Carlo Ditta
Carlo Ditta, a singer-songwriter from New Orleans, gained recognition after winning the Best Gospel Song title at the American Song Festival in the 1970s with his composition "Pray." Starting a successful career as a record producer, the New Orleans native collaborated with soul singer Mighty Sam McClain in the studio to record the song, marking the beginning of a long and exceptionally fruitful career as a record producer.
Carlo persisted with his passion for songwriting and performing while spending time in Nashville, California, and New York City. Along the way, he worked with Dorothy Goodman, Willy DeVille, and Motown composer Nick Zesses. However, the allure of New Orleans persisted and convinced Ditta to return home. His primary focus became producing records for underappreciated Louisiana artists, resulting in his critically acclaimed Orleans Records.
Carlo is a highly successful music producer who has contributed to many acclaimed albums. One of his notable works is the production of the iconic Danny Barker album Ham & Eggs. Another significant achievement was receiving a Grammy nomination for his work on Guitar Slim Jr.'s Story of My Life. Willy DeVille's Victory Mixture album, which Carlo produced, earned a Gold Record in France. Additionally, he made records for Virgin Records by Marva Wright and Lenny McDaniels before scoring with a series of Orleans Records, featuring overlooked artists such as Roland Stone, the Original Pinstripe Brass Band, Ironing Board Sam, Coco Robicheaux, Little Freddie King, and the soulful Rockie Charles, who is known as "The President of Soul."
As the record industry began to decline, Carlo turned to his guitar, singing, and songwriting, sharing his life experiences through his original compositions and the New Orleans R&B repertoire that shaped his musical outlook. He is now a seasoned stage performer regularly featured at nightclubs and festivals and often in concert alongside his longtime friend, the internationally acclaimed poet John Sinclair.
releases
Carlo Ditta
Hungry For Love
Hungry for Love / A Gypsy Woman Told Me / La Muchacha Cha Cha / Agnes English / Working So Hard for My Baby's Love / Pass the Hatchet / Life In Heaven /
I'm Here To Get My Baby Out of Jail / It's Up to You / The House of the Rising Sun
Originally Released: May 3, 2019 _______________________________________________________ Carlo Ditta - Guitar & Vocals Anthony Donado - Drums on Tracks 1, 3, 5, 7 & 9 Chewy โThunderfootโ Black - Drums on Tracks 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10 Earl โStereoโ Stanley - Bass on Tracks 2, 6, 8 & 10, Maracas on โPass the Hatchetโ David Hyde - Bass on Tracks 1, 3-5, 7 & 9 Rick Stelma - Wurlitzer Electric Piano on Tracks 1, 5 & 8-10, Organ on Tracks 2, 4, 8 & 10 Jerry Jumonville - Saxophone & Horn Arrangements on Tracks 1-2, 5 & 7-9 Andrew Bernard - Tenor Baritone Saxophone Solo/Arrangements & Wurlitzer on โAgnes Englishโ Johnny Peninno - Saxophone on Tracks 6 & 10 Angelamia Bachemin - Congas on Tracks 3 & 7 Dave Easley - Pedal Steel on Tracks 1, 4-5, 7 & 9 Mark Trentacosta - Guitar on โLa MuChaCha Cha Chaโ Trea Swindell - Background Vocals on Tracks 4-5 & 8 Deanna Bernard - Background Vocals on โAgnes Englishโ Freddy Staehle - Rain Stick, Tinker Bells & Tribal Drums on โHungry for Loveโ Tracks 1, 3, 5 & 8 written by Carlo Ditta, Attid Music Co. ASCAP Tracks 8 & 10 traditional arrangements by Carlo Ditta, Attid Music Co. ASCAP โA Gypsy Woman Told Meโ written by Earl Stanley, Laverne Tardo & Henry R. Hines, Regent Music, BMI โPass the Hatchetโ written by Roger Leon Jr., Ray Theriot & Earl Oropeza, White Cliff/Oropeza Music, BMI โAgnes Englishโ written by Andrew Bernard & John Fred Werdna/Suma Pub, BMI Recorded at Orleans Recording Studio, Covington, LA 2015-19 Produced by Carlo Ditta Engineered by Carlo Ditta, Tim Stanbaugh, David Farrell Mixed by Carlo Ditta & David Farrell Graphic Design by Becky Livaudais Cover and Back Photo by Andy Levin Inside Photo by Carlo Ditta Special thanks and much love to Earl Stanley Oropeza and Andrew Bernard for their inspiration and work on these recordings. โยฉ 2019 Orleans Records, Inc.
