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Domenico Monardo (November 29, 1939 – May 26, 2023), known as Meco, was an American record producer and musician, as well as the name of his band or production team. Meco is best known for his 1977 space disco version of the Star Wars theme from his album Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk; both the single and album were certified platinum in the US.

Early life and education

[edit]

Meco Monardo was born in Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania, United States, on November 29, 1939[1][2] to parents of Italian descent. Building model ships, science fiction and movies were some of his boyhood preoccupations. His father played the valve trombone in a small Italian band, and through him Meco got his first musical education.[1] Meco wanted to play the drums, but his father convinced him that the trombone was the right instrument, and at nine that was the instrument with which he was to stay. However, for Meco, the slide trombone was his choice, troublesome as it was for the small-statured boy to extend the slide fully at first. He joined the high school band while still attending elementary school.[1] At 17, he won a scholarship to the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York,[1] which provided him with a solid classical and jazz music education.

Career

[edit]

While at Eastman School of Music, together with his two friends Chuck Mangione and Ron Carter, he started the Eastman School of Music jazz band. When he enrolled at West Point, he also played in the Cadet Band.[1]

After serving in the US Army, Meco moved to New York City and joined Kai Winding's[1] four-trombone band, and then from 1965 to 1974 he went on as a studio musician. Originally not inclined toward pop music, Meco's heart changed when he heard Petula Clark's "Downtown." He began arranging for musicians, for example the horn section on Tommy James' "Crystal Blue Persuasion" and the Neil Diamond series of Coca-Cola commercials.

In 1978, he recorded his fourth album, Superman and Other Galactic Heroes, as a series of film-inspired disco records. It was the first Meco record to be released on Casablanca Records, and again features orchestral arrangements by Harold Wheeler. As with his previous records, Meco sticks pretty closely to the formula he established with the popular Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk. Side One consists of a 16-minute disco arrangement of the themes from the film Superman: The Movie (1978), while Side Two contains four original compositions by Harold Wheeler. A single edit from the first side was released ("Can You Read My Mind"), but wasn't a hit.

As a session musician he played the trombone with acts like Tommy James, Diana Ross, and David Barretto. Although Meco focused on producing in the late 1970s, he contracted the horns and performed on Diana Ross' 1980 album Diana as a favor to producer (and neighbor) Nile Rodgers. His solo on the single "I'm Coming Out" is notable because of the rarity of trombone features on post-big-band era pop records.[3]

Around 1973, Meco and Tony Bongiovi were part of a trio that formed the production company Disco Corporation of America. From 1974 to 1976, Meco worked as a record producer. The team of Meco, Bongiovi, Jay Ellis, and Harold Wheeler produced the 1974 Gloria Gaynor hit "Never Can Say Goodbye." Carol Douglas' "Doctor's Orders" was among the other productions of that period.[2]

Star Wars theme

[edit]

On the picture's opening day, Wednesday, May 25, 1977, Meco attended the 20th Century-Fox soon-to-be blockbuster hit Star Wars. By the following night, he had seen the film four more times, and attended several more screenings over the weekend.

Meco then got the idea to make a disco version of the score by John Williams and contacted Neil Bogart at Casablanca Records to pitch the project. However, rather than greenlighting the project right away, Bogart chose to wait. Only after both the picture itself as well as the original score had become huge hits did Bogart agree to help Meco realize his idea. Contact was established with Millennium Records, then a Casablanca subsidiary, and this became Meco's first record company. Here Meco rejoined with Tony Bongiovi as well as Harold Wheeler who had also been part of the team behind "Never Can Say Goodbye" in 1974. Lance Quinn was also part of the Meco team, and the different roles played by the four musicians is described by Meco himself in a 1999 interview with his fan Web site:

Tony and Lance are the two guys who would not let me be "too musical". Tony would say: "It's not dumb enough—It's too good." Tony is a frustrated drummer and Lance is a guitar genius, so they would make sure the rhythm section was always "smoking" under the very sophisticated arrangements and concepts that Harold and I started with.[4]

In a matter of just three weeks they arranged and recorded Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk. Although the album was nominated for "Best Pop Instrumental Performance" at the 20th Annual Grammy Awards in 1978, the award ultimately went to John Williams for the original soundtrack album.

