimated 40,000 people gathered outside. A large number followed the procession to his burial at the Monumental Cemetery of Naples.Italiaestera.net – I funerali di Mario Merola, servizio di Beppe Nisa, 14 November 2006

Legacy During the Sanremo Festival 2000, Bono of U2 fell into the crowd during a performance and encountered Mario Merola.

In 2004, Hugo Race released The Merola Matrix, an album of 16 songs using excerpts from some of Merola's older songs and film scenes.

In 2008, the restaurant‑museum Felicissima sera (“Very happy evening”) opened in Naples, displaying photos, objects and memorabilia related to the singer. It also includes a letter written by Eduardo De Filippo to Merola dated 29 October 1976.Posillipo, ecco "casa Merola" taverna-museo His children, Roberto and Francesco, collaborated with designer Nadia Wanderlingh among others.

In 2009, a commemorative bust of Merola was erected in the Sant’Anna alle Paludi district of Naples. Created by sculptor Domenico Sepe, it bears the inscription: “Mario Merola, ambassador of Neapolitan songs in the world.”

On 18 September, 2010, a memorial concert for Merola was held at the Stadio San Ciro in Portici, featuring, among others, Francesco Merola, Tullio De Piscopo, Sal Da Vinci, Gigi Finizio, Gianni Fiorellino, Mario Da Vinci, Valentina Stella, Gloriana, and Gigi D'Alessio.

Music festival participation

Festival of Naples 1964 "Doce è 'o silenzio" (Acampora – Martingano) with Elsa Quarta, 12th Festival of Neapolitan Song – not finalist 1965 "T'aspetto a maggio" (Dura – Scuotto – Esposito) with Achille Togliani, 13th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 7th place "Tu stasera si Pusilleco" (Amato – E. Buonafede) with Enzo Del Forno, 13th Festival of Neapolitan Song – not finalist 1966 "Ciento catene" (Chiarazzo – Ruocco) with Maria Paris, 14th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 5th place "Femmene e tammorre" (E. Bonagura – Lumini) with Daisy Lumini, 14th Festival of Neapolitan Song – not finalist 1967 "Allegretto ma non troppo" (De Crescenzo – D'Annibale) with Mario Abbate, 15th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 6th place "Freve 'e gelusia" (Chiarazzo – Pelligiano) with Maria Paris, 15th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 9th place 1968 "Cchiù forte 'e me" (U. Martucci – Colosimo – Landi) with Ben Venuti, 16th Festival of Neapolitan Song – not finalist "Comm'a nu sciummo" (Barrucci – Gregoretti – C. Esposito) with Mario Trevi, 16th Festival of Neapolitan Song – not finalist 1969 "'O masto" (Pelliggiano – Mammone – De Caro – Petrucci) with Antonio Buonomo, 17th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 5th place "Abbracciame" (Romeo – Dura – Troia) with Giulietta Sacco, 17th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 7th place "Ciento appuntamente" (Langella – Falsetti) with Luciano Rondinella, 17th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 13th place 1970 "Chitarra rossa" (Russo – V. – S. Mazzocco) with Mirna Doris, 18th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 5th place "'Nnammurato 'e te!" (Fiorini – Schiano) with Luciano Rondinella, 18th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 6th place "'O guastafeste" (Moxedano – Colucci – Sorrentino – Cofra) with Luciano Rondinella, 18th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 12th place 1971 "Stella nera" (Russo – Genta) with Luciano Rondinella, 19th Festival of Neapolitan Song – program closed for organizational reasons 2001 "L'urdemo emigrante" (V. Campagnoli – G. Campagnoli – M. Guida – G. Quirito) with Francesco Merola, 24th Festival of Neapolitan Song – 1st place/winner

Sanremo Festival 1994 "Una vecchia canzone italiana" (Stefano Jurgens – Marcello Marrocchi), Squadra Italia with Nilla Pizzi, Manuela Villa, Jimmy Fontana, Gianni Nazzaro, Wilma Goich, Wess, Giuseppe Cionfoli, Tony Santagata, Lando Fiorini and Rosanna Fratello, 44th Festival of Italian Song – 19th place

Selected discography

33 rpm 1967 – Mario Merola (1° album of 1967)|Mario Merola (Zeus, BE 0015) 1967 – Mario Merola (2° album of 1967)|Mario Merola (Zeus, BE 0016) 1970 – 6 sceneggiate cantate da Mario Merola (Zeus, TM 55460) 1972 – Cumpagne ‘e cella, Mario Trevi – Mario Merola (West records, WLP 104) 1972 – Passione eterna (33 giri)|Passione eterna (West records, WLP 101) 1973 – Volume primo (Hello, ZSEL 55404) 1973 – Volume secondo (Hello, ZSEL 55405) 1973 – Canzoni 'nziste (Rifi variety record, ST 19154) 1973 – Madonna verde (Storm, BR 002) 1973 – Tribunale (33 giri)|Tribunale (Storm, BR 004) 1975 – Classiche napoletane Vol. 6 – Merola canta Libero Bovio (Hello, ZSEL 55411) 1975 – Mario Merola e Pino Mauro (Hello, ZSEL 55413) 1975 – 5 sceneggiate cantate da Mario Merola (Hello, ZSEL 55436) 1975 – Vol. 5° (Hello, ZSEL 55441) 1975 – Eternamente tua (Storm, TM 55402) 1976 – Volume quarto (Zeus, ZSV BS 3022) 1977 – Legge d'onore (Lineavis, LV 3376) 1977 – Licenza 'e carcerato (Storm, ZSLTM 55453) 1978 – Canta Napoli (Record, LP) 1978 – 6 sceneggiate (Storm, TM 55474) 1979 – Si chesta e' 'a legge – Vol. 9° (Storm, ZSL TM 55461) 1980 – Zappatore sceneggiata (Hello, ZSEL 55466) 1980 – 'A dolce vita (Lineavis, LV 3302) 1981 – Chiamate Napoli 081 (Storm) 1982 – Carcerato (33 giri)|Carcerato (Storm, TM 55474) 1982 – 'O rre d' 'a sceneggiata (33 giri)|'O rre d' 'a sceneggiata (Storm, TM 55477)

