Italian and American pop music band of the Monaldi family. Olindo Monaldi, an Italian immigrant, settled in the Little Italy section of Baltimore where he and his wife Maria raised their family. Olindo played trumpet in bands.
“In the early 1950s Mr. Monaldi formed his own 15-piece orchestra called the Aqua Bells. After a few years the big band era was starting to fade. Mr. Monaldi then played in 4-to-5-piece groups. Then in the 1960s when his five sons came of age, he taught them how to play music and formed his own group known as “The Monaldi Brothers” with Pete Monaldi (accordion), Joe Monaldi (trumpet), his twin brother Frank Monaldi (drums), Olindo Monaldi (bass), and Mario Monaldi (sax). In 1966 Olindo Monaldi took his five sons to Pesaro, Italy to perform, and in the ‘70s and ‘80s the Monaldi Brothers performed in many halls with their father. Mr. Monaldi got to hear his three grandsons play music. Pete’s son Mark Monaldi (alto sax), and Frank’s two sons Frank Monaldi, Jr. (keyboards) and Steve Monaldi (drums). Mr. Monaldi passed away in 1987.” (From liner notes to “The Monaldi Brothers Live! In Baltimore’s Little Italy” in tribute to Mr. Monaldi).
The group performed favorites from the 1940s to the present: anything from Top-40 to big band, country, rock, and ethnic music for weddings, bull roasts, the annual St. Anthony and St. Gabriel Italian Festivals in Little Italy… House band at Bud Paolino’s on E. Lombard Street in the ‘70s…
In the ‘00s Mario (sax), with Frank, Jr. (keyboards), and Steve (drums) performed as The Monaldi Trio.
1993(CS) Natural High 94201 The Monaldi Brothers Live in Little Italy!
1998(CS) Toast: The Whole World Loves Italians
1999(CD) The Best of the Minoldi Brothers –Italian Favorites
