Baltimora

Baltimora was an Italian music project active in the 1980s, regarded as a key example of the italo disco sound.

On stage, the project was fronted by Jimmy McShane, a Northern Irish dancer, singer, and songwriter. However, the songs were largely written and performed by Italian vocalist and producer Maurizio Bassi, though there has been controversy over McShane’s real level of involvement in singing and writing.

Baltimora achieved immediate success in Europe in the summer of 1985 with its debut single, Tarzan Boy. The track also broke through in the United States—unusual for an italo disco act—becoming a hit there and peaking at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in spring 1986. The first album, “Living in the Background,” was released shortly afterward.

Tarzan Boy enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in spring 1993, reaching No. 51 on the Hot 100 thanks to its inclusion in the film “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III.” The song was later reused in the comedy “Beverly Hills Ninja” and in a Listerine commercial.

Despite successful tours and a strong club presence, the project quickly faded from view after that initial success. Jimmy McShane died from AIDS-related complications on March 29, 1995. Maurizio Bassi, meanwhile, remained active in the music industry.

The name Baltimora is also used as the stage name of Italian singer-songwriter and producer Edoardo Spinsante, born in 2001.