The band Meco

[edit]

For a period of four months there was even a show band assembled to perform to Meco's disco music in public venues. However, the band was not involved in the making of the music. This initiative was organized by Norby Walters, a booking agent for discos. The band members toured the U.S. and Canada as a high energy show band called Lemon Tree. Norby Walters booked and also managed the band before the Star Wars project. Band personnel was Carmine Giovinazzo, Stan Glogicheski, Tommy Rocco, Tony Abruzzo, and Tony "Butch" Gerace.

Other soundtracks become "Meco-ized"

[edit]

In the fall of 1977, Meco's second album was released. It was another rearranged science-fiction movie soundtrack, Encounters of Every Kind, based on John Williams music of the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind, from which three singles were released: "Topsy," "Meco's Theme," and "Theme from 'Close Encounters.'"

Meco's third album came in early 1978, and this time it was the music from The Wizard of Oz, which got transformed into a disco album by the same name, as Meco described: "It is my best work, bar none." From this album came the hit single "Themes from The Wizard of Oz: 'Over the Rainbow'/'We're off to See the Wizard.'"

In the fall of 1978, Millennium merged with RCA. Since he had developed a deep-bonded working relationship with Neil Bogart and other staff at Casablanca Records (Millennium and Casablanca having cooperated closely), Meco decided to move to Casablanca. Casablanca released the fourth Meco album, Superman and Other Galactic Heroes, featuring two hit singles, "Superman Theme" and "Love Theme From Superman." This was yet another Meco makeover of an original John Williams score.

In 1979, the fifth album, Moondancer, was released, and with it the hit singles "Moondancer," "Grazing in the Grass," and "Devil's Delight." In 1980, Meco's sixth album, Music from Star Trek and Music from the Black Hole, was released, featuring the song "Theme from 'Star Trek.'" The movie Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) featured an original soundtrack composed by Jerry Goldsmith. Meco also created Meco Plays Music from The Empire Strikes Back, which was a 10" EP containing a mash-up of various themes from the John Williams score to The Empire Strikes Back for RSO Records.

The last album that Meco made for Casablanca, his seventh, which came out in 1981, was Impressions of An American Werewolf in London, based on the soundtrack from the 1981 feature film An American Werewolf in London. After this LP, Meco's tenure with Casablanca was over.

Meco also recorded for RSO Records (Empire Strikes Back and Christmas in the Stars) as well as Arista Records (Ewok Celebration, Pop Goes the Movies, Swingtime's Greatest Hits) and on Columbia with the single The Raiders March. His Hooked on Instrumentals was released on CD and Cassette on the K-Tel label in the US, and PolyGram Special Markets released a CD compilation of his greatest hits, The Best of Meco, in 1997.[3]

Retirement from music

[edit]

According to Meco, "When disco was new, it was fresh and exciting because it was different. But pretty soon it became too cookie-cutter and wore itself out." He left the music industry in 1985.[3]

Meco died at his home in Tamarac, Florida on May 26, 2023, at the age of 83.[5][6]

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
  • Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk (1977) – AUS #19[7]
  • Encounters of Every Kind (1977) - AUS #75[7]
  • Meco Plays The Wizard of Oz (1978) - AUS #72[7]
  • Superman And Other Galactic Heroes (1978)
  • Moondancer (1979)
  • Meco Plays Music from the Empire Strikes Back (10" EP – 1980)
  • Christmas in the Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album (1980)
  • Music from Star Trek and Music from the Black Hole (1980)
  • Across The Galaxy (1980)
  • Impressions of An American Werewolf in London (1981)
  • Pop Goes the Movies (1982) – AUS #88[7]
  • Swingtime's Greatest Hits (1982)
  • Ewok Celebration (1983)
  • Hooked on Instrumentals (with Harold Wheeler) (1983) – AUS #93[7]
  • The Best of Meco (1997)
  • Dance Your Asteroids Off: The Complete Star Wars Collection (2000)
  • Star Wars Party (2005) (This release is only sold on the Internet, a retail release with identical musical content was released as Music Inspired by "Star Wars")
  • Meco Presents Camouflage / Showdown (2010) (Two LPs reissued together on one CD, both originally released in 1977 on Honey Bee Records.)

