"Mambo Italiano" was written by the songwriter Bob Merrill and first performed by Rosemary Clooney. Merrill, a lyricist, screenwriter, and theatrical composer, was more of a fixture of stage than radio, with a long string of Broadway hits to his credit including Funny Girl, Carnival!, and Breakfast at Tiffany's. He also wrote for the silver screen and television, ranging from W.C. Fields and Me to Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol.
Allegedly, Bob Merrill literally scribbled the song on a napkin while dining at an Italian restaurant and phoned it in over the pay phone, humming the tune and everything. He was on deadline.
Clooney herself was no stranger to the big or small screen, with her own share of film and TV credits including White Christmas, The Lux Show Starring Rosemary Clooney, Red Garters, Radioland Murders, and even commercials for Coronet brand paper towels (she sang their jingle).
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