"Mattinata" (Italian pronunciation: [mattiˈnaːta]; English: "Morning") was the first song ever written expressly for the Gramophone Company (the present day EMI). Composed by Ruggero Leoncavallo in 1904, it was dedicated to Enrico Caruso, who was the first to record it in April, 1904 with the composer at the piano. Ever since, the piece has been a concert favourite of tenors. Emilio Pericoli recorded a cover version for Warner Brother Records in 1964.
The Costa Rican band Gaviota recorded a Spanish version in 1982, for CBS Indica Records; the arrangement was the work of Carlos Guzmán Bermúdez.
More than a half-century later, the song was recorded by the Italian-born tenor Sergio Franchi on his American-debut album, Romantic Italian Songs (RCA Victor Red Seal, 1962).[1] In only three months, Franchi's album of mostly Neapolitan favorites songs placed number seventeen on the Billboard Top 200.[2] Thirty-six years later (eight years after Franchi's death) the same album placed number one hundred sixty-seven on the Billboard 200.[3]