Tony Renis (born 13 May 1938), stage name of Elio Cesari, is an Italian singer, composer, music producer and film actor.

Life and career

Renis was born in

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city ...

. In the mid-1950s he met with

Adriano Celentano Adriano Celentano (; born 6 January 1938) is an Italian musician, singer, composer, actor, and filmmaker. He is dubbed "''il Molleggiato''" (the springy one) because of his dancing. Celentano's many albums frequently enjoyed both commercial and ...

, and the two started performing an impression of

Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...

and

Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch; March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian. As his contributions to comedy and charity made him a global figure in popular culture, pop culture ...

. In 1958, he was signed by the label "Combo Records", and released a few cover versions of Italian and American rock 'n' roll songs as lead vocalist of the band Combos. In 1961, Renis debuted at the

Sanremo Music Festival The Sanremo Music Festival, officially the Italian Song Festival () and commonly known as just (), is the most popular Italian song contest and awards ceremony, held annually in the city of Sanremo, Liguria. It is the longest-running annua ...

with the song "Pozzanghere". In 1962, Renis returned to the Sanremo Music Festival where he gained international recognition with the song " Quando, quando, quando", written with

Alberto Testa Alberto Testa may refer to: * Alberto Testa (dancer) (1922–2019), Italian dancer *Alberto Testa (lyricist) Alberto Testa (11 April 1927 – 19 October 2009) was an Italian composer, lyricist, singer, and writer for television. Born at Santos ...

. One year later, he won the Festival with the song "Uno per tutte", and, in 1967, he finished second with the song "Quando dico che ti amo". In 1972, Renis and Testa composed the song "

Grande grande grande "Grande grande grande" is a 1972 Italian song, written by Alberto Testa and Tony Renis. It was a No. 1 hit for Mina in Italy and for Shirley Bassey released as "Never Never Never" in the U.K., U.S. and Australia. The 1973 Shirley Bassey single a ...

". It was successfully interpreted by Mina, and later by

Shirley Bassey Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey (; born 8 January 1937) is a Welsh singer. Best known for her career longevity, powerful voice and recording the theme songs to three James Bond films, Bassey is widely regarded as one of the most popular vocalist ...

as "Never Never Never". Over the years "Grande grande grande" have been covered by

Vikki Carr Florencia Vicenta de Casillas-Martínez Cardona (born July 19, 1940), known by her stage name Vikki Carr, is an American vocalist. She has a singing career that spans more than four decades. Born in El Paso, Texas, to Mexican parents, she has p ...

Celine Dion Céline Marie Claudette Dion ( ; born 30 March 1968) is a Canadian singer. Noted for her powerful and technically skilled vocals, Dion is the best-selling Canadian recording artist, and the best-selling French-language artist of all time. Her ...

with

Luciano Pavarotti Luciano Pavarotti (, , ; 12 October 19356 September 2007) was an Italian operatic tenor who during the late part of his career crossed over into popular music, eventually becoming one of the most acclaimed tenors of all time. He made numero ...

Julio Iglesias Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva (; born 23 September 1943) is a Spanish singer, songwriter and former professional footballer. Iglesias is recognized as the most commercially successful Spanish singer in the world and one of the top record ...

, Patrizio Buanne with Renee Olstead, among others. In 1974, he won the Nastro d'Argento for the Best Score for his work on the soundtrack of the film '' Brothers Blue''. In the 1980s, Tony Renis temporarily retired from performing and mainly worked as music producer. In 1981 he launched the career of child prodigy

Nikka Costa Domenica "Nikka" Costa (born 4 June 1972) is an American singer whose music combines elements of pop, soul, and blues. She also had a career as a child singer starting in the early 1980s. She is the daughter of music producer Don Costa. Early ...

. In 1999, Renis received a

Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of ...

and was nominated for an Oscar for the song " The Prayer", performed by

and

Andrea Bocelli Andrea Bocelli (; born 22 September 1958) is an Italian tenor and multi-instrumentalist. He was born visually impaired, with congenital glaucoma, and at the age of 12, Bocelli became completely blind, following a brain hemorrhage resulting fro ...

, from the ''

Quest for Camelot ''Quest for Camelot'' (released internationally as ''The Magic Sword: Quest for Camelot'') is a 1998 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Warner Bros. Feature Animation and directed by Frederik Du Chau and very loosely based on t ...

'' film soundtrack. In 2005, he won a

David di Donatello The David di Donatello Awards, named after Donatello's ''David'', a symbolic statue of the Italian Renaissance, are film awards given out each year by the ''Accademia del Cinema Italiano'' (The Academy of Italian Cinema). There are 26 award cat ...

for the song "Merry Christmas in Love" from the film ''

Christmas in Love ''Christmas in Love'' is a 2004 cinepanettone film starring Christian De Sica, Danny DeVito, Massimo Boldi, Cristiana Capotondi and Ronn Moss. The film was directed by Neri Parenti. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Origi ...

