Vittorio Camardese
Italian guitarist and physician known for his tapping technique.
Vittorio Camardese (6 July 1929 – 2 July 2010) was an Italian guitarist and physician. He is most famous among musicians and general audiences for his 'tapping' style of guitar playing, in which the fingers of the right hand strike the strings on the guitar neck to create notes and sounds.
- born
- 6 July 1929
- died
- 2 July 2010
- field
- Guitarist, physician
- nationality
- Italian
- known_for
- Tapping style of guitar playing
Lore & Background
After attending high school in Potenza, Camardese moved to Rome to undertake higher studies. He graduated in medicine, specializing in radiology, then began professional medical practice at the Ospedale S. Filippo Neri in Rome, later working at the Policlinico Umberto I, also in Rome. He evolved his musical style through self-teaching and amateur performances. In 1956, he played on the RAI Italian television talent show Primo applauso, his first television appearance, winning first prize. The television programme Chitarra, amore mio featured him in 1965, and he was seen again in 1973 in the music-based talk show Speciale per voi.
Camardese regularly visited two of Rome's most important jazz venues, the Music Inn and Folkstudio. There, he joined several famous musicians in performances, including Chet Baker, Tony Scott, Joe Venuti, Lelio Luttazzi, Romano Mussolini and Irio de Paula. In 1978 he met his partner with whom he remained for 18 years. At the time, she had a three-year-old son, Roberto Angelini, who went on to become a singer and songwriter. His shy and modest nature, together with the pressure of performing on live television, caused him to turn down further requests for such shows. Camardese died on July 2, 2010, four days before turning 81.
Reader's Guide
Vittorio Camardese's significance lies in his early and distinctive tapping style of guitar playing, which is clearly evident in his only widely-available film performance, the 1965 broadcast of Chitarra, amore mio, rebroadcast in later years by RAI. His legacy is that of a self-taught musician who, despite a career as a radiologist, achieved recognition among musicians and general audiences for this technique. His performances are poorly documented, with only that single film widely available. A project to document his life and work was, as of May 2016, seeking funding, with publicity presented by Roberto Angelini, the son of Camardese's partner. Camardese's shy and modest nature limited his television appearances, but his tapping style remains a point of interest for guitar enthusiasts and historians of guitar technique.
Did You Know?
- Camardese won first prize on the RAI talent show Primo applauso in 1956.
- His only widely-available film is his 1965 performance on Chitarra, amore mio.
- He performed with jazz musicians including Chet Baker and Tony Scott at Rome's Music Inn and Folkstudio.
- His partner's son, Roberto Angelini, became a singer and songwriter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Vittorio Camardese?
Vittorio Camardese was an Italian guitarist and physician (1929–2010) whose name is most closely tied to a distinctive right-hand tapping approach on the guitar. He occupies a niche spot in Italian jazz history as a player who blended percussive fingerwork with melodic lines.
What is Vittorio Camardese's tapping technique?
In his tapping style, the fingers of the right hand strike the strings directly on the guitar neck to produce notes and percussive sounds, rather than relying on conventional picking. This gave his guitar voice a rhythmic, almost drum-like quality that set him apart from typical jazz guitarists.
What was Vittorio Camardese's profession outside of music?
Camardese was also a practicing physician, a fact that made him a fairly unusual figure in the Italian jazz community. His dual identity as doctor and guitarist is one of the details fans often find surprising.
When was Vittorio Camardese born and when did he die?
He was born on 6 July 1929 and passed away on 2 July 2010, reaching the age of eighty. His career spanned several decades of Italian jazz and guitar performance.
Why is Vittorio Camardese important to Italian jazz guitar?
He is remembered as a pioneer of right-hand tapping within the Italian jazz tradition, offering an alternative to the standard picking techniques most guitarists of his era used. His work continues to be cited by players exploring percussive and hybrid guitar approaches.
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