
Italian Cultural Entrepreneur and Visionary
Greater New York City Area

Italian Cultural Entrepreneur and Visionary
Greater New York City Area
Born in Reggio Calabria, Italy (the toe of Italy) and raised there until he was three, Crooner /Composer/Connoisseur... Michele Castaldo (PKA michéal CASTALDO) and his family immigrated to Toronto, Canada in the mid sixties. Now an award-winning music producer/composer, Michéal decided to make his small but lasting contribution to Calabria’s tourism industry.
Honored with various awards and acting as an ambassador of Calabria, Michéal was inspired to rebuild his parents’ old and abandoned town house in Gioia Tauro, making it available to his family and friends as well as opening it up as a rental to anyone ready for a Calabrian adventure.
Taking more than two years to complete the two-story, two-bedroom, 1200 sq. ft. independent town house (Villetta), Michéal wanted to make a statement about what he has learned while being away from his native region. Calling on close relatives to put the paperwork and plans into action, his faith in the Calabrian way of doing business was tested time and again.
Noting that there were few Calabrian summer rentals on the market, Michéal’s approach to creating something that all would like to experience, a house that an adventurer in Calabria could escape to, to nourish the body and spirit at an affordable price. One simple pleasure that North Americans take seriously, for example, is a great shower. After traveling to Italy many times, Michéal found that it was hard to do such a thing. Hence he implemented a 10’’ rain-shower head in the large bathroom to fulfill that pleasure. This is just one small example of attention to detail that Michéal had in mind when rebuilding the town house.
While maintaining his busy career in music, Michéal’s Calabrian heritage led to his founding the New York City Olive Oil Coop. CASTALDO also runs a private foundation [LaDolceVitaFoundation.org] whose mission is is taking patients suffering from light depression on scenic joy rides in the country in his exotic convertible roadster.
Songwriting, Performance, Production, Sound Design, Contracting, Mixing, Arranging, Publishing, Licensing, Promotion, Marketing, Advertising, A&R and Copyright Protection!
to listen to music samples and read reviews of micheal's music click on:
www.Sonicbids.com/michealCASTALDO
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Philanthropy industry)
October 2006 — Present (3 years 2 months)
(Driving America's Scenic Roads to help Break the Cycle of Depression...Italian Style)
La Dolce Vita Foundation is the social services outreach arm of all the Castaldo enterprises.
To the Italians, ‘La Dolce Vita’ means "the Sweet Life". It is our belief that the foundations of our daily lives should be of the highest quality. Thus we grant the ultimate ‘Joy Ride’ in a classic exotic roadster for under privileged passengers of life wanting to Break the Cycle of Depression…Italian Style to enrich their human experience.
Review this website to find out more...
www.LaDolceVitaFoundation.org/ ...Driving You Sane!
(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Food & Beverages industry)
September 2004 — Present (5 years 3 months)
(Estate Grown Organic Gourmet Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Southern Italy)
In 2004 the US-Food and Drug Administration announces the incredible health benefits of using quality olive oil in ones diet. Shortly thereafter, the first ever Olive Oil Cooperative is founded in New York City. A niche was created for an ever growing number of olive oil connoisseurs desire to have a high quality, first pressing, fresh and unblended olive oil. Thus this void was fulfilled with the bulk importation of estate quality gourmet EVOO direct from Calabria, Italy. Review this website to find out more...
www.NewYorkCityOliveOilCoop.com/
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Hospitality industry)
January 2003 — Present (6 years 11 months)
(Villa Rental in Southern Italy)
Taking over 2 years to complete the 2 story -2 bedroom- 1300 sq ft independent town house (Villetta), the owner wanted to make a statement about what he has learned while being away from his native region. Calling on close relatives to put the paperwork and plans into action, his faith in the Calabrian way of doing business was tested time and again. Residing in New York City for the past 20 years, the owner ended up showing his fellow countrymen a thing or two of how things get done and bringing a sense of style and taste that even the master trade contractors remained impressed. View the photo gallery and indulge...
www.VillettaMimmaVittoria.com/
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Music industry)
July 1999 — Present (10 years 5 months)
•Launched And Managed National Record Release Campaigns...Jose Feliciano, Martha Wash, Wendy Moten, Sounds of a Better World and Lives of a Cell and micheal CASTALDO.
