List of Italian American Entertainers - Musicians

Musicians

See also List of Sicilian-American jazz musicians

• Mitchel Musso, Disney "Hannah Montana" Star. part Italian on father's side.
• Ariana Grande, from the Broadway musical 13 and the Nickelodeon series Victorious
• Sal Abruscato, American hard rock/heavy metal drummer, known for his work with early Type O Negative and Life of Agony
• Roberto Alagna, operatic tenor
• Steve Albini (1962 - ), indie rock musician, producer
• Trey Anastasio, leader of jam band Phish
• Frank Bello, heavy metal bass player for Anthrax
• Louie Bellson, born Luigi Ballassoni, big band drummer
• Charlie Benante, heavy metal drummer for Anthrax
• Tony Bennett, born Anthony Benedetto
• Corbin Bleu, singer and actor in High School Musical, has an Italian mother
• Bizzy Bone, born Bryon McCane, rapper from the group Bone Thugs N Harmony
• Patrick Bonfrisco, drummer, Enewetak.
• Jon Bon Jovi (1962 - ), born John Francis Bongiovi, rock star, actor
• Chris Botti, jazz trumpeter. Italian on father's side.
• Terry Bozzio, (1950 - ) drummer best known for his stint with Frank Zappa, as well as his music for solo drum kit
• Freddy Cannon, (1940 - ), born Frederick Anthony Picariello, was an American rock and roll singer. He had three top ten hits.
• Chris Carrabba, Lead singer of Dashboard Confessional and former lead singer of Further Seems Forever
• Micheal Castaldo, singer, songwriter and producer.
• Suzette Charles, singer, entertainer, former Miss America
• Gary Cherone, former lead singer of Extreme and Van Halen.
• Lou Christie (1943 - ), born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco on February, singer-songwriter
• Dr. Chud, born David Calabrese, former drummer for the Misfits
• John Cocuzzi, jazz musician

