The kinescope clip was originally only to be used for as a program content reference source, for discard afterward and was not for re-broadcast. Thankfully, OTV was able to retrieve it from salvage and our tech did everything possible to squeeze whatever picture quality was possible. Nevertheless, this archive, however impaired, was worth saving as "Sleepwalk," was Canadian-American Records biggest seller (according to owner Harvey Weiss) and defined back seat love instrumentals of the Rock & Roll roots era. The follow up, "Tear Drop," which had less than a quarter of the sales, nevertheless a classic, will soon turn up on our "Forgotten '45s."

About Santo & Johny Best remembered for their instrumental guitar classic "Sleepwalk," brothers Santo and Johnny Farina were born and raised in Brooklyn. Inspired by the country music he heard on the radio, Santo adopted the steel guitar as a teen, and at age 14 he formed an instrumental trio, soon after writing his first original songs; in time he began teaching his younger sibling Johnny to play standard electric guitar, and they started performing as a duo. For the tiny Brooklyn label Trinity Records, Santo and Johnny debuted in 1959 with "Sleepwalk," a hauntingly atmospheric instrumental they'd composed with the aid of their mother. The single became a major local favorite and was then licensed to the Canadian-American imprint, where it topped the Billboard pop charts in August of that year.

Santo and Johnny soon issued their self-titled debut LP, also notching a hit with their follow-up single "Teardrops"; however, the duo's popularity quickly slid, although they issued five more albums for Canadian-American -- among them 1960's Encore and 1963's Offshore -- before the company dissolved in 1965. Two years later the siblings signed to Imperial to release The Brilliant Guitar Sounds of Santo and Johnny; three other efforts followed before Imperial, too, closed in 1968. More popular internationally than at home, Santo and Johnny continued to record well into the following decade, typically landing on little-known Italian labels; the duo finally disbanded in 1976, with Santo continuing on as a solo act.
~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

Addenda from Lou @ Oldies Television Having first started in the music business with arranger/publisher Fred Barovick in the 60's, I used to hoover around the Brill Building, New York City's "Tin Pan Alley" music business emporium, where almost every indie label, producer and music publisher in creation were located. I had great conversations with Fred Weismantel, A&R chief at Coed Records (Dupreesm Crests) and Harvey Weiss, head of Canadian-American, Santo & Johnny's label and Linda Scott's as well. (Harvey eventually got fancy and moved his office upwards to, if I remember correctly, 56th Street. I leap frogged him and moved to 57th). Harvey was a shrewd entertainment business lawyer, heavy on legal and business, light on actual music artistry. He initially produced records at minimal budget. "Sleepwalk" and the follow-up "Tear Drop" (1959) which peaked at no. 18 on the national charts. In attempt to zoom the guitar duo back to number one, sessions such as "The Long Walk Home" (1960) featured Santo and Johnny Farina augmented by only two other non-union musicians on a single track mono cut. Crazy thing was, when Weiss upped the budget and added strings to S&J's third single, "The Long Walk Home," the record bombed. The orchestrations worked for Linda Scott, at least for four releases on Can-Am, but not Santo & Johnny. I remember, after things got tough, Harvey handing me a new Santo & Johnny pre-release single (the title escapes me), it was only a one sided pressing. Things must have been getting rough money-wise for Harvey.

After Santo & Johnny's releases simmering down, Harvey was interested in a gal who recorded for Carlson, International (unabashed plug for the now parent company of Xoteria.tv and oldiestelevision.com), her stage name Tammy Lynn. Harv wasn't crazy about the record "Why", but wanted her to sign with Canadian-American. So we had a chat session between Tammy, her mom and dad. It and all seemed a go. Harvey wanted a second meeting to "talk turkey." When I called to set a date and time, the phone was disconnected. When I went to his office, the door was locked and the gold leaf "Canadian American Records, Harvey Weiss, President" was off the door. When I called Tammy's folks and said Can-Am appeared to be out of business, her dad branded that a lie. They signed with Vitomass (Tommy Devito and Nick Massi's production company). For the record, Tammy Lynn's releases on Carlson International (and subdidiary 3J) Records were "Why" b/w "Big & Bad" (a Walt Gollender tune), "Whisper In My Ear" b/w "Heavenly Father," a re-make of Etta James & others r&b recordings.

Santo & Johnny's "Sleepwalk" is among the often played songs on the oldiestelevision.com Classic Oldies Video Juke Box, no doubt evokes the memories of slow, close dances that closed the high school prom. My date was a an upside down mop borrowed from the janitor's closet.

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