Singles

[edit]

Charted singles

[edit]
Year Song title Artist credit Peak chart positions
US
[8] 		US AC
[8] 		US Disco Action
[8] 		AUS
[7] 		CAN
 CAN AC
 UK
[9]
1977 "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" Meco 1 18 6 3 1 1 7
1978 "Theme from Close Encounters" Meco 25 30 33 76 24 24 ―
"Themes from The Wizard of Oz: Over the Rainbow/We're Off to See the Wizard" Meco 35 35 35 ― 29 11 ―
1980 "Empire Strikes Back (Medley)" Meco 18 ― ― 68 23 ― ―
"Love Theme from Shogun (Mariko's Theme)" Meco 70 ― ― ― ― ― ―
"What Can You Get a Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb?)" The Star Wars Intergalactic Droid Choir & Chorale 69 ― ― ― ― ― ―
1981 "Summer of 81" The Cantina Band 81 ― ― ― ― ― ―
"Blue Moon" Meco 106 ― ― ― ― ― ―
1982 "Pop Goes the Movies Part I" Meco 35 17 ― 100 ― ― ―
"Big Band Melody" Meco 101 18 ― ― ― ― ―
1983 "Ewok Celebration" Meco 60 ― ― ― ― ― ―
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Additional singles

[edit]
  • "Topsy" / "Lady Marion" (1977)
  • "Crazy Rhythm" / "Hot in the Saddle" (Mexico promo release)
  • "Main Title Theme from Superman" / "Love Theme from Superman (Can You Read My Mind?)" (1979)
  • "Moondancer" (US 12-inch promo) (1979)
  • "Devil Delight" / "Grazing in te Grass" (1979)
  • "Theme from Star Trek" / "Clearmotion" (1980)
  • "Christmas in the Stars" / "Sleigh Ride" (1980)
  • "Moondance" / "Blue Moon" (1981)
  • "The Raiders March" (from the Motion Picture "Raiders of the Lost Ark") / "Cairo Nights" (1981)
  • "Anything Goes" / "Music Makers" (1984)

References

[edit]

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
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Meco

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Meco (November 29, 1939 – May 26, 2023), born Domenico Monardo, was an American musician, , and arranger renowned for blending with film soundtracks in the late 1970s. Best known for his chart-topping 1977 single "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band," which sold over two million copies worldwide and reached number one on the , Meco's work captured the era's fusion of popularity and culture. Born in Johnsonburg, , to parents of Italian descent, Monardo developed an early interest in music influenced by his father, a valve trombonist in a local Italian band. At age four or five, he began learning to read music, and by his teens, he was playing the slide trombone. Earning a full scholarship to the at 17, he graduated after five years and toured 37 countries with a student orchestra in 1960–1961 before serving three years in the U.S. Army's West Point Band. Relocating to New York City in 1965, Monardo worked as a session trombonist for artists including and , contributing to tracks like her 1980 hit "." In 1973, he co-founded the Disco Corporation of America (DCA) with , marking his entry into production. Early successes included producing Gloria Gaynor's albums, such as (1975), which yielded the hit "" (number nine on the ). Meco's breakthrough came with Music Inspired by Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk (1977), featuring his instrumental disco rendition of John Williams' "Star Wars" theme and "Cantina Band," which not only topped the U.S. charts but also peaked at number seven in the UK. This album popularized the adaptation of movie scores into dance tracks, leading to follow-ups like The Wizard of Oz (1978), Superman (1979), and Music Inspired by Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk: The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Over his career, Meco produced nine U.S. chart hits, accumulating 37 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. After retiring from music in 1985 to pursue a career as a commodities broker in , Meco made a brief return in 1999 to produce an album inspired by Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. He passed away at his home in , on May 26, 2023, at the age of 83.