• Vinnie Colaiuta, drummer famous both in jazz circles for his virtuosity and his stint with Frank Zappa
• Louie Clemente, born in Lioni, Italy, Luciano Angelo Di Clemente original drummer of thrash metal band Testament.
• Russ Columbo (1908–1934), born Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolpho Colombo, composer, singer, violinist and actor, perhaps most famous for his signature tune, "You Call It Madness, But I Call It Love", and the legend surrounding his early death
• Chick Corea, jazz pianist virtuoso - played with Miles Davis
• Don Costa, pop music arranger
• Dan Costello, guitarist, played with The DeFranco Family
• Peter Criss, born George Peter John Criscuola, drummer, formerly of KISS
• Warren Cuccurullo, guitarist for Frank Zappa, Missing Persons and Duran Duran
• Rivers Cuomo, (Weezer), born June 13, 1970.
• Alan Dale (1926–2002), born Aldo Sigismondi, was a singer of traditional popular and rock'n'roll music.
• Bobby Darin (1936–1973), born Walden Robert Cassotto, was one of the most popular rock and roll teen idols of the late 1950s.
• Glenn Danzig, born Glenn Anzalone, former lead singer/ one of the founders for the Misfits
• Buddy DeFranco, jazz musician
• Tony DeFranco, lead singer and guitarist of The DeFranco Family.
• Chris DeGarmo, ex-guitarist of 1980s rock band Queensrÿche.
• Joey DeMaio, bassist, main songwriter and one of the founding members of the heavy metal band Manowar.
• Liberty DeVitto, rock drummer for Billy Joel
• Mike DiMeo, former singer of Riot and Masterplan
• Al Di Meola, jazz fusion guitarist
• Ronnie James Dio (1942–2010), heavy metal singer
• Joe Dolce
• Micky Dolenz, singer and drummer for "The Monkees"
• Charlie Dominici, ex-Dream Theater vocalist, founding member of Dominici
• Faith Evans, singer
• Nick Falcon, psychobilly guitarist, founding member of The Young Werewolves
• Joe Farrell, jazz saxophonist, born Joseph Firrantello
• Josh Farro, lead guitarist for Paramore
• Zac Farro, drummer for Paramore
• Johnny Frigo, jazz violinist and bassist
• John Frusciante, guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Steve Gadd, world famous jazz and session drummer.
• Davey Havok (b. 1975), born David Paden Passaro, later changed to David Paden Marchand, vocalist for AFI
• Frank Iero, rhythm guitarist for the band My Chemical Romance
• Chris Impellitteri, guitarist
• Chris Isaak, songwriter, singer and actor, his mother is Italian-American
• Joe Jonas, member of the band Jonas Brothers (great-grandfather of Italian descent)
• Kevin Jonas, member of the band Jonas Brothers (great-grandfather of Italian descent)
• Nick Jonas, member of the band Jonas Brothers (great-grandfather of Italian descent)
• Alicia Keys, A well-known pianist,and a philanthropist she is also Irish, Scottish, and Jamacian.
• Scott LaFaro, jazz musician
• Nick LaRocca, jazz musician
• Mario Lanza
• DJ Green Lantern (born James D'Agostini), Hip-Hop DJ, His father is Puerto Rican but his mother is Italian.
• Adam Lazzara, lead singer of Taking Back Sunday
• Carmen Lombardo, vocalist and composer
• Dave Lombardo, drummer of Slayer
• Guy Lombardo, born Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo, bandleader and violinist
• Lebert Lombardo, trumpeter (Louis Armstrong named Lebert as one of his favorite trumpeters)
• Victor Lombardo, saxophonist
• Joe Long, born Joseph LaBracio, bass guitarist and vocal arranger for The Four Seasons.
• Dean Martin (1917–1995), singer and film actor, known as one of the most famous music artists from the 1950s period
• Fred Mascherino, guitarist & backing vocals of Taking Back Sunday
• Mike Mangini, drummer of Dream Theater
• Natalie Merchant, singer & songwriter, her father is of Italian descent.
• Anna Moffo (1932–2006), lyric-coloratura soprano
• Joe Morello, drummer for Dave Brubeck Quartet
• Tom Morello, guitarist for Rage Against the Machine
• Sal Mosca, jazz pianist
• Tony Mottola, guitarist
• Chieli Minucci, smooth jazz guitarist
• Jerry Only, born Gerald Caiafa, guitarist, current lead singer for the Misfits
• Felix Pappalardi, rock and roll bassist and producer
• Joe Pass (1929–1994), born Joseph Anthony Jacobi Passalaqua, jazz guitarist
• John Patitucci, electric and acoustic bass virtuoso - played with Chick Corea and Wayne Shorter among others
• Art Pepper, jazz musician
• Joe Perry (1950 - ), lead guitarist and contributing songwriter for the rock band Aerosmith
• John Petrucci, metal guitarist, founding member of Dream Theater
• Guy Picciotto, Early Emo personality, noted for Rites of Spring and Fugazi
• Bucky Pizzarelli, classical jazz guitarist
• John Pizzarelli, jazz guitarist
• Martin Pizzarelli, jazz double-bassist
• Mike Portnoy, drummer, founding member of Dream Theater
• Teddy Powell, born Teodoro Paolella, jazz guitarist, composer and big band leader
• Louis Prima (1910–1978),an Italian-American jazz musician, singer, and actor
• Ruggiero Ricci (1918–2012), violin virtuoso
• Johnny Rivers, born John Ramistella, early Rock'N Roll singer of many hit records.
• Rocca (Italian-American rapper)
• Leon Roppolo (1902–1943), prominent early jazz clarinetist and composer. His compositions include the jazz standards "Farewell Blues", "Milenberg Joys", "Gold Leaf Strut", "Tin Roof Blues" and "Make Love to Me".
• Matt Rubano, bassist of Taking Back Sunday
• William Russo, jazz musician
• Bobby Rydell, born Robert Louis Ridarelli in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, (April 26, 1942) was a "teen idol" in the early days of Rock and Roll.
• Richie Sambora, (born Richard Stephen Sambora on July 11, 1959 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, nickname:The King of Swing), is an American rock guitarist, singer and song writer who is the lead guitarist for rock band Bon Jovi. His father was Italian.
• Ralph Santolla - Metal guitarist (has a custom Jackson guitar with the Italian flag painted on it
• Joe Satriani, guitar virtuoso
• Haley Scarnato, American Idol (season 6) contestant
• Jack Scott (born Giovanni Dominico Scafone Jr., January 24, 1936, Windsor, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian/American singer and songwriter.
• John Serry, Sr. (1915–2003), born Giovanni Serrapica, concert accordionist, composer, arranger, educator & father of John Serry, Jr.
• Frank Sinatra
• Nancy Sinatra
• Nikki Sixx, born Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna, rock star (Mötley Crüe)
• Taylor Swift, American country singer-songwriter
• Twiggy Ramirez, born Jeordie Osbourne White, rock star, bassist (Marilyn Manson)
• Alessandro Cortini, rock star, keyboardist (Nine Inch Nails)
• Jamie Spaniolo, rapper
• Bruce Springsteen, rock star, songwriter (Italian on his mother's side)
• Decoy, (Italian American Rapper) born Nicholas Eduard Galluzzo to Italian-French mother and Italian father
• Joseph Tarsia
• Johnny Thunders, born John A. Genzale, rock musician.
• Mark Tremonti, guitarist
• Lennie Tristano, jazz pianist and composer
• Steven Tyler (1951 - ), born Steven Tallarico, rock star, songwriter (Italian on his father's side)
• Steve Vai, guitar virtuoso
• Steven Van Zandt (1950 - ), musician, songwriter, arranger, record producer, actor, and radio disc jockey (The Sopranos)
• Zacky Vengeance, guitarist for the band, Avenged Sevenfold
• Tony Visconti, rock music producer (based in Britain)
• Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein, born Paul Caiafa, former guitarist for the Misfits
• Chris Vrenna (1967 - ), producer and drummer
• Gerard Way; lead singer for the band My Chemical Romance.
• Mikey Way; bass guitarist for the band My Chemical Romance.
• Dean Ween, born Michael Melchiondo, Ween guitarist
• "Weird Al" Yankovic (1959 - ), parodist and comedy musician (Mother's side is Italian)
• Timi Yuro, soul and R&B singer
• Dweezil Zappa, rock guitarist
• Frank Zappa (1940–1993), born Frank Vincent Zappa, composer, guitarist, singer and satirist. In his 33-year musical career, he proved to be one of the most prolific musicians ever, releasing over 60 albums during his life. His father Francis Zappa was from Partinico, Sicily. His mother Rose Marie Colimore was of 3/4 Italian (1/4 Sicilian) and 1/4 French descent.