-- The First American-Recorded Welte-Mignon Artist --

A long while back, the subject of the classical and popular
Welte-Mignon T-100 sized rolls, recorded and issued seemingly first
in the U.S. in 1913, had caught my attention.

Some popular recordist's names in that beginning run were ones such
as Paul C. Tidelman (or Fidelman), featuring then at the exclusive
Park Hill Inn at Yonkers, New York; Lew Cobey, a known but elusive
data-wise pianist, arranger and composer; another Jack Blair and one
who's name I cannot instantly recall but do remember was advertised
on his roll's labels as "Of the Monte Martre Orchestra."  Impressive!

There was also an early recordist who's first roll number made was
"3500," was of the name Domenico Savino.  This one did not ring any
early bells other than the then-noted likelihood that he was Italian.
For this little spotlight focus, he is it.

Within Charles Davis Smith's epoch-defining 'Purple Tome', "The
Welte-Mignon: It's Music And Musicians," published for AMICA by The
Vestal Press Ltd., is to be found at page 462 in-part the following,
concerning our artist of present interest: "The following U.S. Red
rolls were recorded about 1913, their numbering indicating they may
well have been the first recordings issued at Poughkeepsie."

Since the first such issue carried the number 3500 of Rudolf Friml's
song, "When a Maid Comes Knocking at your Heart," I believe that its
recordist can safely be assumed to have been the very first of such
of the series.

Some initial Internet searching has revealed that this person was,
and is still, very well known for his amazing multiples of abilities,
accomplishments and attainments.

Domenico Savino came to these shores at age 23 in the year 1905 along
with no less than big-scaled Welte-Mignon light, [pianist and composer]
Ruggiero Leoncavallo!  [Ref. 1]  He was born at Taranto in Italy on
the thirteenth of January in year 1882, expiring a most respectable
ninety-one years later in New York City on the eighth of August, 1973.
[Ref. 2]

Discogs.com [Ref. 1] says about him, "He was a graduate in composition
at the Royal Conservatory of Naples and he was a member of ASCAP with
more than 900 composition[s] to his credit.  His classical compositions
include a symphony, piano concertos, symphonic poems, etc.  A former
Musical Director at CBS, he has appeared as guest conductor with many
college symphonies, and has given concerts in Rome with the Radio
Symphony of Rome.  After, he organized the Rome Symphony Orchestra with
which he recorded several albums."

Additionally, compiler/writer Smith offered [Ref. 2]: "... he gave
up a law course for a musical career, entering the Conservatory of
Naples when twenty-one, and graduating with honors in composition.
...  He was a musical director for a recording company, 1915-25,
wrote background music to be used with silent films, conducted the
CBS Symphony Orchestra, and joined a music publishing house, in time
becoming chief editor."  All very impressive and most interesting.

On the eBay site one can easily find items of his, these being mostly
LPs and CDs of operatic symphonic works and, as well, various shellac
78s ("Perfect") bearing his name as conductor and, "D. Onivas" most
often for him when composer.  Also discovered is that, in Italy, there
exist music organizations dedicated by name to Domenico Savino.

As given all the foregoing, with but a little added effort it should
not be difficult to assemble a fine biographical picture of this
pianist -- the first U.S. Welte-Mignon recording artist!

As attachments that can be found below are two photographic images of
Savino, one younger from circa 1925 and the other from somewhat later,
of a most distinguished appearing Italian-American gentleman.  As of
yet I've not been to locate any of him from that year of import to us,
namely circa 1913.

Also, as extracted from the aforementioned 'Royal Purple Tome' are
Domenico Savino's numbers with his six recorded titles:

3500 "The FIREFLY" (operetta): When A Maid Comes Knocking At Your
Heart, song -- Friml

3501 WAITING FOR THE ROBERT E. LEE, interpolated in "The Honeymoon
Express" ("farce with music"), Two-Step -- Muir & L. Gilbert (LD
05/19/13)

3502 Carmelita (Tango), Two-Step -- Onivas

3503 Y COMO EL VA, Tango Argentino -- Valverde

3504 The VENUS WALTZ, fr "Oh! Oh!! Delphina!!!" (operetta), Waltz --
Caryll

3505 "The FIREFLY" (operetta): Sympathy (Sympathy Waltz), Waltz Song --
Friml

Jim Miller
Las Vegas, Nevada

References:
1. https://www.discogs.com/artist/696845-Domenico-Savino 
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domenico_Savino 

 [   Domenico Savino c. 1925
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/20/01/08/200108_181658_SavinoCard1.png 
 [   Domenico Savino c. 1950
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/20/01/08/200108_181658_SavinoCard2.png