Early years

Childhood and family background

Meco Monardo, born Domenico Monardo on November 29, 1939, in the small town of , grew up in a close-knit family of Italian descent that included a brother and three sisters. From an early age, he was known within the family by the common Italian "Meco," reflecting their cultural roots. His father, a musician who played the in a traditional Italian , profoundly shaped Meco's initial exposure to . The sounds of his father's band practicing in the basement captivated him starting at age 4 or 5, instilling an early fascination with amid the family's Italian traditions. Under his father's tutelage, he first learned to read and notation for about a year before taking up the slide —despite Meco's preference for the drums. Meco's childhood interests extended beyond music to include building model ships, , and , which became enduring boyhood preoccupations that later influenced his creative work.

Education and musical training

Monardo's early interest in music, sparked by his family's involvement, led him to pursue training on the while still in . At age 17, he won a full to the in , after excelling in statewide trombone competitions in . He attended the institution for five years, where he honed his skills as a classical trombonist and became recognized as one of the top performers in his class. During his time at Eastman, Monardo delved into both and studies, broadening his technical proficiency on the through rigorous training in and solfeggio. This period marked the development of his exposure to diverse genres, as he transitioned from classical foundations to embracing . His expertise grew significantly, enabling him to perform complex pieces with precision and contributing to his later versatility across musical styles. A key aspect of his musical growth at Eastman was his collaboration with fellow students, including future jazz luminaries and . Together, they formed an early at the school, providing Monardo with hands-on experience in ensemble playing and jazz arrangement. These interactions not only refined his trombone technique in improvisational contexts but also introduced him to the collaborative dynamics of jazz performance.

Career

Session musician and early productions

Following his classical training at the , where he honed his skills as a trombonist with influences from , Meco Monardo relocated to in 1965 to pursue a career as a in the scene. Over the next decade, from 1965 to 1974, he established himself as a prominent studio trombonist and arranger, contributing to numerous recordings by major artists. Monardo provided horn arrangements for Tommy James and the Shondells' 1969 single "Crystal Blue Persuasion," a psychedelic rock hit that reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100. He also performed trombone on tracks by Diana Ross, and worked with artists such as David Barretto on Latin-infused pop material. Additionally, Monardo arranged the brass sections for Neil Diamond's series of Coca-Cola television commercials during the late 1960s and early 1970s, showcasing his versatility in commercial music production. In 1974, Monardo transitioned more prominently into production, co-producing Gloria Gaynor's disco rendition of "Never Can Say Goodbye" alongside Tony Bongiovi and Jay Ellis for MGM Records. The track, featuring Monardo's arrangements, became a breakthrough, peaking at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. These early efforts as a session player and arranger solidified Monardo's foundation in New York's vibrant recording industry before his later solo successes.

Star Wars breakthrough

In 1977, Meco released his debut solo album, Music Inspired by Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk, through Millennium Records, capitalizing on the massive popularity of the film Star Wars. The project stemmed from Meco's earlier experience producing disco hits, such as Gloria Gaynor's "Never Can Say Goodbye" in 1974. This album reimagined John Williams' orchestral score in a disco-funk style, blending synthesizers, brass sections, and rhythmic beats to create an infectious dance-floor adaptation. The standout single, "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band," fused the film's iconic main theme with the lively "Cantina Band" track into a medley that topped the chart for two weeks in October 1977. It became the best-selling instrumental single in U.S. history at the time and was certified by the RIAA for over one million units sold. The track's success propelled the album to outsell the official Star Wars soundtrack, marking a pivotal breakthrough for Meco as an independent producer transitioning from session work to mainstream stardom. For its innovative arrangement, "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" earned a nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Performance at the 20th Annual in 1978, though it lost to Williams' original score. Beyond the single, the album featured extended medleys of other film-inspired funk tracks, including "Imperial Attack," "The Desert and the Robot Auction," "Princess Leia's Theme," and "The Little People of / The Return Home," all drawing directly from Williams' compositions to evoke the movie's adventurous spirit in a galactic context. These selections highlighted Meco's creative fusion of sci-fi cinema with contemporary dance music, solidifying the album's cultural impact during the era.

