# Al Viola

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{{Short description|American jazz guitarist (1919–2007)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Alfred Viola
| image           = AlViola07.jpg
| caption         = Viola in January 2007
| birth_name      = Alfred Viola
| birth_date      = {{Birth date|1919|6|16|mf=y}}
| birth_place     = [Brooklyn, New York](/source/Brooklyn%2C_New_York), U.S.
| death_date      = {{Death date and age|2007|2|21|1919|6|16|mf=y}}
| death_place     = Los Angeles, California
| genre           = Jazz
| occupation      = Musician
| instrument      = Guitar, mandolin
| years_active    = 1940s–1980s
| label           =
}}

'''Alfred Viola''' (June 16, 1919 &ndash; February 21, 2007) was an American [jazz](/source/jazz) guitarist who worked with [Frank Sinatra](/source/Frank_Sinatra) for 25 years. He played the mandolin on the soundtrack of the film ''[The Godfather](/source/The_Godfather)''.<ref name="Berg">{{cite web |last1=Berg |first1=Chuck |title=Longtime Sinatra Guitarist Al Viola Dies at 87 |url=https://jazztimes.com/archives/longtime-sinatra-guitarist-al-viola-dies-at-87/ |website=JazzTimes |accessdate=19 August 2020 |date=25 April 2019}}</ref><ref name=ap>{{Cite news|title=Al Viola, Guitarist Who Worked With Frank Sinatra for 25 Years, Dies at 87|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/25/nyregion/25viola.html?scp=1&sq=%22Al+Viola%22&st=nyt|publisher=Associated Press in The New York Times|date=February 25, 2007|accessdate=2008-02-24 }}</ref>

==Biography==
Viola grew up in an Italian family in Brooklyn<ref name="McLellan">{{cite web |last1=McLellan |first1=Dennis |title=Al Viola, 87; longtime L.A. studio guitarist known for work with Frank Sinatra |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-feb-23-me-viola23-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=1 October 2023 |date=23 February 2007}}</ref> and learned to play the guitar and mandolin as a teenager. He enlisted in the [Army](/source/United_States_Army) during [World War II](/source/World_War_II) and played in an Army jazz band<ref name="McLellan" /> from 1942 to 1945. He started a trio with [Page Cavanaugh](/source/Page_Cavanaugh) and bassist [Lloyd Pratt](/source/Lloyd_Pratt).<ref name="McLellan" /> The band appeared in several films, including ''[Romance on the High Seas](/source/Romance_on_the_High_Seas)'' with Doris Day, and played a few dates in 1946 and 1947 with [Frank Sinatra](/source/Frank_Sinatra). Viola continued to work with Sinatra regularly, accompanying him on several hundred studio recordings and concert dates between 1956 and 1980.

Viola was a [session musician](/source/session_musician) in Los Angeles, performing in films and television. His [mandolin](/source/mandolin) playing can be heard on the soundtrack of ''[The Godfather](/source/The_Godfather)''.<ref name="McLellan" /> Other credits include ''[West Side Story](/source/West_Side_Story_(1961_film))'' and ''[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?](/source/Who's_Afraid_of_Virginia_Woolf%3F_(film))''<ref name="McLellan" /> He continued playing jazz as well, with [Bobby Troup](/source/Bobby_Troup), [Ray Anthony](/source/Ray_Anthony), [Harry James](/source/Harry_James), [Buddy Collette](/source/Buddy_Collette), [Stan Kenton](/source/Stan_Kenton), [Gerald Wilson](/source/Gerald_Wilson) and [Terry Gibbs](/source/Terry_Gibbs).<ref name="McLellan" />

He worked as a session musician on over 500 albums,<ref name="McLellan" /> including releases by [Natalie Cole](/source/Natalie_Cole), [Neil Diamond](/source/Neil_Diamond), [Marvin Gaye](/source/Marvin_Gaye), [Julie London](/source/Julie_London), [Steve Lawrence](/source/Steve_Lawrence), [Linda Ronstadt](/source/Linda_Ronstadt),<ref name="McLellan" /> [Jimmy Witherspoon](/source/Jimmy_Witherspoon), [Helen Humes](/source/Helen_Humes), [June Christy](/source/June_Christy), [Ella Fitzgerald](/source/Ella_Fitzgerald),  [Anita O'Day](/source/Anita_O'Day), [Nelson Riddle](/source/Nelson_Riddle), and [Joe Williams](/source/Joe_Williams_(jazz_singer)).

Viola and Cavanaugh reunited in the 1980s with Phil Mallory and continued to play regularly in Los Angeles until the late 1990s.

