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Morning Edition
Cathy Wurzer

65 years since ‘Mambo Italiano’ was banned by WABC radio

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It’s been 65 years since Rosemary Clooney’s “Mambo Italiano” was banned by WABC radio for its supposedly suggestive lyrics.

The song was written by Bob Merrill, who allegedly scribbled the nonsense lyrics onto a napkin while eating at an Italian restaurant in New York. According to PhonoProject.com, Clooney’s record label brought in language experts to confirm the lyrics were not offensive, and WABC later lifted the ban.