The Meco band and live performances

Following the chart success of the "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" single, which reached number one on the in October 1977, a dedicated touring band was formed to capitalize on the album's popularity through live shows. This stage ensemble, managed by booking agent Norby Walters and separate from the original 70-musician studio orchestra, focused on delivering high-energy replications of the disco-funk arrangements from Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk. The band, operating under the name Meco for promotional purposes, featured musicians skilled in horns, rhythm, and effects to evoke the galactic theme in a live context, though specific roles for individual members such as guitarist , drummer Stan Glogicheski, keyboardist Tommy Rocco, saxophonist Tony Abruzzo, and bassist/vocalist Tony "Butch" Gerace are noted in historical accounts of the group. Performances centered on promoting the Star Wars material, including gigs at discos across the U.S. and , as well as television appearances that showcased the band's energetic style. Due to its promotional nature, the band's tour was limited in duration and scope, lasting only a few months in late 1977 before disbanding.

Adaptations of other soundtracks

Following the success of his Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk album, Meco applied a similar formula to reinterpretations of other prominent film and television soundtracks, transforming symphonic compositions into dance-oriented disco tracks. This approach capitalized on the era's disco craze while leveraging the popularity of blockbuster cinema scores, resulting in a series of albums that fused orchestral elements with pulsating rhythms and electronic flourishes. Meco's second album, Encounters of Every Kind, released in 1977 on Millennium Records, prominently featured a disco adaptation of John Williams's theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind, alongside original tracks inspired by themes. The album's closing track, "Theme from Close Encounters (Inspired by the Soundtrack of Close Encounters of the Third Kind)," exemplified Meco's method of layering synthesizers and bass grooves over the film's iconic five-note motif to create an upbeat, club-ready version. Building on this momentum, arrived in 1978 via Millennium Records, delivering disco renditions of and E.Y. Harburg's classic songs from the 1939 film, such as "" and "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead," reimagined with funky basslines and horn sections for the dance floor. The trend continued with Superman and Other Galactic Heroes in 1979 on , which included disco versions of John Williams's score for the 1978 film, tracks like the "Main Title Theme" and "The Destruction of " infused with four-on-the-floor beats and wah-wah guitars. In 1980, Meco released Music from Star Trek and the Black Hole on , adapting themes from the television series and the Disney film , such as the "" by , through his characteristic blend of orchestral swells and percussion. That same year, he followed up his Star Wars series with Music Inspired by Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk: The Empire Strikes Back on . Also in 1980, Meco produced Christmas in the Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album for , the first holiday album centered on Star Wars characters, featuring original songs like "What Can You Get a Wookiee for (When He Already Owns a Comb?)" with vocals by and , set to lighthearted -inflected arrangements. Throughout these works, Meco's production style—often referred to as "Meco-ized"—centered on seamlessly integrating grand orchestral scores with beats, synthesizers, and sound effects to produce accessible, high-energy tracks that appealed to both movie fans and club audiences. This technique not only extended the commercial viability of cinematic music into the late 1970s but also highlighted Meco's expertise as a in bridging classical composition with popular .

Later projects and retirement

In the early 1980s, Meco continued producing and performing on recordings for other artists, including contributing solos to Diana Ross's 1980 album Diana, notably on the hit single "," as a favor to producer . He also handled horn arrangements for the project, marking one of his last major session contributions amid shifting industry trends. Meco's own releases in this period included lesser-known albums such as Pop Goes the Movies and Swingtime's Greatest Hits in 1982, which featured medleys of film and jazz standards in a pop-disco style. In 1983, he released the single " Celebration," adapting themes from into an upbeat track, which peaked at No. 60 on the Hot 100. That same year, he released Hooked on Instrumentals, a collection of orchestral medleys conducted with arranger Harold Wheeler, which received limited commercial attention but showcased his versatility in blending classical and pop elements. These projects reflected a declining popularity following the peak of his soundtrack adaptations, as disco's mainstream appeal waned. In 1999, Meco made a brief return to music, producing an album inspired by Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. By 1985, Meco announced his retirement from the music industry, attributing the decision to the evolution of disco into a formulaic genre that had lost its innovative edge. In his words, "When disco was new, it was fresh and exciting because it was different. But pretty soon it became too cookie-cutter and wore itself out." Post-retirement, Meco transitioned to non-music pursuits, obtaining a broker license and relocating to , , where he worked in property sales amid a challenging market. He later moved to in 1989, eventually taking up commodities brokering after a period of leisure focused on .