==Death==
Viola died of cancer in 2007 at the age of 87.<ref name=ap/><ref name="McLellan" />

==Discography==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

===As leader===
* ''Solo Guitar'' (Mode, 1957)
* ''Guitars'' (Liberty, 1959)
* ''Guitars Vol. 2'' (Liberty, 1959)
* ''Imagination'' (Liberty, 1960)
* ''Guitar Lament'' (World Pacific, 1961)
* ''Alone Again'' (Legend, 1973)
* ''Salutations F.S.'' (PBR, 1977)
* ''Prelude to a Kiss'' (PBR, 1980)
* ''Mello as a Cello'' (Starline, 1994)
* ''Stringin' the Blues'' with Howard Alden, Bucky Pizzarelli, Frank Vignola (Jazzology, 2003)

===As sideman===
* [Steve Allen](/source/Steve_Allen), ''Terry Gibbs, Captain'' (Mercury, 1958)
* [Laurindo Almeida](/source/Laurindo_Almeida), ''Viva Bossa Nova!'' (Capitol, 1962)
* Laurindo Almeida, ''Acapulco '22'' (Capitol, 1963)
* [The Beach Boys](/source/The_Beach_Boys), ''[The Beach Boys' Christmas Album](/source/The_Beach_Boys'_Christmas_Album)'' (Capitol, 1964)
* [Hadda Brooks](/source/Hadda_Brooks), ''Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere'' (DRG, 1994)
* Hadda Brooks, ''Time Was When'' (Pointblank, 1996)
* [Roy Burns](/source/Roy_Burns_(drummer)), ''Big, Bad & Beautiful'' (FPM, 1973)
* [Red Callender](/source/Red_Callender), ''Basin Street Brass'' (Legend, 1973)
* [June Christy](/source/June_Christy), ''Do-Re-Mi'' (Capitol, 1961)
* June Christy, ''The Intimate Miss Christy'' (Capitol, 1963)
* [Natalie Cole](/source/Natalie_Cole), ''[Unforgettable... with Love](/source/Unforgettable..._with_Love)'' (Elektra, 1991)
* [Buddy Collette](/source/Buddy_Collette), ''Buddy's Best'' (Dooto, 1958)
* Buddy Collette, ''Polynesia'' (Music & Sound, 1959)
* [Tommy Dorsey](/source/Tommy_Dorsey), ''The Dorsey/Sinatra Sessions 1940–1942'' (RCA Victor, 1972)
* [Michael Feinstein](/source/Michael_Feinstein), ''Pure Imagination'' (Elektra, 1992)
* [Bob Florence](/source/Bob_Florence), ''Bongos/Reeds/Brass'' (HiFi, 1960)
* [Ella Fitzgerald](/source/Ella_Fitzgerald), ''Ella Fitzgerald'' (Verve, 1987)
* [The Four Freshmen](/source/The_Four_Freshmen), ''[The Four Freshmen and Five Guitars](/source/The_Four_Freshmen_and_Five_Guitars)'' (Capitol, 1959)
* The Four Freshmen, ''First Affair'' (Capitol, 1960)
* [Tommy Garrett](/source/Snuff_Garrett), ''50 Guitars Go South of the Border'' (Liberty, 1961)
* [Earl Grant](/source/Earl_Grant_(musician)), ''The End'' (Decca, 1958)
* [Dick Grove](/source/Dick_Grove), ''Little Bird Suite'' (Pacific Jazz, 1963)
* [Al Hibbler](/source/Al_Hibbler), ''Sings the Blues: Monday Every Day'' (Reprise, 1961)
* [Lena Horne](/source/Lena_Horne), ''[Stormy Weather](/source/Stormy_Weather_(Lena_Horne_album))'' (RCA Victor, 1957)
* [Helen Humes](/source/Helen_Humes), ''Helen Humes'' (Contemporary, 1960)
* Helen Humes, ''Swingin' with Humes'' (Contemporary, 1961)
* [Calvin Jackson](/source/Calvin_Jackson_(pianist)), ''Jazz Variations On Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue'' (Liberty, 1957)
* [Harry James](/source/Harry_James), ''Harry James and His New Swingin' Band'' (MGM, 1959)
* Harry James, ''Harry James Twenty-fifth Anniversary Album'' (MGM, 1964)
* [Peggy Lee](/source/Peggy_Lee), ''[Big $pender](/source/Big_%24pender)'' (Capitol, 1966)
* [Julie London](/source/Julie_London), ''Lonely Girl'' (Liberty, 1956)
* Julie London, ''Julie...at Home'' (Liberty, 1960)
* [Shelly Manne](/source/Shelly_Manne), ''[My Son the Jazz Drummer!](/source/My_Son_the_Jazz_Drummer!)''  (Contemporary, 1963)
* [Dean Martin](/source/Dean_Martin), ''[Sleep Warm](/source/Sleep_Warm)'' (Capitol, 1959)
* [Anita O'Day](/source/Anita_O'Day), ''Trav'lin' Light'' (Verve, 1961)
* [Frankie Ortega](/source/Frankie_Ortega), ''The Piano Styling of Frankie Ortega'' (Imperial, 1956)
* Frankie Ortega, ''Keyboard Caravan'' (Imperial, 1959)
* [André Previn](/source/Andr%C3%A9_Previn), ''Previn at the Piano'' (RCA Victor, 1947)
* André Previn, ''Skylark'' (RCA Victor, 1955)
* [Terry Reid](/source/Terry_Reid), ''[Seed of Memory](/source/Seed_of_Memory)'' (ABC, 1976)
* [Rudy Render](/source/Rudy_Render), ''If You Knew Rudy'' (Page, 1957)
* [Googie Rene](/source/Googie_Rene), ''Romesville!'' (Class, 1959)
* [Pete Rugolo](/source/Pete_Rugolo), ''[The Music from Richard Diamond](/source/The_Music_from_Richard_Diamond)'' (EmArcy, 1959)
* Pete Rugolo, ''[Ten Trumpets and 2 Guitars](/source/Ten_Trumpets_and_2_Guitars)'' (Mercury, 1961)
* [Warren Schatz](/source/Warren_Schatz), ''Warren Schatz'' (Columbia, 1971)
