Ernesto Bonino
Encyclopedia
Ernesto Pietro Bonino was an Italian
singer of pop and jazz standards whose peak of popularity was during the 1940s and 50s.
A native of Turin
, Ernesto Bonino began his career in the late 1930s as a teenage singer in the lively club scene of his hometown. Another contemporary Turin performer, Fred Buscaglione
, was also starting his singing occupation in the same fashion. Music impressario/conductor Carlo Prato, who had earlier promoted a Dutch
sister act into the very popular Trio Lescano
, heard Bonino and arranged an audition for him at the Italian state radio
company EIAR
. His broadcast debut came on 5 January 1941 with the song Tango Argentino. It was an instant success and other hits followed, including La Paloma, Se Fossi Milionario, La Famiglia Canterina (with Trio Lescano), A Zonzo, Musica Maestro, Il Giovanotto Matto, Ti Comprerò l'Armonica and Conosci Mia Cugina?. During the 1940s, Bonino, dubbed "Mister Swing", rivaled only Natalino Otto
and Alberto Rabagliati
in terms of popularity.
In 1947, two years after the end of World War II
, he embarked on a long tour of Latin America
, performing in Peru
, Argentina
, Chile
, Brazil
, Venezuela
, Mexico
and Cuba
, where he and actress/singer Tina de Mola took Havana
theatergoers by storm with their song Chinito chinita.
In 1952 Ernesto Bonino moved to the United States
and realized his dream of singing jazz standard
s in the best clubs of New York
, Chicago
and Miami. He made a brief comeback to Italy in 1955 for the Garinei
and Giovannini musical comedy La Granduchessa e i camerieri (The Grand Duchess and the Valets). When the run was finished, he returned to the U.S. and remained until 1958. His sole participation in the renowned Sanremo Music Festival came in 1962, when he placed third with Gondolì, Gondolà, written by the duo Carosone
-Nisa
. After the contest, Carosone hired him for the European tour of his band.
After that successful tour, however, changing musical tastes slowly led to the fading of Bonino's popularity and, in 1986, he underwent a surgical procedure which resulted in the loss of his voice. By December 2000, when he was nearly eighty, the state recognized his artistic merit and contribution to Italian culture by granting him a special government life pension.
Ernesto Bonino was 86 years old when he died at the Giuseppe Verdi Retirement Home for Artists in Milan
, where he had been residing since 23 April 2003.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
singer of pop and jazz standards whose peak of popularity was during the 1940s and 50s.
A native of Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, Ernesto Bonino began his career in the late 1930s as a teenage singer in the lively club scene of his hometown. Another contemporary Turin performer, Fred Buscaglione
Fred Buscaglione
Ferdinando "Fred" Buscaglione was an Italian singer and actor who became very popular in the late 1950s. His public persona – the character he played both in his songs and his movies – was of a humorous mobster with a penchant for whisky and women.-Biography:Ferdinando Buscaglione was born in...
, was also starting his singing occupation in the same fashion. Music impressario/conductor Carlo Prato, who had earlier promoted a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
sister act into the very popular Trio Lescano
Trio Lescano
Trio Lescano or Lescano Trio was a vocal trio singing close harmony. The trio became extremely popular in Italy in the 1930s and 1940s. The trio was an Italian version of American groups such as the Andrews Sisters or Boswell Sisters, and was formed by three Dutch sisters Alexandra , Judith , and...
, heard Bonino and arranged an audition for him at the Italian state radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
company EIAR
Ente Italiano per le Audizioni Radiofoniche
The Ente Italiano per le Audizioni Radiofoniche was the only public service broadcaster in Italy and the only one allowed to do so.-History:...
. His broadcast debut came on 5 January 1941 with the song Tango Argentino. It was an instant success and other hits followed, including La Paloma, Se Fossi Milionario, La Famiglia Canterina (with Trio Lescano), A Zonzo, Musica Maestro, Il Giovanotto Matto, Ti Comprerò l'Armonica and Conosci Mia Cugina?. During the 1940s, Bonino, dubbed "Mister Swing", rivaled only Natalino Otto
Natalino Otto
Natalino Otto, stage name of Natale Codognotto was an Italian singer. He started the swing genre in Italy.-Early years:Natalino Otto was born at Cogoleto, province of Genoa, in northern Italy....
and Alberto Rabagliati
Alberto Rabagliati
Alberto Rabagliati was an Italian singer.- Early career:Rabagliati was born in Milan.In 1927 he moved to Hollywood as the winner of a Rudolph Valentino look-alike contest...
in terms of popularity.
In 1947, two years after the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he embarked on a long tour of Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, performing in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, where he and actress/singer Tina de Mola took Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
theatergoers by storm with their song Chinito chinita.
In 1952 Ernesto Bonino moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and realized his dream of singing jazz standard
Jazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
s in the best clubs of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Miami. He made a brief comeback to Italy in 1955 for the Garinei
Pietro Garinei
Pietro Garinei was an Italian playwright, actor, and songwriter.-Biography:Garinei was born at Trieste and graduated in pharmacy...
and Giovannini musical comedy La Granduchessa e i camerieri (The Grand Duchess and the Valets). When the run was finished, he returned to the U.S. and remained until 1958. His sole participation in the renowned Sanremo Music Festival came in 1962, when he placed third with Gondolì, Gondolà, written by the duo Carosone
Renato Carosone
Renato Carosone , born Renato Carusone, was among the greatest figures of Italian music scene in the second half of the 20th century. He was also a modern performer of the so-called canzone napoletana, Naples' song tradition.-Beginnings:Carosone was born in Naples...
-Nisa
Nicola Salerno
Nicola Salerno, also known as Nisa was an Italian lyricist. He formed a famous songwriting duo with Renato Carosone.-Career:Nicola Salerno was born in Naples....
. After the contest, Carosone hired him for the European tour of his band.
After that successful tour, however, changing musical tastes slowly led to the fading of Bonino's popularity and, in 1986, he underwent a surgical procedure which resulted in the loss of his voice. By December 2000, when he was nearly eighty, the state recognized his artistic merit and contribution to Italian culture by granting him a special government life pension.
Ernesto Bonino was 86 years old when he died at the Giuseppe Verdi Retirement Home for Artists in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, where he had been residing since 23 April 2003.