Personal life and death

Residence and family

In his later years, Domenico Monardo, known professionally as Meco, resided long-term in , a suburb of Fort Lauderdale in . This location served as his home base during retirement, reflecting a shift from the bustling music scenes of New York and earlier in his career. Public details about Monardo's family life remain limited, with sparse records available on personal relationships beyond his professional circle. He was married to singer and actress Osa Danam, a union that began in 1969 and later ended in divorce; the couple shared interests in the entertainment industry but kept their private affairs out of the spotlight. No verified information exists regarding children, underscoring the low profile Monardo maintained in matters. Post-retirement, Monardo embraced a private lifestyle in Tamarac, stepping away from the music industry spotlight to focus on personal interests away from public scrutiny. Born to parents of Italian descent—who nicknamed him "Meco" from childhood—he sustained cultural ties to his Italian-American heritage through family traditions, though specifics on adult observances are not widely documented.

Illness and death

Meco died on May 26, 2023, at the age of 83, at his home in , where he had resided since his retirement decades earlier. His passing was due to natural causes. The news of his death received limited mainstream coverage but was shared within music enthusiast communities, highlighting the quieter end to a once-prominent career in production. Tributes from peers emphasized his innovative role in blending scores with ; for instance, composer Lukas Kendall noted that Meco "practically invented the 'disco cover of film theme' sub-genre," while lamenting the lack of broader notice. Similarly, a dedicated music site honored him as the artist who "took movie music to the dance floor." Meco was buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in , though details of any public funeral or memorial services remain sparse in available reports.

Discography

Albums

Meco's includes over a dozen studio albums released primarily between 1977 and 1983, with later compilations in the 2000s, focusing on disco fusions of film soundtracks, sci-fi themes, and instrumental medleys. His work often blended orchestral elements with funky rhythms and sound effects, capitalizing on popular movie tie-ins during the late 1970s era. His debut album, Music Inspired by Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk (1977, Millennium Records), reimagined the Star Wars soundtrack in a space disco style, including tracks like the "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band." It peaked at number 13 on the chart and achieved platinum certification from the RIAA for over one million units sold. Meco Plays Music From (1980, RSO Records) featured disco renditions of the soundtrack, continuing the Star Wars series with medleys of key themes. Encounters of Every Kind (1977, Millennium Records) followed, drawing from Close Encounters of the Third Kind and other extraterrestrial motifs with overproduced arrangements and sci-fi sound effects across 11 tracks. The album reached number 62 on the 200. In 1978, Meco Plays (Millennium Records) offered disco interpretations of the classic film's score, transforming songs like "" into upbeat dance tracks. It charted at number 68 on the 200. and Other Galactic Heroes (1979, Casablanca Records) extended the superhero theme with versions of the Superman soundtrack alongside other cosmic selections, emphasizing heroic fanfares in a funky groove. Also in 1979, Moondancer () shifted to original compositions inspired by lunar imagery, envisioning a dreamlike scene on the with keyboard and leads by Meco. Christmas in the Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album (1980, ) was a holiday-themed project featuring original Star Wars-inspired carols like "What Can You Get a for ," blending festive with galactic narratives. It peaked at number 61 on the 200. Music from Star Trek and the Black Hole (1980, Casablanca Records) fused renditions of and The Black Hole scores, highlighting space adventure themes through rhythmic medleys. Impressions of an American Werewolf in London (1981, Casablanca Records) adapted the horror 's soundtrack into atmospheric tracks, incorporating eerie effects with dance beats. Pop Goes the Movies (1982, ) compiled covers of various hits, maintaining Meco's signature over-the-top production style. Swingtime's Greatest Hits (1982, Arista Records) reinterpreted classic swing standards in a modern format, diverging slightly from soundtrack focus. Hooked on Instrumentals (1983, RCA Victor) presented medley-style tracks of popular tunes in an accessible, hook-driven arrangement. Ewok Celebration (1983, ) celebrated with takes on -related themes, tying back to the Star Wars franchise. Later releases included Dance Your Asteroids Off: The Complete Star Wars Collection (2000, Mecoman Music), a compilation revisiting his Star Wars material in remastered form, including tracks inspired by The Phantom Menace. Finally, Star Wars Party (2005, DM Records) offered another retrospective of galactic disco tracks from his early career.

