Cirino Colacrai was an American actor and musician, best known for his work with the group Cirino and the Bowties, writing songs like “Rosemarie,” and appearing in the film “Rock Rock Rock!”
Personal and Family Life
Born in Brooklyn, Cirino was a talented child musician who played various instruments. He married RoseMarie on March 4, 1950, and together they had six children. Cirino was close friends with Teddy Randazzo, and they collaborated on several hit songs in the early 1950s.
Career
Cirino organized the group “Cirino and the Bowties” in the mid-1950s, where they recorded rock and roll and love ballads for Roost Records. The band gained popularity after being promoted by famous rock and roll disc jockey Alan Freed. Cirino wrote songs featured in movies such as “Jamboree” and “Country Music Holiday” during the late 1950s.
Death and Legacy
Cirino Colacrai passed away on December 26, 2019, in Midland City, Alabama. While he achieved success as a musician and songwriter in his early years, he became less known in later life. It is believed that he enjoyed retirement with his wife and children, though specific details about his later years remain unclear.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role/Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Rock Rock Rock! | Cirino Colacrai – Cirino and the Bowties (uncredited) |
| 1957 | Jamboree! | Writer: “Toreador”, “I Don’t Like You No More” |
| 1958 | Country Music Holiday | Writer: “Goodbye, My Darlin'” |
| 1995 | The Young Poisoner’s Handbook | Writer: “Nothing Shakin’ (But the Leaves On the Trees)” |
| 1999 | All the Rage | Writer: “You’re for Me” |
| 2011 | George Harrison: Living in the Material World | Writer: “Nothin’ Shakin’ (But the Leaves on the Trees)” |