Sal ‘The Voice’ Valentinetti releases cover of 1929 ballad ‘Little Pal’
Jazz and traditional pop vocalist Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti has released a new rendition of the 1929 classic ballad “Little Pal,” marking his first release under Keep Good Company Records. Originally performed by Al Jolson and later popularized by Jimmy Roselli, the track is accompanied by Valentinetti’s first official music video.
The recording was produced in the Hudson Valley by Ginger Winn and Jack Petruzzelli. The track features strings by Olivier Machon, known for his work with John Legend, and was mixed by Grammy Award-winning engineer Justin Guip. Valentinetti, who rose to national fame as a Golden Buzzer recipient on “America’s Got Talent” in 2016, described the song as a “heartbreakingly beautiful” exploration of love, loss, and the anxieties of fatherhood.
“My rendition of ‘Little Pal’ was born out of a writing session for some exciting new original music,” Valentinetti said. “I made my debut to the world with Sinatra, my greatest inspiration, and here I am 10 years later covering his Hoboken neighbor, Jimmy Roselli. I am a student of this craft and will forever be indebted to those who came before me.”
The accompanying black-and-white music video was directed by Roe Sparacio and filmed on Mulberry Street in New York City’s Little Italy. The visual narrative features several familiar faces from Valentinetti’s life as a performer and references the separation and travel inherent in a musician’s life on the road. Sparacio noted that the project aimed to be authentic to both the song’s time period and Valentinetti’s identity as an artist, utilizing a filmmaking style that pays homage to old cinema.
Valentinetti’s career has been defined by his “old school” approach to the Great American Songbook, a passion he traces back to listening to artists like Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald with his grandmother. Known for his “evening with” style performances that blend music with storytelling and jokes, the Long Island-born singer has spent the last decade touring the country. “Little Pal” is out now on all major streaming platforms. Click here to watch “Little Pal” official video.