Singles

Meco released over 20 singles throughout his career, primarily on labels such as Millennium, Casablanca, RSO, and Arista, often in 7-inch vinyl formats with occasional 12-inch promotional versions. Many were extracted from his soundtrack-inspired albums, blending disco arrangements with orchestral themes. His singles frequently featured B-sides drawn from the same projects, emphasizing instrumental medleys and funk elements. The following table lists Meco's charted singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including peak positions, entry years, and labels:
TitlePeak PositionYearLabelB-Side(s)
11977Millennium and / Hook-Up
Theme from Close Encounters251978Millennium and
Themes from 351978MillenniumMain Title /
(Medley)181980RSOYoda's Theme
Love Theme From 701980RCA(Album track)
What Can You Get a for Christmas691980RSO
Summer 81811981Arista(Instrumental)
Pop Goes the Movies (Part 1)351982AristaPart 2
Celebration601983AristaParade of the Ewoks
These charted releases highlighted Meco's commercial peak in the late 1970s, with "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" achieving the highest success by topping the Hot 100 for two weeks. Among the non-charting singles, notable examples include promotional and holiday-themed releases. In 1977, issued "Music Inspired by Star Wars" as a single, featuring extended interpretations without chart impact. The 1980 RSO single "What Can You Get a for (When He Already Owns a ?)" by The Star Wars Intergalactic Droid Choir & Chorale, produced by Meco from the album , served as a novelty tie-in with no Hot 100 entry but gained cult following. Other non-charting efforts encompassed 12-inch promos like "Hot in the Saddle / Topsy" (1978, ) and international variants on RCA Victor, often limited to radio play.

Legacy

Awards and nominations

Meco received a nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Performance at the 20th Annual Grammy Awards in 1978 for his single "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band," though the award went to John Williams for the original Star Wars soundtrack. He was also nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Single at the 5th American Music Awards in 1978 for "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band." Meco received the Guinness World Record Award in 1977 for "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" as the best-selling instrumental single. The accompanying , Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk (1977), earned platinum certification from the (RIAA) in June 1978, signifying sales of over one million units in the United States. In terms of chart performance, "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" topped the for two weeks in October 1977, marking Meco's sole number-one single and highlighting the commercial peak of his disco adaptation of the Star Wars theme.

Cultural impact and influence

Meco Monardo played a pivotal role in popularizing -funk fusions of film soundtracks during the late 1970s, transforming orchestral scores into dance-floor anthems that captured the era's blend of cinematic spectacle and nightlife energy. His 1977 album Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk reimagined John Williams's symphonic themes with pulsating basslines, synthesizers, and funk rhythms, achieving a number-one single with "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band," which remains the best-selling instrumental single in history according to . This breakthrough bridged sci-fi fandom with culture, capitalizing on Star Wars' cultural phenomenon to make accessible in nightclubs, where the track's incorporation of hums and beeps added an immersive, futuristic flair that resonated with audiences. Monardo's innovations influenced a wave of subsequent soundtrack remixes, establishing a template for electronic reinterpretations of popular media that extended beyond Star Wars to projects like his disco takes on Close Encounters of the Third Kind and , which also charted in the Top 40. His approach set standards for blending film motifs with 's synth-driven grooves, inspiring artists such as and others in the emerging sci-fi disco subgenre during the . In the realm of holiday music, Monardo pioneered Star Wars-themed merchandise through (1980), the franchise's first and only official Christmas album, which featured original festive tracks voiced by characters like and integrated elements to extend the saga's commercial reach into seasonal pop . Following Monardo's death on May 26, 2023, at age 83, tributes from and sci-fi communities highlighted his enduring legacy in fusing genres and revitalizing film music for dance audiences. historians lauded him as "The King of Instrumental Dance Music" for transporting movie soundtracks to club floors, while sci-fi enthusiasts celebrated his role in amplifying the Star Wars universe's auditory appeal. As an Italian-American trombonist who transitioned from jazz studies at the —where he played with figures like —to production, Monardo exemplified the era's shift among Italian-American musicians from traditional ensembles to innovative pop-dance hybrids, influencing the broader evolution of American genre-blending in the 1970s.

