Little Tony (singer)
Encyclopedia
Little Tony is an Italian
-born Sammarinese
pop singer
and actor. He achieved success in Britain
in the late 1950s and early 1960s, as the lead singer of Little Tony & His Brothers, before returning to Italy where he continued a successful career as a singer and film actor.
, but is a citizen of San Marino
, where his parents were born, and has never applied for Italian citizenship. He formed a rock and roll
group with his two brothers, Alberto and Enrico, in 1957, naming himself Little Tony in emulation of Little Richard
. The following year, the group were signed by Durium Records
, who released a series of covers of American rock and roll songs by them in Italy.
In 1959, the Italian singer Marino Marini
, when in London
, recommended the group to TV pop show producer Jack Good
. Good visited Italy to meet the group, was impressed, and signed them up to appear in his British TV show Boy Meets Girls
. They made their first appearance on the programme in September 1959, and released their first single in the UK, "I Can't Help It" - the 11th single of their career in Italy - on the Decca
label soon afterwards. For their third British single, Good recorded the group in London for the first time, and the resulting single, "Too Good", written by Doc Pomus
and Mort Shuman
, reached # 19 on the UK singles chart
in January 1960, their only chart success in Britain. The group continued to appear regularly on TV shows in Britain until 1962.
The group first revisited Italy in 1961 to appear at the San Remo Festival, returning more permanently the following year. Little Tony then worked as a solo singer, having his first #1 in Italy with "Il ragazzo col ciuffo" in 1962. He also began working as a movie actor, notably appearing in 5 marines per 100 ragazze
in 1962. In all, he has appeared in over 20 movies in Italy. He also continued to record regularly through the 1960s, one of his biggest hits being "Cuore matto", #1 for nine consecutive weeks in 1967. He formed his own record label, Little Records, in 1969. He has continued to record and perform successfully in Italy, despite suffering a heart attack in 2006.
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...
-born Sammarinese
Sammarinese people
Sammarinese people may refer to:*the people of San Marino*Sammarinese Populars political party...
pop singer
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and actor. He achieved success in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the late 1950s and early 1960s, as the lead singer of Little Tony & His Brothers, before returning to Italy where he continued a successful career as a singer and film actor.
Life and career
He was born in Tivoli, ItalyTivoli, Italy
Tivoli , the classical Tibur, is an ancient Italian town in Lazio, about 30 km east-north-east of Rome, at the falls of the Aniene river where it issues from the Sabine hills...
, but is a citizen of San Marino
San Marino
San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino , is a state situated on the Italian Peninsula on the eastern side of the Apennine Mountains. It is an enclave surrounded by Italy. Its size is just over with an estimated population of over 30,000. Its capital is the City of San Marino...
, where his parents were born, and has never applied for Italian citizenship. He formed a rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
group with his two brothers, Alberto and Enrico, in 1957, naming himself Little Tony in emulation of Little Richard
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
. The following year, the group were signed by Durium Records
Durium Records
Durium Records was the name of two United Kingdom-based record labels.-Durium :Durium Records was a United Kingdom-based record label of the 1930s. Its product and marketing were similar to that of the United States record company Hit of the Week Records...
, who released a series of covers of American rock and roll songs by them in Italy.
In 1959, the Italian singer Marino Marini
Marino Marini (musician)
Marino Marini was an Italian popular musician who achieved international success in the 1950s and 1960s.He was born into a family of musicians in Seggiano in the Grosetto region of Italy. After briefly studying electronics, he studied piano, violin and composition at the Conservatorio Rossini at...
, when in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, recommended the group to TV pop show producer Jack Good
Jack Good (producer)
Jack Good is a pioneering former TV television producer, musical theatre producer, record producer, musician and painter of icons.-Career:...
. Good visited Italy to meet the group, was impressed, and signed them up to appear in his British TV show Boy Meets Girls
Boy Meets Girls
Boy Meets Girls was a UK popular music TV show which was launched in September 1959 replacing the earlier show Oh Boy!.The show was presented and produced by Jack Good. Marty Wilde was the principal resident male artist and The Vernons Girls were the female residents. Joe Brown made regular...
. They made their first appearance on the programme in September 1959, and released their first single in the UK, "I Can't Help It" - the 11th single of their career in Italy - on the Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
label soon afterwards. For their third British single, Good recorded the group in London for the first time, and the resulting single, "Too Good", written by Doc Pomus
Doc Pomus
Jerome Solon Felder, better known as Doc Pomus , was a twentieth-century American blues singer and songwriter. He is best known as the lyricist of many rock and roll hits. Pomus was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the category of non-performer in 1992. He was also inducted into...
and Mort Shuman
Mort Shuman
Mort Shuman was an American singer, pianist and songwriter, best known as co-writer of many 1960s rock and roll hits, including "Viva Las Vegas"...
, reached # 19 on the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in January 1960, their only chart success in Britain. The group continued to appear regularly on TV shows in Britain until 1962.
The group first revisited Italy in 1961 to appear at the San Remo Festival, returning more permanently the following year. Little Tony then worked as a solo singer, having his first #1 in Italy with "Il ragazzo col ciuffo" in 1962. He also began working as a movie actor, notably appearing in 5 marines per 100 ragazze
5 marines per 100 ragazze
5 marines per 100 ragazze is a 1962 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Virna Lisi.-Cast:* Virna Lisi as Grazia* Mario Carotenuto as Ammiraglio Michigan* Hélène Chanel as Elena, la maestra* Little Tony as Tony Collina...
in 1962. In all, he has appeared in over 20 movies in Italy. He also continued to record regularly through the 1960s, one of his biggest hits being "Cuore matto", #1 for nine consecutive weeks in 1967. He formed his own record label, Little Records, in 1969. He has continued to record and perform successfully in Italy, despite suffering a heart attack in 2006.
External links
- Official site (in Italian)
- Little Tony at Discogs