''. The song was also nominated for Best Original Song at the

63rd Golden Globe Awards The 63rd Golden Globe Awards, honoring the best in film and television for 2005, were presented on January 16, 2006, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Los Angeles, California. The nominations were announced on December 13, 2005. The ceremony aire ...

. In 2016 Renis received the America Award of the Italy-USA Foundation.

Discography

Albums (Italy)

*1969: ''Tony Renis'' (

RCA Italiana RCA Italiana was an Italian record company founded in 1949 and active until 1987, the date on which, together with the parent company RCA Records, it was bought by BMG Entertainment. History Founded in Rome in 1949 under the Vatican's protec ...

, PSL 10435) *1974: ''Graffiti'' (

EMI Italiana EMI Italiana was a record label, an Italian offshoot of British Electric and Musical Industries, based in Milan. It was founded in 1931 as VCM and, in 1967, renamed EMI Italiana; it then became EMI Music Italy in 1997 and, finally, EMI Records I ...

, 3C 048-51500 *1976: ''Tony Renis'' (RCA Italiana, TCL 1–1078) *1976: ''Un grande grande grande Tony Renis'' (RCA Lineatre, NL 31078) *1989: ''Le più belle di Tony Renis'' (

, 7931031)

Singles (Italy)

*1958: Come prima/Ti dirò ( Combo Record, 5057; with Combos) *1958: Prendi quella stella/Tipitipitipso (, 5058; with Combos) *1958: Magic Moments/Oggi o mai più (, 5091; with Combos) *1958: Clopin clopant/Tutto è diverso (, 5092; with Combos) *1958: Prendi quella stella/Ti dirò (, 5093; with Combos) *1959: Nessuno al mondo/Addio Maria (

La voce del padrone La voce del padrone was the Italian label for the His Master's Voice recording house. The house belonged to The Gramophone Company Ltd., of Hayes (Middlesex, United Kingdom) which owned several labels in Italy, like Columbia, Marconiphone, Angel ...

, 7MQ 1224) *1959: Morir d'amor/Ti prego, amore (

, 7MQ 1229) *1960: Tenerezza/Cuore in blue jeans (

, 7MQ 1379) *1961: Pozzanghere/Lei (

, 7MQ 1525) *1961: Piccolo indiano/15 anni (

, 7MQ 1657) *1962:

Quando quando quando "Quando quando quando" (or "Quando, Quando, Quando", ; "When, When, When") is an Italian pop song from 1962, in the bossa nova style, with music written by Tony Renis and lyrics by Alberto Testa. The song, originally recorded in two different ...

/ Blu (

, 7MQ 1689) *1962: Tango per favore/Amor amor amor (

, 7MQ 1708) *1963: Perché perché/Gli innamorati sono angeli (

, 7MQ 1776) *1963: Uno per tutte/Le ciliegie (

, 7MQ 1777) *1964: Bikini e tamurè/Un ragazzino (

, 7MQ 1819) *1964: Le ciliegie/Gli innamorati sono angeli (

, 7MQ 1823) *1964: Ti guardero nel cuore/Otto e mezzo (

, 7MQ 1846) *1964: Sorrisi di sera/Ti chiedo scusa (

, MQ 1867) *1964: Non sei mariu' stasera/Baciamoci signorina (

, MQ 1882) *1964: Amo Milano/Nostalgia di Milano (Oh mamma mia) (

, MQ 1893) *1965: Il garofano rosso/Nessun'altra che te (

, PM 3318) *1967: Quando dico che ti amo/Mi perderai (

, PM 3389) *1967: Non mi dire mai good bye/Prima di domani (

, PM 3403) *1968: Il posto mio/Che notte sei (

, PM 3439) *1968: Frin frin frin/Cosa non-farei (

, PM 3456) *1969: L'aereo parte/Un ragazzo che ti ama (, ZN 50015) *1970: Canzone blu/Dove sei stata Susy (, ZN 50019) *1970: Venere/Amami per favore (, ZN 50034) *1972: Un uomo tra la folla/

(, ZN 50145)

EPs (Italy)

*1959: Ti prego, amore/Elena sono solo/Io cerco te/Romanzo d'amore (

, 7E MQ 124) *1962:

/ Tango per favore/ Blu/ Amor amor amor (

, 7E MQ 239) *1963: Uno per tutte/Le ciliegie/Perché perché/Gli innamorati sono angeli (

, 7E MQ 254)

Albums (International market)

*1964: ''Tony Renis'' ( EMI, CLP 1754; published in Great Britain) *1969: ''Chin-chin quechiquitin'' (

RCA Victor RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also A ...