Carlo Ditta
What I'm Talkin' About
What I'm Talkin' About / Go On Fool / As the World Turns /
Beating Like A Tom Tom / Pretty Acres / Tell It Like It Is / Try A Little Love /
I'm Leaving You / Walk That Walk / Many Rivers To Cross
Originally Released: November 2014 _______________________________________________________ Carlo Ditta - Vocals & Guitar Chris Lacinak - Drums on Tracks 1, 4, 6 & 10; Percussion on โBeating Like a Tom Tom,โ Fender Rhodes on โMany Rivers to Crossโ Chewy โThunderfootโ Black - Drums on Tracks 3, 5 & 7 Anthony Donaldo - Drums on Tracks 2 & 8-9 Vernon Rome - Bass on โWhat Iโm Talkinโ Aboutโ David Hyde - Bass on Tracks 2-7 & 10 Earl Stanley - Bass on โIโm Leaving Youโ Robert Snow - Bass on โWalk That Walkโ Steve Allen - Baritone Sax on Tracks 1 & 5; Tenor Sax on Tracks 2-3, 5-6, 8 & 10; Alto Sax on โPretty Acresโ; Flute on โWhat Iโm Talkingโ Aboutโ Charlie Miller - Trumpet & Piano on โGo On Foolโ; Flute on โTell It Like It Isโ Ruby Moon - Background Vocals on โAs the World Turnsโ David Rebeck - Accordion on โAs the World Turnsโ Andrew Bernard - Farfisa 345VIP on โBeating Like a Tom Tomโ; Baritone Sax on โWalk That Walkโ Vic Larocca - Solo Guitar on โPretty Acresโ; Slide Guitar on โTry a Little Loveโ Billy Gregory - Lead Guitar on Tracks 8 & 10 Rick Stelma - Wurlitzer Electric Piano on โWalk That Walkโ Produced by Carlo Ditta All songs written by Carlo Ditta & published by Attid Music Co., ASCAP except as noted: โGo On Foolโ written by Dave Bartholomew & Dorothy Ester, published by EMI UNART BMI โBeating Like A Tom Tomโ written by Ernie K-Do aka Ernest Kador Jr., published by K DO Music, BMI โTell It Like It Isโ written by George Davis & Lee Diamond, published by Arc Music/MJones/Olrap BMI โIโm Leaving Youโ written by Floyd Huddleston, published by Popoosa Music ASCAP โMany Rivers to Crossโ written by Jimmy Cliff aka James Chambers, published by Universal Songs BMI Recorded deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans way back up in the woods among the evergreens at Orleans Records & On Cue Studios Engineers: Carlo Ditta, Allen Poupart, Chris Lacinak Edits on โPretty Acresโ by Tim Stambaugh Mastered by David Farrell Photographs by Carlo Ditta in New Orleans on Decatur St. & the Ninth Ward way before the storm Color photograph by Andy Levin Package layout by Steve Winn DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF COSIMO MATASSA APRIL 13, 1926 - SEPTEMBER 11, 2014
Carlo Ditta
Try a Little Love / Pray
Try a Little Love / Pray
Originally Released: June 29, 2010 _______________________________________________________ Carlo Ditta - Guitar & Vocals David Hyde - Bass Vic LaRocca - Lead/Slide Guitar Chewy Black - Drums Songs written & produced by Carlo Ditta Attid Music Co. ASCAP Engineered by Allen Pouport Mixed by Carlo Ditta @ Orleans Records Mastered by Parker Dinkins @ MasterDigital Photo taken by Linda Abbott @ the Louisiana Music Factory โยฉ 2009 Orleans Records, Inc.
Carlo Ditta
Pass the Hatchet [Alt Mix] / Life in Heaven
Pass the Hatchet [Alt Mix] / Life in Heaven
Originally Released: July 27, 2018 _______________________________________________________ Carlo Ditta - Guitar & Vocals Chewy โThunderfootโ Black - Drums on "Pass the Hatchet Earl โStereoโ Stanley - Bass & Maracas on โPass the Hatchetโ Johnny Peninno - Saxophone on "Pass the Hatchet" Anthony Donado - Drums on "Life In Heaven" David Hyde - Bass on "Life in Heaven" Jerry Jumonville - Saxophone & Horn Arrangements on "Life in Heaven" Angelamia Bachemin - Congas on "Life in Heaven" Dave Easley - Pedal Steel on "Life in Heaven" "Pass the Hatchet" written by Roger Leon Jr., Ray Theriot & Earl Oropeza White Cliff/Oropeza Music, BMI "Life in Heaven" written by Carlo Ditta Attid Music Co., ASCAP Produced by Carlo Ditta โยฉ 2018 Orleans Records Inc.
