Through many years as
resident Band Leader\Musical Director at Club Marconi, I came to know
the Gustin's very well, Dino & Mamma Lena had many functions at Club
Marconi and were often assisted by their daughter Rosalba. Many
accolades about Dino & Lena have been written and expressed by people
more important and eloquent than myself, however I wish to express my
appreciation for what the Gustin's did in regards to promoting
Italo-Australians artists and in particular those who lived in Sydney.
Apart from participating in the "Festival in Casa"
competition where my band 'Tempo 7' backed the singer Rina Bortone, I
did not seek to receive any special favours from the Gustin's, because I
had been already blessed with the opportunity to work so many years at
Club Marconi. But I was pleased to assist the Gustins whenever I was
asked. I am pleased to feel that I may not have been there in the early
years but I am proud and honoured to have been involved with them and
their daughter Rosalba in their twilight years. I am proud to have
been chosen by the Mamma Lena Foundation Inc.to construct this website
with the view of ultimately archiving every possible item covering their
70 years of memories.
Having been more an observer of their activities than a participant, I
feel that in contributing to this project I believe that I sense a warm
glow of appreciation from Dino & Lena and in particular from Dino who
was a prolific archiver and who would no doubt approve.
Dino was himself an innovator. What the computers and
internet are to us today, the latest state of the art equipment of his
day such as receiving via short wave programmes from Italy, tape
recorders, teleprinters etc. Dino was using then and was at the
forefront of technology of his time.
Enzo Giribaldi - 2006 |
Enzo and his band accompanying the singer Rina Bortone
during one of the many functions held at Club Marconi by Dino & Lena.
In this instance it was a broadcast of
'Arrivederci Roma' by 2CH. See tribute to Enzo
Giribaldi by Mamma Lena |