, MIL/S 4051; published in Mexico)

Singles (International Market)

*1963: Uno per tutte/Perché perché (

His Master's Voice His Master's Voice (HMV) was the name of a major British record label created in 1901 by The Gramophone Co. Ltd. The phrase was coined in the late 1890s from the title of a painting by English artist Francis Barraud, which depicted a Jack Russ ...

, 63072; published in Spain) *1967: Quando dico che ti amo/Mi perderai (

,MA 4073; published in

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lie ...

) *1967: Quando dico che ti amo/Mi perderai (

, 3-10202; published in Spain) *1970: Cancion azul/Las noches de oro (

, 3-10504; published in Spain) *1971: Venise va mourir/Anonimo veneziano ( CBS, 7606; published in France) *1972:

/ Un hombre entre la gente ( Hispavox, HS 843; published in Spain)

EPs (International Market)

*1962:

/ Blu/ Anch'io/ Amor amor amor ( A voz do dono, 7LEG 6019; published in

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of th ...

) *1963: Uno per tutte/Perche perche/Quando, quando, quando/Dancing (Tango per favore) (

, 7EG 8799; published in Great Britain) *1963: Uno per tutte/Le ciliegie/Perché perché/Gli innamorati sono angeli (

, 7 EGS 271;published in Sweden) *1963: Uno per tutte/Perché perché/Tango per favore/La tua mano ( Cheque Disque, EMF 336; published in France) *1964: Otto e mezzo/Un muchachito/Sorrisi di sera/Ti guarderò nel cuore ( A voz do dono, 7LEM 3130; published in

)

Sports work

He composed the AC Milan Anthem - Milan Milan in 1988AC MILAN'S ANTHEMS
/ref>

Filmography

* ''Io bacio... tu baci'', directed by

Piero Vivarelli Piero Vivarelli (26 February 1927 – 7 September 2010) was an Italian film director, screenwriter and lyricist. Vivarelli was born in Siena. After his father's death in 1942 at the hands of Yugoslav Partisans, Vivarelli joined the Republ ...

(1961) * '' Appuntamento in riviera'', directed by

Mario Mattoli Mario Mattoli (; 30 November 1898 – 26 February 1980) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed 86 films between 1934 and 1966. His 1939 film ''Defendant, Stand Up!'' was shown as part of a retrospective on Italian comedy ...

(1962) * '' Obiettivo ragazze'', directed by

(1963) * ''Ischia operazione amore'', directed by

Vittorio Sala Vittorio Sala (1918–1996) was an Italian screenwriter and film director.Capua p.195 Selected filmography * '' A Woman Alone'' (1956) * ''Wild Cats on the Beach ''Wild Cats on the Beach'' ( it, Costa Azzurra, french: Côte d'Azur) is a 1959 It ...

(1966) * ''Quando dico che ti amo'', directed by Giorgio Bianchi (1967) * ''La ragazza del bersagliere'', directed by

Alessandro Blasetti Alessandro Blasetti (3 July 1900 – 1 February 1987) was an Italian film director and screenwriter who influenced Italian neorealism with the film ''Quattro passi fra le nuvole''. Blasetti was one of the leading figures in Italian cinema during ...

(1967) * ''Non mi dire mai goodbye'', directed by Frank G. Carrol (1967) * '' Per amore... per magia...'', directed by

Duccio Tessari Duccio Tessari (11 October 1926 – 6 September 1994) was an Italian director, screenwriter and actor, considered one of the fathers of Spaghetti Westerns. Born in Genoa, Tessari started in the fifties as documentarist and as screenwriter of p ...

(1967) * ''Totò Ye Ye'', directed by

Daniele D'Anza Daniele D'Anza (20 April 1922 – 12 April 1984) was an Italian director, playwright and screenwriter. Life and career Born in Milan, D'Anza started his career on stage, in which he is best known for the direction of the antimilitarist play '' ...

(1967, Television film) * ''

The Black Corsair ''The Black Corsair'' is an 1898 adventure novel written by Italian novelist Emilio Salgari. Set in the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy, the novel narrates the exploits of Emilio Roccanera, Lord of Ventimiglia and his attempts to ave ...

'', directed by Sergio Sollima (1976)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Renis, Tony 1938 births Italian composers Italian male composers Living people Singers from Milan Italian record producers Golden Globe Award-winning musicians Nastro d'Argento winners Italian male film actors Sanremo Music Festival winners Spanish-language singers of Italy