•Prepared Sales Analysis, Reports And Presentations
•Selected And Worked Closely With Independent Promotions And Public Relations Firms
•Co-Designed And Placed Print Advertisements
•Directed And Maintained Music Production Schedule And Created Liner Notes
•Coordinated And Managed Live Music Productions, In-Store's, And Exhibitions
•Negotiations For Major Music And Print Publishing Contracts
to listen to music samples and read reviews of micheal's music click on:
www.Sonicbids.com/michealCASTALDO
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Music industry)
September 1987 — Present (22 years 3 months)
(Classic ‘n Timeless Italian Songs at your Next Themed Event)
For the past several years, there has been a surge in public interest of classic-timeless Italian songs… this is primarily due to the overwhelming worldwide success of the 3 Tenors and Andrea Bocelli. Recently, David Foster’s protégé Josh Groban hit #1 on the Billboard charts with very little radio airplay… What’s going on? Review this website to find out more...
www.michealCastaldo.com/
to listen to music samples and read reviews of micheal's music click on:
www.Sonicbids.com/michealCASTALDO
(Public Company; 51-200 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry)
August 1986 — June 1988 (1 year 11 months)
Pro-Motion - COSMOPOLITAN PERSONAL SYSTEMS, NEW YORK,
*Marketing Research
*Demonstrator
*Customer Service
*Office Support
*Sales
*Tele-Marketer
*Clients Included (The New York Times, New York Stock Exchange, Swatch, Brita And Citibank)
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Entertainment industry)
May 1985 — June 1986 (1 year 2 months)
Head for Boston’s historic Seaport District and spend a few unforgettable hours aboard a Spirit of Boston cruise, the most entertaining Boston dinner cruise ship. You’ll discover a Spirit of Boston cruise can be anything you want it to be. What are you in the mood for?
About Spirit Cruises
Spirit Cruises, LLC, is recognized as the largest harbor cruise company in America. Our fleet of 12 beautiful ships offers dining, entertainment and sightseeing cruises in seven of America's most popular port cities including Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, New York, Weehawken (NJ), Norfolk, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
BA , Professional Music , 1982 — 1986
Sound Engineer for Student Recitals, 1983-86.
Berklee Work Study Program 1982-86.
Published Boston Music Resources Guide, 1986.
Received Berklee Professional Scholarship For Musical Promise & Academic Excellence 1983-86.
Graduated Cum Laude 1986.
Royal Conservatory of Music 1982 — 1982
Music Harmony
Gr 13 Diploma , Liberal Arts , 1981 — 1982
H.S Diploma , Liberal Arts , 1978 — 1981
All things great about Italians, strategic planning, digital photography, community tenant advocacy, professional networking, swimming, international travel, gourmet cooking, architectural history, reading, driving roadsters, interior design, theatre, law, films, history channel :)
NARAS (Voting member of the Grammy's)
Screen Actors Guild/AFTRA/ACTRA
SESAC
Songwriters Guild of America
ASCAP
RIAA
Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA)
BNI
Foundation for Small Voices
Hudson Guild Tenants Group
MIT Enterprise Forum of New York
308 West 30th Street Tenants Association
Miata.Net
Slowtravel.com
Sonicbids.com
Myspace.com
Facebook.com
YouTube.com, LION
Track 'n Field 1st place '74
Floor Hockey Championship Team '75
Montreal Italian Music Fest. 1st Pl. '76
Volleyball Championship Team '77
Toronto Wrestling Champion '79
Q102 Battle of the Bands Finalist '82
Berklee College of Music Scholarship & Deans List 1983-86
Songwriters Hall of Fame - Abe Olman Award '87
New York Times - #1 Sales Manager '87
Billboard - Recording of Jose Feliciano charts '93
Gavin Report - Recording of Lives of a Cell charts '94.
The Academy of Calabria Rome-Toronto honored Michéal in '96 for his outstanding achievements and contributions to the Calabrian community in Canada.
The Center for Art & Culture “Bruzio” awarded the “Calabria America” 2000 to Michéal as a composer/producer.
Billboard - Recording of Martha Wash charts '01.
Outstanding Volunteer Recognition Award - Hudson Guild - '02.
NARAS - Recognition Award '05.
L'Esperienza Magazine - MVP Exemplifying the Italian American Experience '07.
BNI - Outstanding Team Performance '07-'08