Buzz
Amid the chaos of Al Capone's tumultuous life, his passion for music remained unwavering. He often relaxed while listening to his phonograph, which played an extensive array of Italian opera records, with Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida being a particular favorite. Capone also had a strong influence over Chicago’s burgeoning jazz scene, attracting musicians eager to perform at his preferred nightclubs.
In 1926, Capone’s associates abducted jazz legend Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller. Forced into a limo at gunpoint, Waller was terrified, but instead of harm, he was brought to Capone’s 27th birthday celebration and asked to perform. The festivities lasted three days, during which Waller received generous tips and endless drinks from appreciative guests.
By 1931, Capone faced the consequences of his actions. On October 24, he was sentenced to 11 years in Alcatraz for tax evasion, marking a turning point in his notorious life.
During his time at Alcatraz, Capone became a member of the Rock Islanders, the prison’s inmate-led band, which hosted weekly Sunday concerts. His preferred instrument was a banjo gifted by his wife, Mae, though he later transitioned to playing the mandola, similar to a mandolin.
When not performing, Scarface often spent hours playing his instrument in his cell. On Saturdays, he engaged in deep conversations with Vincent Casey, a visitor training to become a Jesuit priest (though his plans later shifted). Casey’s role involved providing spiritual guidance to Alcatraz inmates. Over two years, he and Capone developed a strong bond. As Casey’s son, Mike, recalled, “My father spoke very highly of him. It was incredible. Despite his criminal past, the man in the cellblock was humble, polite, and courteous.”
One Christmas, Casey received a surprising gift: a piece of sheet music. The note attached read, “To my good friend Father Vin Casey, with the best wishes for a Merry Christmas always. Alphonse Capone.” Initially, it was believed that the romantic solo, titled "Madonna Mia," was composed by Capone himself, likely as a tribute to his devoted wife, Mae.
The lyrics were as follows:
In the quaint Italian garden / While the stars were all aglow / Once I heard a lover singing / To the one that he loved so. In that quaint Italian garden / ‘Neath the starry sky above/ Every night, he’d serenade her/ With his tender song of love: “Madonna Mia / You’re the bloom of the roses / You’re the charm that reposes / In the heart of a song. Madonna Mia / With your true love to guide me / Let whatever betide me / I will never go wrong. There’s only one moon above / One golden sun / There’s only one that I love / You are the one. Madonna Mia / This I vow here before you / ‘Till the end, I’ll adore you / Madonna Mia.” Once again, I see that garden / Many years have hurried by / I can see that sweet Madonna / There’s a teardrop in her eye For her soldier has departed / Left his loved one with a sigh / She said “I will wait forever” / As he sang this last goodbye: / “Madonna Mia…”
However, it was revealed that plagiarism was another addition to Capone’s long list of crimes. Recent findings show that the mob boss had simply transposed a popular 1930s song into a simpler key.
As reported by the Boston Globe, Richard Larsen, while working on a documentary about Capone and jazz, shared the sheet music with actor-singer-songwriter Anastacia Scardina. Sensing something amiss, Scardina dug deeper and uncovered a 1930s song with the same title, composed by Abner Silver, Al Lewis, and Al Sherman.
The Globe acquired both versions of the sheet music and consulted Jim Dalton, a music theory professor, for analysis. Dalton observed that Capone’s rendition was transposed into a simpler key but acknowledged that Capone “did a fairly good job.”
“Madonna Mia” wasn’t the sole instance of Capone’s alleged plagiarism. In 2018, Jack White mentioned on The Tonight Show that he had purchased “handwritten sheet music by Al Capone from Alcatraz” at an auction, planning to record the piece.
During the recording session, a woman inquired why the band was performing Humoresque by Antonin Dvořák. Dalton explained to the Globe that Capone’s version used a different meter, simplifying the composition. While the woman didn’t recognize the lyrics, it was later confirmed that Capone hadn’t written them either. Jack White proceeded to record the song for his album Boarding House Reach, though it’s credited to Dvořák and Howard Johnson.
