He moved to San Francisco in 1931 and found work as a musician on local radio.
It was not until 1983 when he released his first album, The World of Rudy Cipolla, produced by his friend and fellow mandolinist David Grisman.
[2][3] He has numerous compositions for mandolin, some of which are part of the soundtracks of the films Capone and Peggy Sue Got Married.
Shortly after he died in 2000, Grisman and other associated musicians hosted a benefit concert for Cipolla's family at The Freight and Salvage.
[4] The city of Cosenza wanted to remember him as part of the Invasioni 2000 Festival with a concert performed by Beppe Gambetta, who knew him personally, and Carlo Aonzo.