Luciano Pavarotti is often credited with being the opera singer who popularized classical music by singing popular songs and collaborating with pop singers. However, years earlier, another tenor brought opera music to the general public. He sang in movie musicals, made best-selling records, and performed on stage as an opera singer. His name was Mario Lanza, who was known as the “next Caruso” before his early death at 38 in 1959.
When he sang at the Hollywood Bowl in 1947, Lanza caught the attention of a Hollywood talent scout. He signed a 7-year contract with MGM when he was 26. Producers wanted to pair Lanza with a leading lady who also was a classical singer, and soprano Kathryn Grayson fit the bill perfectly. The attractive young lady had never sung on an opera stage, but she was classically trained and frequently performed opera arias in her films.
