Caterina Valente
A gifted singer, guitarist, and dancer, Caterina Valente is a multilingual artist who emerged in Europe during the 1950s and became one of the most beloved and iconic performers of her generation. Born in Paris, France in 1931, Valente grew up in an Italian circus family. Her mother was a clown and her father was an accordion player; as a child she worked in the circus as well. She performed in Europe as a singer for several years (and in a duo with her brother Silvio Francesco), but her career as an internationally known vocalist began in 1953 when she joined Kurt Edelhagen's band in Germany. She was soon signed to Polydor and made her recording debut, Bouquet de Mélodies, in 1955.
Her first big hits came soon after that on albums like The Hi-Fi Nightingale and Olé Caterina. Two songs written by Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona charted in Europe and eventually England and the U.S. "Malagueña" was her first big hit, followed by "Andalucia," which, when re-released in an English version as "The Breeze and I," became a Top Ten hit in both the U.K. and the U.S. By this time, Valente had become a truly multilingual artist, performing her cabaret act and issuing recordings in six languages: French, German, Italian, English, Spanish, and Swedish. During the '50s and '60s she notched hits in the charts of many countries, including Italy ("Till," "Personalita," "Nessuno al Mondo"), Germany ("Ganza Paris Träumt von der Liebe," "Wo Meine Sonne Scheint," "Steig in das Traumboot der Liebe"), and France ("Bimbombey," "39 Fievere," "Saitôn-Jamais"). Her version of "La Golondrina" appeared on one of the first charity albums, 1963's All Star Festival, whose proceeds aided refugees.
In the mid-'70s, Valente married her musical director, British jazz pianist Roy Budd, although the marriage was short-lived. She continued recording into the mid-'80s, issuing Caterina 86, a recording made with the Count Basie Orchestra. Valente retreated into semi-retirement in the '90s, making the occasional live appearance. In 2002, just prior to her official retirement, she paired with harpist Catherine Michel for Girl Talk, which found her revisiting some of her favorite songs from her career. The following year, she was bestowed an ECHO Lifetime Achievement Award.
© Stacia Proefrock /TiVo
Similar artists
-
Danke Caterina - Die 50 schönsten Hits - Folge 3
Caterina Valente, Silvio Francesco
Schlager - Released by Musictales on 15/05/2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Caterina Valente Chanson d'amour
Pop - Released by BeeBirdz on 21/06/2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Ganz Paris träumt von der Liebe
World - Released by CF Schlager on 10/02/2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
The Very Best Of
Vocal Jazz - Released by Master Classics Records on 4/11/2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Olé Caterina! (Expanded Edition)
Caterina Valente, Silvio Francesco
Germany - Released by Electrola on 1/01/1956
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Caterina Valente Greatest Hits (All Tracks Remastered)
Pop - Released by jjjedizionimusicali on 2/11/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bouquet de rêves, Samba di una nota, Aquellos ojos verdes... and more Hits! (Remastered)
Lounge - Released by Conarte Grabaciones on 7/02/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Toast to the Girls
Caterina Valente, Kurt Edelhagen And His Orchestra
Soundtracks - Released by Stage Door on 19/05/2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Wonderful World Of Caterina Valente Vol 1 (Remastered)
Latin America - Released by RevOla on 4/11/2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
World Music Vol. 7
World - Released by Listener's Choice on 28/11/2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Strictly USA
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Nightclub Records on 1/01/1963
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classics with a Chaser
Caterina Valente, Werner Müller And His Orchestra
Jazz - Released by Sepia on 10/09/2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Snap Shots
Caterina Valente, Silvio Francesco
Latin America - Released by Bttf Music on 25/07/2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Latein Amerikanische Rhythmen
Latin America - Released by Nightclub Records on 1/01/2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Istanbul, Quien será, Mackie Messer... and More Hits! (Remastered)
Lounge - Released by Conarte Grabaciones on 7/02/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chanson d'amour, My Funny Valentine, Cucurrucucu Paloma... and more Hits! (Remastered)
Lounge - Released by Conarte Grabaciones on 1/02/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -