To understand the beginning of Arbore's love for Jazz in general, and for the clarinet in particular, we need to go back to the time when he moved from Foggia, his birth city, to Naples, where he spent much time in the American district. The USO (United States Organization) club in Calata San Marco recognized his enthusiasm and talent and allowed him to perform for the NATO soldiers. His great passion is music and, despite many other interests and a long, varied, and prolific career, Renzo Arbore still defines himself as simply a jazz clarinet player.

His national debut as singer and clarinet player came with the theme song for the television program "Telepatria International" (see TV page), the sarcastic "Smorza 'e lights" (Dim the Lights), which became a constant in his ensuing live performances. After selling more than 800,000 copies of "Ma la notte" ("But the Night", famous theme song for the TV program of the same name) and 500,000 of the "Meglio dal vivo che dal morto" album ("Better Live than from the Dead"), Arbore published "Il Clarinetto" ("The Clarinet") in 1986 as part of his second record as singer and songwriter, "Prima che sia troppo tardi" ("Before It's Too Late"), the first record was "Ora o mai piú, ovvero cantautore da grande," ("Now or Never, That Is Outstanding Singer/Songwriter") his debut album in 1981. "Il Clarinetto" is a goliardic song with many witty puns and layers of meaning, and it climaxes with two clarinet solos by Renzo himself. He performed this song at the Sanremo Festival, lightening the mood of that singing competition. He was rewarded with a second place, behind Eros Ramazotti, the phenomenon of that year. This was the beginning of a long tour of concerts and performances, accompanied by the "Barilla Boogie Band", with whom he records the album "Viaggiare, oh, oh" ("To Travel, Oh, Oh").

Then, began the challenge of bringing quality music to television and "D.O.C." was born. This was a daily, live show with Gegé Telesfore, Monica Nannini, and guests, which evolved into a prime time show emulating a nightclub, with jazz, soul, and other quality music.

In between all the television successes, the international musical career took off as well. In 1991 Arbore founds The Italian Orchestra, composed of fifteen famous musicians, intended to popularize Neapolitan traditional songs, bringing back into the spotlight the forgotten mandolin. The international debut is at the Montreal Jazz Festival, presided by Quincy Jones. A year later, The Italian Orchestra performs at a show broadcasted from Carnegie Hall in New York City. The first record with The Orchestra is "Napoli. Punto e a Capo" ("Naples. Period. New Paragraph."), and in 1993 they hold a memorable performance at New York's Radio City Hall, sanctioning international attention.

The second record with The Italian Orchestra, "Napoli. Due punti e a capo," (Naples. Two Periods. New Paragraph.") comes quickly as well as a second tour in Italy and abroad. During the 1994 Soccer World Cup, held in the U.S., Arbore hosts "Festa Azzurra" at Madison Square Garden in New York, which is broadcast via satellite, and where The Italian Orchestra performs together with other famous guests including Ray Charles.

A third record with The Italian Orchestra is released in 1995. "Napoli Punto Esclamativo" (Naples Exclamation Point") is followed by another tour, including a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
The following year, as they introduce their fourth record ("Pecche' nun ce ne jammo in America" or "Why don't we go to America"), Arbore and The Italian Orchestra tour Australia, North America, and Spain, and end their tour with a concert at Moscow's Red Square, the only Italian ever to perform there.
1997 sees Arbore and The Italian Orchestra on tour again, beginning with a performance at Paris' Olympia and then on to Sao Paolo, Brazil, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Canada, and lastly the U.S. again.
The fifth record with The Italian Orchestra is titled "Sud" ("South") and coincides with an infusion of Latin American musicians in The Italian Orchestra. "We want to show how all "Souths" have much in common," Arbore said in an interview just before performing in Canada and then heading for Japan for five concerts in Tokyo. Renzo Arbore is also the president of Umbria Jazz.
In 2002 Arbore starts another band, "Renzo Arbore and the Swing Maniacs." The first record produced, "Tonite! Renzo Swing" goes platinum. At the same time he continues to perform with The Italian Orchestra as well, alternating between the two bands.
In 2004 Arbore and The Italian Orchestra perform at Canergie Hall in New York City, Casino Rama in Toronto, and finally at the Teatro dell'Opera in Rome, with President Ciampi attending. In addition, with the Swing Maniacs, he produces a double CD in February 2005: "Vintage, ma non li dimostra" ("Vintage, but it does not show").
His most recent record is "Renzo arbore L'Orchestra Italiana at Carnegie Hall New York"...

Here you can watch the video of the song "Personalitá" ("Personality"), from his record "Vintage, ma non li dimostra", performed live on his latest television hit "Speciale per me" ("Special for myself") and "It had to be you"...