References

  1. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/meco-mn0000868289
  2. https://www.disco-disco.com/tributes/meco.shtml
  3. https://musicbrainz.org/artist/420f0b7c-29da-45f5-a365-fce07fb59c25
  4. https://sacharts.wordpress.com/2022/06/18/meco-us/
  5. https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2018/05/04/star-wars-disco
  6. https://www.billboard.com/artist/gloria-gaynor/
  7. https://seven45rpm.com/tag/rcavictor/
  8. http://theforce.net/jedicouncil/interview/meco2005.asp
  9. https://www.feenotes.com/database/artists/meco-29th-november-1939-present/
  10. https://www.stereogum.com/2065222/the-number-ones-mecos-star-wars-themecantina-band/columns/the-number-ones/
  11. https://www.superseventies.com/sw_starwarstheme.html
  12. https://www.discogs.com/master/94106-Gloria-Gaynor-Never-Can-Say-Goodbye
  13. https://www.discogs.com/master/16180-Meco-Music-Inspired-By-Star-Wars-And-Other-Galactic-Funk
  14. https://www.billboard.com/artist/meco/
  15. http://theswca.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=35735
  16. https://www.yourclassical.org/story/2015/11/03/star-wars-top-40
  17. https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/an-oral-history-of-star-wars-and-other-galactic-funk-the-disco-from-a-galaxy-far-far-away
  18. https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2017/09/22/today-in-music-history-mecos-star-wars-theme-cantina-band-goes-no-1
  19. https://www.oocities.org/mecofan/mecoband.html
  20. https://www.discogs.com/release/7575622-Meco-Encounters-Of-Every-Kind
  21. https://www.discogs.com/release/107410-Meco-The-Wizard-Of-Oz
  22. https://www.discogs.com/release/2939971-Meco-Superman-And-Other-Galactic-Heroes
  23. https://www.discogs.com/release/8806054-Meco-Music-From-Star-Trek-And-The-Black-Hole
  24. https://www.discogs.com/master/36260-The-Original-Cast-R2-D2-Anthony-Daniels-2-As-C-3PO-Christmas-In-The-Stars-Star-Wars-Christmas-Album
  25. https://www.discogs.com/release/396449-Meco-Ewok-Celebration
  26. https://www.allmusic.com/album/hooked-on-instrumentals-mw0000199845
  27. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/258752805/dominick_joseph-monardo
  28. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1666048/
  29. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1132299872230811&id=100063524264897&set=a.766020215525447
  30. https://www.lukaskendall.com/post/farewell-to-meco
  31. https://www.discogs.com/artist/286787-Meco-Monardo
  32. https://musicbrainz.org/release-group/9e50e3c9-bfae-30d5-8097-17e2fc3ad4f4
  33. http://musicchartsarchive.com/albums/meco/star-wars-and-other-galactic-funk
  34. https://www.allmusic.com/album/meco-plays-music-from-the-empire-strikes-back-mw0000862770
  35. http://musicchartsarchive.com/albums/meco/meco-plays-the-wizard-of-oz
  36. https://www.geocities.ws/mecofan/discography/disco.html
  37. http://musicchartsarchive.com/albums/meco/christmas-in-the-stars
  38. http://musicchartsarchive.com/artists/meco
  39. https://www.billboard.com/artist/meco/chart-history/hsi/
  40. https://www.discogs.com/artist/286787-Meco-Monado?type=Releases&subtype=Singles-EPs&filter_anv=0
  41. https://www.discogs.com/release/5807626-The-Star-Wars-Intergalactic-Droid-Choir-and-Chorale-What-Can-You-Get-A-Wookiee-For-Christmas-When-He
  42. https://www.grammy.com/artists/meco/11150
  43. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/best-selling-single-of-instrumental-music
  44. http://theswca.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=35739
  45. https://www.billboard.com/pro/star-wars-disco-meco-no-1-hit-appreciation/
  46. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/best-selling-single-of-instrumental-music/
  47. https://www.thecompanion.app/star-wars-disco-sci-fi/
  48. https://www.starwars.com/news/10-things-about-christmas-in-the-stars
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