I think a thread about this outstanding singer is well overdue on this forum. Caterina will celebrate her 90TH Birthday on the 14TH of this month. Caterina Valente started her recording (and movie career) in Germany in the early 1950s. The rise to international stardom came when she recorded an arrangement of Lecuona's "Malaguena" (created for her by Werner Müller) for Polydor. Decca picked up this very recording and distributed it in the US. The recording rocketed to the top tiers of the US charts despite its German language. Then called the "Malaguena girl", Caterina had guest appearances on many of the best-known US TV shows. Her second recording contract with Teldec improved the distribution of her records which by then included recordings in (among others) English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French. Many of these recordings (most of which have thankfully been anthologized by Bear Family) are now classics. Caterina remained a major recording artist (as well as movie and TV star) in Germany, covered hundreds of standards and had major influence on the South American music scene (recording with Edmundo Ros and her brother Silvio Francesco).
New to me. Fantastic singer, thx! An explosion of talent. She started out in Germany, but was she native to Germany? Or the daughter of a foreigner - her accent sounds Italian?
You're really in for a treat Both of her parents had Italian roots, but she was born in France. She used to joke about that in her concerts. There's a brief clip about it on her webiste: Eraki Entertainment Some further examples of her versatility: Recording with Sy Oliver If you are into classical music, Caterina recorded an album which feature (abbreviated) versions of famous classical pieces - followed by a vocal "pop" version ("Classics With A Chaser"): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uejs0fUb7qU "Dream A Little Dream Of Me" with Edmundo Ros (on Decca Phase 4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcP5M_SCW2U In Japanese: https://youtu.be/f0r8oRu6BHE Cole Porter in French (lyrcis by Charles Aznavour): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq2nEhhS3lk Finally, two of her most famous songs in German: "I Love Paris" in German https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjRV7bcL0MU and a duet with Austrian singer Peter Alexander (who started his career at about the same time as she): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06GQhFqc1oQ
She seemed to work in pretty every genre effortlessly (or at least it looked that way; it was hard work).
I first came across her when hearing The Breeze and I on the radio one morning about 20 years ago. Must have half a dozen cds of her recordings by now. Thanks for posting about her, it wouldn't have occurred to me to wonder if she was still alive
Secret Love by Caterina Valente from the 1950s might still catch a few ears. Some nice finger popping too