Baby Gate & The Happy Boys

That's the singer who is very original, I think. Her name is Anna Mazzini Maria, or Mina, and she's one of the biggest stars on Italian scene.

Mina was born on 25 March, 40 in Busto Arsizio. Later her parents moved to Cremona. There Mina started to study accounting, but not too long, because she decided to dedicate herself to music. That was in the middle 50's when she heard rock'n'roll and started to sing with the local band The Happy Boys.

Some summer evening of 58 Dave Matalon, the head of Italdisc/Broadway records, noticed her and thought that she has a real talent. He signed her with his labels. In December two singles have been released: as Baby Gate & The Happy Boys, another as Mina.


Soon, The Happy Boys decided to go their own way, while Mina formed a new backing group called Solitari. With them Mina appeared on the first Italian Rock'n'roll festival, receiving an appreciation from the public. The rest is history.

Listen to her first single from 58, which was recorded as Baby Gate & The Happy Boys (Baby was Mina, an' it says that Gate came from the vocal group Golden Gate Quartet). Really smashing record, here she goes!

Baby Gate & The Happy Boys
Broadway Records, B-1010 [58]

When



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