Caterina Valente(I)
- Actress
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
In 1954 Caterina Valente introduced herself to European audiences with
her recordings of "Istanbul" and "I love Paris". In 1955 Gordon MacRae
presented her on the "Colgate Comedy Hour" as the "Malaguena" Girl.
This was followed by the worldwide hit "The Breeze and I".
Las Vegas critics raved about the extraordinary talent of the young
European vocalist who could sing in 12 languages and she soon found the
spotlight on TV, at the Hollywood Palace and Dean Martin was so
impressed he invited her on his TV show at least a dozen times. Danny
Kaye, Perry Como and Bing Crosby often featured her as well, along with
other TV hosts. In "The Entertainers" aired in 1964/65 she shared the
bill with Carol Burnett, Dom DeLuise and Bob Newhart and was awarded
the FAME Award as best vocalist on American television.
From the mid fifties to the eighties German, Italian, Swiss and
Austrian Television produced more than a dozen series of Valente-Shows
and her guest spots over the globe are uncountable.
Among others, she has performed with Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman,
Ella Fitzgerald, toured extensively in concert with Woody Herman, the
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Buddy Rich and has recorded with Sy Oliver,
Claus Ogerman and Chet Baker just to name a few.
Born in Paris (January 14th 1931) of Italian parents, once married to a
German then to an Englishman, Caterina Valente easily related to fans
wherever she performed, particularly in Europe. She stormed the charts
in Germany with "Ganz Paris träumt von der Liebe" and Tipitipitipso"
becoming the queen of German Schlager. In Italy romantic ballads like
"Nessuno al mondo" and "Till" brought her gold records. The Grand Prix
du Disque was her award in France for "Bimbombey" and she topped the
charts in the US and the UK with the before mentioned "Malaguena" and
"The Breeze and I".
She starred in 12 European movie-musicals; she dances (less exuberantly
since undergoing two major hip operations); and is a virtuoso on the
guitar, having strummed the instrument in an orchestra when only a
teen-ager.
Major awards from Italy, Germany (2 crosses of merit), France (officer
of artistic education), Brazil, Japan as well as the USA (including a
best female vocalist Grammy nomination) document her artistic and civil
achievements throughout the years.
But she considers the 18 concerts sharing the stage of the Olympia in
Paris with Michel Legrand in 1972 as well as the album Valente 86 with
the Count Basie Orchestra and relative 1986 European Tour under the
direction of, and with arrangements by Thad Jones, to be her artistic
highlights.
In 1986, her 50th anniversary in show business was celebrated with a
televised tribute entitled Bravo Caterina, and the Guinness Book of
World Records recognized her as Europe's most successful female
recording artist, with over 1350 albums to her credit.
"Girltalk" her latest album of newly recorded material with harpist
Catherine Michel was released to international critical acclaim in
2001.
her recordings of "Istanbul" and "I love Paris". In 1955 Gordon MacRae
presented her on the "Colgate Comedy Hour" as the "Malaguena" Girl.
This was followed by the worldwide hit "The Breeze and I".
Las Vegas critics raved about the extraordinary talent of the young
European vocalist who could sing in 12 languages and she soon found the
spotlight on TV, at the Hollywood Palace and Dean Martin was so
impressed he invited her on his TV show at least a dozen times. Danny
Kaye, Perry Como and Bing Crosby often featured her as well, along with
other TV hosts. In "The Entertainers" aired in 1964/65 she shared the
bill with Carol Burnett, Dom DeLuise and Bob Newhart and was awarded
the FAME Award as best vocalist on American television.
From the mid fifties to the eighties German, Italian, Swiss and
Austrian Television produced more than a dozen series of Valente-Shows
and her guest spots over the globe are uncountable.
Among others, she has performed with Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman,
Ella Fitzgerald, toured extensively in concert with Woody Herman, the
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Buddy Rich and has recorded with Sy Oliver,
Claus Ogerman and Chet Baker just to name a few.
Born in Paris (January 14th 1931) of Italian parents, once married to a
German then to an Englishman, Caterina Valente easily related to fans
wherever she performed, particularly in Europe. She stormed the charts
in Germany with "Ganz Paris träumt von der Liebe" and Tipitipitipso"
becoming the queen of German Schlager. In Italy romantic ballads like
"Nessuno al mondo" and "Till" brought her gold records. The Grand Prix
du Disque was her award in France for "Bimbombey" and she topped the
charts in the US and the UK with the before mentioned "Malaguena" and
"The Breeze and I".
She starred in 12 European movie-musicals; she dances (less exuberantly
since undergoing two major hip operations); and is a virtuoso on the
guitar, having strummed the instrument in an orchestra when only a
teen-ager.
Major awards from Italy, Germany (2 crosses of merit), France (officer
of artistic education), Brazil, Japan as well as the USA (including a
best female vocalist Grammy nomination) document her artistic and civil
achievements throughout the years.
But she considers the 18 concerts sharing the stage of the Olympia in
Paris with Michel Legrand in 1972 as well as the album Valente 86 with
the Count Basie Orchestra and relative 1986 European Tour under the
direction of, and with arrangements by Thad Jones, to be her artistic
highlights.
In 1986, her 50th anniversary in show business was celebrated with a
televised tribute entitled Bravo Caterina, and the Guinness Book of
World Records recognized her as Europe's most successful female
recording artist, with over 1350 albums to her credit.
"Girltalk" her latest album of newly recorded material with harpist
Catherine Michel was released to international critical acclaim in
2001.