45 rpm 1963 – Malufiglio/L'urdemo avvertimento (Mario Merola)|Malufiglio/L'urdemo avvertimento (Deafon, CT 001) 1963 – Scugnezziello/'O primmo giuramento (Deafon, CT 004) 1963 – So' nnato carcerato/Quatt'anne ammore (Phonotris, CS 5001) 1963 – Femmena nera/L'ultima buscia (Phonotris, CS 5002) 1963 – Dicite all'avvocato/Nun ce sarrà dimane (Phonotris, CS 5007) 1963 – Quatto mura/Gelusia d'ammore (Phonotris, CS 5008) 1963 – Se cagnata 'a scena/Amici (Phonotris, CS 5009) 1963 – 'O primmo giuramento/Scugnezziello (Phonotris, CS 5010) 1963 – L'urdemo bicchiere/Velo niro (Phonotris, CS 5019) 1963 – Tu me lasse/Malommo (Phonotris, CS 5020) 1964 – Malommo/Tu me lasse (Zeus, BE 117) 1964 – 'A fede (l'urdemo bicchiere)/Velo niro (Zeus, BE 118) 1964 – Canciello 'e cunvento/Dduje sciure arancio (Zeus, BE 121) 1964 – Rosa 'nfamità/Nu poco 'e tutte cose (Zeus, BE 125) 1964 – Doce è 'o silenzio/'Mbrellino 'e seta (Zeus, BE 126) 1964 – Suonno 'e cancelle/Ddoje vote carcerato (Zeus, BE 132) 1964 – 'O zampugnaro/Acale 'e scelle (Zeus, BE 133) 1964 – Te chiammavo Maria/Schiavo senza catene (Zeus, BE 134) 1964 – 'A sciurara/Se ne ghiuta (Zeus, BE 137) 1965 – Tu stasera sì Pusilleco/T'aspetto a maggio (Zeus, BE 144) 1965 – Legge d'onore/Parola d'onore (Zeus, BE 148) 1966 – 'Nu capriccio/'A prucessione (Zeus, BE 178) 1966 – L'ultima 'nfamità/Carmela Spina (Zeus, BE 179) 1966 – Canzona marinaresca/'Nu capriccio (Zeus, BE 180) 1966 – Scetate/'O zampugnaro (Zeus, BE 181) 1966 – Core furastiero/Carmela Spina (Zeus, BE 182) 1966 – Pusilleco addiruso/L'ultima 'nfamità (Zeus, BE 183) 1966 – 'O mare 'e Margellina/Surdate (Zeus, BE 184) 1966 – Canzona marinaresca/Pusilleco addiruso (Zeus, BE 185) 1966 – Femmene e tammorre/Dipende a te (Zeus, BE 188) 1966 – Ciento catene/Tengo a mamma ca m'aspetta (Zeus, BE 189) 1966 – E bonanotte 'a sposa/Mamma schiavona (Zeus, BE 195) 1966 – 'A voce 'e mamma/Surriento d' 'e 'nnammurate (Zeus, BE 196) 1967 – 'A bandiera/Senza guapparia (Zeus, BE 199) 1967 – Allegretto...ma non troppo/'E vvarchetelle (Zeus, BE 203) 1967 – Freva 'e gelusia/N'ata passione (Zeus, BE 204) 1967 – 'E quatte vie/Luna dispettosa (Zeus, BE 207) 1967 – Dal Vesuvio con amore/Fantasia (Zeus, BE 212) 1968 – Ammanettato/Mamma schiavona (Zeus, BE 221) 1968 – Malaspina/Bonanotte 'a sposa (Zeus, BE 222) 1968 – Comm' 'a 'nu sciummo/Malasera (Zeus, BE 224) 1968 – Cchiù forte 'e me/Uocchie 'e mare (Zeus, BE 225) 1969 – 'O Milurdino/Signora 'nfamità (Hello, HR 9022) 1970 – 'Na santa guapparia/Miracolo d'ammore (Hello, HR 9023) 1970 – Nnammurato 'e te!/'O giurnale (Hello, HR 9025) 1970 – Chitarra rossa/Salutammela (Hello, HR 9027) 1970 – L'Urdema Carta/Chella d'o terzo piano (Hello, HR 9034) 1971 – 'A camorra/Amico, permettete! (Hello, HR 9041) 1971 – Stella nera/Cielo e mare (Hello, HR 9056) 1971 – Via nova/Ddoje serenate (Hello, HR 9069) 1971 – Chitarra Tragica/A Montevergine (Hello, HR 9070) 1972 – 'O Festino/'A Legge (Hello, HR 9079) 1972 – Lacreme Napulitane/Tatonno se nne va (Hello, HR 9082) 1972 – Mamma addò stà/Chiove (Hello, HR 9085) 1972 – 'A bravura/'A congiura (Hello, HR 9101)