Eddie Lang

Philadelphia, PA · est. 1996

Opened in 1846, this was the first institution of its kind in Pennsylvania, meeting the surging need of a city swelling with newcomers. It served Irish Catholic and other immigrants alongside the native-born, offering relief to the poor in an era before any government safety net. Rather than mere charity, it emphasized training programs meant to help the needy find work and stand on their own.

Philadelphia, PA · est. 1997

Joe Venuti, remembered as the "Father of Jazz Violin," grew up in Philadelphia and attended grade school in this neighborhood before bringing classical training to the freewheeling new world of jazz. He pioneered string techniques that gave the violin a swinging voice, most famously in his celebrated partnership with guitarist Eddie Lang in the 1920s and early 1930s. He led his own band, appeared on screen and radio, and enjoyed a major comeback in 1968.

Philadelphia, PA · est. 1993

In the early 20th century this South Philadelphia neighborhood was a dense Italian-American enclave, and it was here that a boy named Alfredo Cocozza first fell under the spell of grand opera. Rechristened Mario Lanza, he rode the era of radio, records, and Hollywood musicals to international fame, capped by his celebrated turn as the title character in 'The Great Caruso' in 1951. His soaring tenor introduced operatic singing to millions of Americans who had never set foot in an opera house.

Philadelphia, PA · est. 2005

This was home to the Giannini family, a celebrated musical dynasty of the early 20th century. Father Ferruccio, a tenor, sang on one of the first phonograph discs in 1896; his daughter Dusolina became a Metropolitan Opera soprano, and his son Vittorio a composer who taught at the Curtis Institute and Juilliard. Their careers linked Philadelphia to the great stages and conservatories of American music.