Dominic Chianese Scores A Hit With ‘Hits’

Posted in News on September 18, 2001

BMI songwriter Dominic Chianese, who portrays Uncle Junior on HBO’s hit series The Sopranos, was honored at BMI Nashville (9/6) upon the release of his debut CD, Hits. Album producers John and Dino Elefante and Dub Cornet of The Sound Kitchen hosted the Italian-themed party, which featured Chianese serenading guests in Italian and English from the rooftop stage. Chianese, who as Uncle Junior brought grown mobsters to tears with his moving performance of "Core ‘ngrato" (Ungrateful Heart) in the show’s season finale, is an accomplished tenor who spent his early career in musical theatre. The Bronx native served as MC at New York’s venerable Gerde’s Folk City, where he played host to music luminaries such as Emmylou Harris and Bob Dylan.

Dino Elefante, Dominic Chianese, John Elefante, and Dub Cornet

Hits features 13 tracks that run the gamut from traditional Italian tunes such as "State Vicino a Me," (Stay Close to Me) and "Santa Lucia," to popular and traditional American songs such "Guantanamarra," "Amazing Grace" and Kris Kristofferson's “For the Good Times." Chianese displays his own songwriting skills on three original tracks: "A Typical New Yorker," "Love is Real" and "True Love Still On My Mind." Hits arrived in stores on June 5 and is released through Suite 102, a division of Madacy Label Group.