Al Viola

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Al Viola, a noted guitarist who worked with Frank Sinatra for 25 years and also played the mandolin on "The Godfather" soundtrack, has died. He was 87.

Viola died of cancer Wednesday at his home in Studio City, said his wife, Glenna.

His last performance was in late January at a jazz supper club in Sherman Oaks, his wife said.

"He played great that night too," she said.

Viola performed with Sinatra at concerts, on recordings and in television specials. He is heard on such Sinatra hits as "My Way" and "New York, New York."

The singer once called him "one of the world's great guitarists."

"What I enjoyed most about working with Frank is that he was unpredictable," Viola said in an interview on his Web site. "When I accompanied him, I couldn't quite predict where he was going, which made it challenging and exciting. He always surprised me on stage. Although he wasn't known as a jazz singer, he ad-libbed like one and wouldn't sing a song the same way twice."

The two first met after World War II in Los Angeles, where Viola was performing with the Page Cavanaugh Trio. He quit the group in 1949 and became a studio musician. In addition to "The Godfather," he is heard on numerous TV and movie soundtracks, including "West Side Story" and "Blazing Saddles."

He also appeared on more than 500 albums for artists ranging from Neil Diamond to Marvin Gaye.

"He was a chameleon and could play in any style - that was his great talent," jazz singer Judy Chamberlain said.

"He was a flawless player," she said. "You could barely see his hands move, he was so smooth and quick with his fingers."

Viola was born in Brooklyn in 1919 to a musical family and picked up guitar early.

"My brother, who played mandolin, needed someone to accompany him, so he taught me a few chords on guitar to play behind him," Viola recalled.

As a youngster, he teamed up with a violinist friend to perform at local Chinese restaurants.

"My mother thought I was robbing the bank because I was bringing home $22 a week during the Depression!" he recalled.

He was in an Army band while stationed in Sacramento during World War II.

In addition to his wife, Viola is survived by his sons, Dan and Jeff, and a granddaughter.

A funeral was scheduled Monday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles.
Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press