It could be said of Nino Tempo that he was literally born to play music.
He learned to play clarinet and tenor saxophone as a child, winning his first talent show at age 4.
He appeared on “The Benny Goodman Show” at age 7.
By the time he reached adulthood, he was regarded as one of the best saxophone players of his time.
He was so good, in fact, that Frank Sinatra often said Tempo was the only musician he wanted to play the sax in his band.
“He used to make that sax talk to him,” said Tempo’s cousin, Lewiston resident Salvatore Arnone. “The guy was just unbelievable, just unbelievable.”
During his illustrious career, Tempo won a Grammy Award for a top 10 hit he sang with his equally famous sister, April Stevens.
For many years, he was also a member of the infamous Wrecking Crew, a group of highly sought after session musicians who played on hundreds of top 100 hits in the 1960s and 1970s.
While the world knew Nino Tempo and April Stevens as big stars in their day, Arnone knew them as family.
He confirmed this week that his cousin Nino, who was born Jan. 6, 1935 in Niagara Falls and named Antonino LoTempio, died Thursday at age 90.
His death came nearly three years to the day of the passing of his sister Caroline Vincinette LoTempio, better known to the world by her stage name, April Stevens.
Arnone and his family members stayed in regular contact with Antonino, who lived in Beverly Hills, Calif., at the time of his death.
During an interview Friday, Arnone said he’s still coping, years later, with the passing of his beloved and beautiful cousin Caroline. He said both she and Antonino are “sadly missed” by family, many friends, colleagues and fans.
“They were two special people, not because of them being in the music industry,” Arnone said. “They were just heartwarming people and you couldn’t get enough of them. They were just terrific. I’m proud to say they were part of my family.”
The LoTempios’ father, Sam, was a grocer in Niagara Falls before the family moved to Los Angeles in the early 1940s. Their mother, Anna, hoped the move out west would open up opportunities for her two talented children, and it did.
As a boy, in addition to developing tremendous skill as a clarinet and saxophone player, Tempo appeared in several movies, including “The Red Pony” and “The Glenn Miller Story,” which starred Jimmy Stewart.
Stevens recorded her first songs when she was 22. In 1951, her RCA Victor recording of “I’m in Love Again,” with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, reached No. 6 on the pop chart. Later that year, she had another Top 10 song, “Gimme Me a Little Kiss, Will Ya, Huh?” following by a third release, “And so to Sleep Again,” which made it to No. 27 on the charts.
In 1959, her song “Teach Me Tiger,” which was written by her brother, caused a stir because it was considered sexually suggestive. While some radio stations refused to play it, the song did manage to reach No. 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 that year.
Tempo and Stevens were best known for their 1963 duet “Deep Purple,” which secured the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and went on to win the 1964 Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Recording. The record sold more than 1 million copies and earned a gold disc.
Over the course of his music career, Tempo became a contributing member of the Wrecking Crew, the session band that also included fellow Niagara Falls native and guitarist Tommy Tedesco.
In 1973, he formed the band Nino Tempo and 5th Ave. Sax. The group had a hit with “Sister James,” an instrumental disco tune that reached No. 53 on the Hot 100 charts.
Tempo was also a featured soloist on The Kenny Rankin Album in 1976.
While he was considered a “jack-of-all-trades” musician who played piano and other instruments, Arnone said saxophone was his specialty.
Tempo had many famous friends and associates. He knew John Lennon and played saxophone on the former Beatle’s 1975 solo album, “Rock n’ Roll.” Arnon said his cousin also worked as a musician with Cher and that the two dated at one time. He said Cher used Tempo’s real name, Antonio LoTempio, while discussing their friendship during a recent interview on the Howard Stern Show.
Arnon said his cousin was valued as a musician not only for his skill but also because he had a particular passion about making sure the notes and the songs sounded just right, even if it meant recording them again and again and again.
“I remember being in California with him and we went to MGM so he could fill in one song that they were recording and if it wasn’t right, they did it over again. We were there all day until they got it right. That’s just how much of a perfectionist he was,” Arnone said.
