Ornella Vanoni, born on September 22, 1934, is a renowned Italian singer-songwriter and actress, boasting an illustrious career spanning over six decades. With a staggering 112 works to her credit, including LPs, EPs, and greatest hits albums, she is considered one of the most popular interpreters of Italian pop music, having sold over 65 million records worldwide.
Ornella's artistic journey began in 1960 as a theatre actress, performing in Bertolt Brecht's works under the direction of Giorgio Strehler at Milan's Piccolo Teatro. Concurrently, she started her music career, exploring folk and popular songs, particularly those about the criminal underworld in Milan, earning her the nickname "Cantante della Mala" or "Underworld Singer."
Her breakthrough came in 1963 with the hit singles "Senza Fine" and "Che cosa c'è," both penned by Gino Paoli. The following year, she won the Festival of Neapolitan song with "Tu si na cosa grande." Throughout the 1960s, she participated in numerous Festivals of Italian song in San Remo, performing hits like "Abbracciami forte" (1965),"Io ti darò di più" (1966),"La musica è finita" (1967),"Casa Bianca" (1968),and "Eternità" (1970).
In the late 1960s, Ornella recorded covers of Brazilian songs, including "L'appuntamento" and "Non Dirmi Niente," as well as original compositions like "Una ragione di più," "Un'ora sola ti vorrei," and "Quei giorni insieme a te," which was the theme song for Lucio Fulci's critically acclaimed film Don't Torture a Duckling.
The 1970s saw Ornella collaborate with notable artists, including Vinicius de Moraes and Toquinho on the song "La voglia, la pazzia, l'incoscienza e l'allegria." In the 1980s, she released albums like "Ricetta di donna," "Uomini," and "Ti lascio una canzone," a duet with Gino Paoli. Her return to the Sanremo Music Festival in 1989 with the song "Io come farò" marked a significant milestone in her career.
Ornella has also been active in other creative fields, starring in stage and TV shows, movies, and even posing nude for the Italian edition of Playboy magazine in January 1977, in exchange for a statute by her long-time friend, artist Arnaldo Pomodoro. Her song "L'Appuntamento" was featured in the soundtrack of Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's Twelve in 2004, sparking a worldwide renewal of interest in her music.
Throughout her illustrious career, Ornella Vanoni has left an indelible mark on the Italian music scene, solidifying her position as one of the most beloved and enduring artists of her generation.