* [Frank Sinatra](/source/Frank_Sinatra), ''[Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely](/source/Frank_Sinatra_Sings_for_Only_the_Lonely)'' (Capitol, 1958)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[No One Cares](/source/No_One_Cares)'' (Capitol, 1959)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[Nice 'n' Easy](/source/Nice_'n'_Easy)'' (Capitol, 1960)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[Sinatra's Swingin' Session!!!](/source/Sinatra's_Swingin'_Session!!!)'' (Capitol, 1961)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[Ring-a-Ding-Ding!](/source/Ring-a-Ding-Ding!)'' (Reprise, 1961)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[Come Swing with Me!](/source/Come_Swing_with_Me!)'' (Capitol, 1961)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[Swing Along With Me](/source/Sinatra_Swings)'' (Reprise, 1961)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[I Remember Tommy](/source/I_Remember_Tommy)'' (Reprise, 1961)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[Sinatra and Swingin' Brass](/source/Sinatra_and_Swingin'_Brass)'' (Reprise, 1962)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[Sinatra and Strings](/source/Sinatra_and_Strings)'' (Reprise, 1962)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[The Concert Sinatra](/source/The_Concert_Sinatra)'' (Reprise, 1963)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[Sinatra Sings Days of Wine and Roses, Moon River, and Other Academy Award Winners](/source/Sinatra_Sings_Days_of_Wine_and_Roses%2C_Moon_River%2C_and_Other_Academy_Award_Winners)'' (Reprise, 1964) 
* Frank Sinatra, ''[Moonlight Sinatra](/source/Moonlight_Sinatra)'' (Reprise, 1966)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[Strangers in the Night](/source/Strangers_in_the_Night_(Frank_Sinatra_album))'' (Reprise, 1966)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[Francis Albert Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim](/source/Francis_Albert_Sinatra_%26_Ant%C3%B4nio_Carlos_Jobim)'' (Reprise, 1967)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[The World We Knew](/source/The_World_We_Knew)'' (Reprise, 1967)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[Cycles](/source/Cycles_(Frank_Sinatra_album))'' (Reprise, 1968)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[My Way](/source/My_Way_(Frank_Sinatra_album))'' (Reprise, 1969)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[A Man Alone](/source/A_Man_Alone_(album))'' (Reprise, 1969)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[Watertown](/source/Watertown_(album))'' (Reprise, 1970)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[Sinatra & Company](/source/Sinatra_%26_Company)'' (Reprise, 1971)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[Some Nice Things I've Missed](/source/Some_Nice_Things_I've_Missed)'' (Reprise, 1974)
* Frank Sinatra, ''[Trilogy: Past Present Future](/source/Trilogy%3A_Past_Present_Future)'' (Reprise, 1980)
* [Joanie Sommers](/source/Joanie_Sommers), ''Softly the Brazilian Sound'' (Warner Bros., 1964)
* [The Strollers](/source/The_Smoke_Ring_(band)), ''Swinging Flute in Hi-Fi'' (Score, 1958)
* [The Sugar Shoppe](/source/The_Sugar_Shoppe), ''The Sugar Shoppe'' (Now Sounds, 1968)
* [The Manhattan Transfer](/source/The_Manhattan_Transfer), ''[Mecca for Moderns](/source/Mecca_for_Moderns)'' (Atlantic, 1981)
* [Bobby Troup](/source/Bobby_Troup), ''Do Re Mi'' (Liberty, 1957)
* [Joe Williams](/source/Joe_Williams_(jazz_singer)), ''With Love'' (Temponic, 1972)
* [Jimmy Witherspoon](/source/Jimmy_Witherspoon), ''Spoon'' (Reprise, 1961)
* [Weird Al Yankovic](/source/Weird_Al_Yankovic), ''Dare to Be Stupid'' (Rock 'n' Roll 1985)
* Weird Al Yankovic, ''This Is the Life'' (Rock 'n' Roll 1984)
* [Frank Zappa](/source/Frank_Zappa), ''Lumpy Gravy'' (Verve, 1967)
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Viola, Al}}
Category:1919 births
Category:2007 deaths
Category:Guitarists from New York (state)
Category:Musicians from Brooklyn
Category:Jazz musicians from New York City
Category:20th-century American guitarists
Category:20th-century American male musicians
Category:American jazz guitarists
Category:American male guitarists
Category:American people of Italian descent
Category:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
Category:Deaths from cancer in California
Category:American male jazz musicians
Category:United States Army personnel of World War II
Category:West Coast jazz guitarists

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Al Viola](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Viola) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Viola?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.