Caterina Valente

Born on January 14, 1931, in Paris, France, Caterina Valente is singer, musician, and entertainer of Italian descent who speaks six languages fluently and sings in 11. Her ability to communicate in several languages made her a star in several countries including the all-important American market. Her first recording was released in 1953, but it was quickly followed by hit singles such as "Malagueña" (1954), "La Brise et moi" (1954), and "Dreh dich nicht um nach fremden Schatten" with Werner Müller's Orchestra (1954). In the mid-1950s, she appeared on American television programs – including The Colgate Comedy Hour – and appeared in several films including The Big Star Parade (1954), All at the Savoy (1955), and Liebe, Tanz un 1000 Schlager (1955). Her German-language schlager version of “I Love Paris” – entitled "Ganz Paris träumt von der Liebe” - was a huge success, selling more than half a million copies. In the 1960s, she embraced the sounds of bossa nova, attracting even more attention in America. Dean Martin made her a recurring guest on his Dean Martin Show between 1966 and 1972, thus giving her enormous media exposure. She also appeared on numerous episodes of NBC’s Kraft Music Hall hosted by Perry Como. During her career, she recorded and/or performed with countless international stars including Carol Burnett, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Danny Kaye, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Buddy Rich, Bob Newhart, Sy Oliver, Claus Ogerman, Bill Haley , Bing Crosby, and Chet Baker. Caterina Valente maintained a successful international career throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, releasing a series of well-received album including the best-selling A briglia sciolta (1989) and Girltalk (2001). She officially retired from the entertainment industry in 2003. Surprisingly, her 1959 single “Bongo cha cha cha” was used on the soundtrack to the 2019 motion picture Spider-Man: Far From Home and became a viral hit. Thanks to various social media platforms, the popularity of the song was revived again in 2021. Caterina Valente died on September 9, 2024 at the age of 93.