Amerigo Marino was the fourth music director and conductor of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra (then called Birmingham Symphony Orchestra), a position he held for 20 years. A famous music arranger at the time, Marino came to Birmingham, Alabama in 1964 from Southern California where he had been a distinguished composer/conductor of the CBS Radio and Television Orchestra (the studio musicians’ favorite) and a first violinist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Under his tenure, the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra became the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, reflecting the popular support and enthusiasm for the symphony throughout the state, and recognizing that many of its concerts were played in various locations throughout the state.

“Stars Fell on Alabama” is woven into Alabama’s historical and cultural fabric, is one of the most iconic songs in jazz history, and is one of our region's most treasured jazz standards. Perhaps as a composer, conductor, and former arranger, Marino couldn’t resist treating this most popular song of Alabama for the orchestral medium. The song sings and swings ethereally when played by our full orchestra. Maestro Marino’s arrangement and interpretation of this song combine the impressive symphonic talent of the ASO musicians and the deep history of an important and enchanting musical composition.