Imagine our horror when we read online today that the lead singer for The Orwells had passed away at the young age of 20. It's always a shame when a young, emerging talent is taken away from us so soon. Then it got our attention that he had died of heart failure. Certainly not impossible but it seemed highly unlikely. That's when we, relatively new New Yorkers that the deceased was actually 82 year-old former governor Mario Cuomo, not the like-named vocalist. We've been familiar for our few years in the state with Cuomo's son, current governor Andrew Cuomo (and we pass along our condolences).
Is it possible that Cuomo of The Orwells was named after the governor? Seems unlikely, considering that the band hails from Chicago and not New York, although younger Mario was born right near the end of the governor's reign.
Either way, it got us thinking, how many Cuomos are there in music? The answer: Not too many. Aside from younger Mario, here's what we found:
Rivers Cuomo
Okay this one was obvious. Although the coincidental sharing of names laded The Orwells frontman at the top of this list, Rivers Cuomo has always and probably will always hold the highest spot for Cuomos in music thanks to his 20-year run as the frontman and primary songwriter for Weezer. Not that we have to explain why he's so great but here it is: "Buddy Holly," "Undone" and "Say It Ain't So" along with the whole dang "Blue Album," not to mention Pinkerton and some great singles later in the band's life as well.
Bill Cuomo
How have you heard of Bill Cuomo? Odds are you haven't. He's one of those guys-there are thousands of them—who have been floating around the background of the music industry for years and have in some fashion had a significant impact on the music you listen to today. Although Bill has been featured on many a recording and played in many a touring band, his most important contribution has to be his writing of the synthesizer opening to "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes, the overall no. 1 song of 1981 and the winner of the Best Record and Best Song Grammys in 1982.
Douglas J. Cuomo
Douglas J. Cuomo is one of many composers who has made a living by crafting, primarily, television themes. The difference between "those" theme song composers and this one? He's also ranked among the Top 50 television themes of all time according to TV Guide for his work on Sex and The City. Ask your girlfriend...she knows the one. That may be the only thing "of note" for you to consider but he fills his time composing works ranging from operas to Indian traditional trios.
Jim Cuomo
Chicago Reader did an excellent series on "The Secret History of Chicago Music" that the publication deemed had not gotten proper appreciation. In Chicago, one of the most diverse musical atmospheres in America, you just know some gold is going to show up. One such nugget was saxophonist Jim Cuomo, who played everything from experimental jazz to psychedelic rock with Chicago underground icons The Spoils of War. Where have you, a child of the late '80s/early '90s heard him however? Probably his original work for the all-time great computer game SimCity.
