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 February 2007 Back to Table of Contents Back to Archives Main Page Section: Feature Tony Galla By Elena Cala Buscarino
When this pronouncement was reported to his 85-year-old mother, Connie Fasolino Galla, she laughed, “Oh really? Well, I think he’s romantic with his wife — they’ve got four children. He must’ve felt romantic some time.” Anyone who’s had the pleasure of seeing this talented mother and son share the stage for a song or two at the Sorrento Cheese Italian Heritage Festival is familiar with this playful form of banter the two share. A generation apart, with the closest of bonds, they share a talent for interpreting music, as well as a gift for drawing an audience in with their warmth and wit. Galla’s voice has been redefined through the years based on the various genres he crosses, but one thing always remains the same whether singing the blues, gospel, rock, opera or jazz — his voice is utterly suitable to whatever he’s singing. Galla’s voice has a masculine appeal as seductive as Tom Jones, while engendering the smooth qualities of Bocelli. The power of his voice, coupled with his phrasing and the sheer emotion he conveys, makes a live appearance by Galla thoroughly riveting. Just ask Tony Bennett. Yes, Galla sang at the after party at the Kodak Center in Hollywood on the night the television show for Bennett’s Duets CD was filmed. It also happened to be Bennett’s 80th birthday. It was no accident that Galla was selected to play, and it’s no wonder that Bennett took notice and gave him a big thumbs-up. Galla recently expressed surprise that he’s getting so many calls to sing jazz these days, but he shouldn’t be. He was born to sing, and his wide audience will dictate what they want — because to hear him is to love him. Locals will have a chance to hear Galla this month when he brings his six-piece band to Cardinal O’Hara High School for a benefit concert on February 16. Joining them will be Galla’s old friend, legendary Buffalo tenor sax man, Bobby Militello. According to Joe Ciffa, Director of Development at Cardinal O’Hara High School, and organizer of this concert, “We were anxious to bring something special into our concert series for Valentine’s Day. When our music director, Craig Hodnett, hinted at Galla, I started making calls, and ended by calling Galla at home.” No matter that he’d lost sight of the time difference and called Galla at six o’clock in the morning at his Hollywood residence; Galla was all for coming home to Buffalo for the benefit. And it was Ciffa who suggested the parties for Tony Bennett and for Brooke Shields’ wedding that the modest-to-a-fault Galla played. Then again, this is a man whose band opened for greats such as Joe Cocker, Led Zeppelin, Procol Harem, The Byrds, The Young Rascals, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Three Dog Night, B.B. King, Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy. He also spent time jamming after hours with Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. Galla is unaffected by his status as a much sought-after international star, but he’s been in the spotlight for so long that it is simply second nature to him.
One might say Connie was entirely the driving force behind Galla’s singing, but that would discount the role her sister Ida played in bribing five-year-old Tony with folding money to get on a stage and give ‘em what they wanted. This is where he began to understand performing for the pleasure of others. And the cash he walked away with was a nice bonus too. Then there was Grandpa, Louie Fasolino, who sat with little Tony for hours, listening to all of the classic Italian songs on the radio. They would listen to operas from New York, and this is where Galla began to understand the diversity of music over language and style. “That’s the way you gotta sing. Good! Strong!” Grandpa Louie said. Galla describes his musical upbringing as a melting pot of sorts. “I had so many talented relatives. And each of their styles and tastes were channeled into what I have done,” he explains. Connie would take her children around to sing for benefits when they were little. They sang for soldiers and in hospitals. And Connie knew she had a true singer on her hands when a six-year-old Tony drove the crowd wild with his rendition of “Blue Suede Shoes.” Before age eight, Galla and his siblings won a contest on the Ted Mack Variety Show. They went on an all expense paid, week-long trip to New York City, then traveled with Mack for two more weeks. As a teen, Galla sang in Holy Angel’s Boys Choir, where he was a favorite due to his extraordinary range. When Galla got older, he sang and played guitar with the blues band, Raven, who made a mark by opening for many national acts, and jamming with musicians of superstar status. Along with a host of soundtracks and voice-overs, Galla has recorded four CDs of his own, and been featured on a variety of other artist’s recordings. He does regular gigs and performs with the Long Beach Civic Concert Orchestra and at the Monterey Italian Festival. In the words of his mother, “I get such a thrill,” his mother says, when she hears her son sing and sees where music has taken him. As Galla’s number-one fan she speaks for legions of people.
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