{{Short description|Italian-Swiss actress and singer (born 1945)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Expand Italian|topic=bio|Rita Pavone|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Rita Pavone | image = Rita Pavone 1965.jpg | image_size = | caption = Pavone in 1965 | birth_name = Rita Ori Filomena Pavone | birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=y|1945|8|23}} | birth_place = [[Turin]], Piedmont, [[Kingdom of Italy]] | death_date = | death_place = | citizenship = {{flatlist| *Italy *Switzerland }} | occupation = {{flatlist| *Singer *actress }} | othername = | yearsactive = 1962–present | spouse = {{marriage|[[Teddy Reno]]|1968}} | children = 2 | website = {{website|http://www.ritapavone.it}} }}
'''Rita Ori Filomena Merk-Pavone''' ({{née|'''Pavone'''}}, {{IPA|it|ˈriːta paˈvoːne|lang}}; born August 23, 1945)<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=1922}}</ref> is an Italian-Swiss pop singer, actress and [[showgirl]], who rose to prominence in the 1960s.
Known as "the Mosquito of Turin" ({{lang|it|la Zanzara di Torino}}), she was also nicknamed "Carrot Hair" ({{lang|it|Pel di carota}}) because of the red color of her hair.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rita Pavone e Patty Pravo, tornano le regine del pop |url=https://archivio-corriere-it.translate.goog/Archivio/interface/landing.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/agosto/07/Rita_Pavone_Patty_Pravo_tornano_co_10_9608078490.shtml |archive-date=7 November 2015 |access-date=28 June 2024 |website=Corriere della Sera}}</ref> Selling more than 50 million records worldwide and recording in seven different languages,<ref>{{Cite web |title=La voce delle donne |url=http://www.lavocedelledonne.it/cantante.aspx?id_cantante=159 |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=La voce delle donne}}</ref> she is also one of eight Italian pop singers to have ever entered the UK charts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RITA PAVONE {{!}} Songs and Albums {{!}} full Official Charts history |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/12772/rita-pavone/ |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=Official Charts}}</ref>
==Career== Pavone was born in [[Turin]], in the region of [[Piedmont]].<ref name="LarkinGE"/> In 1962 she participated in, and won, the first {{lang|it|Festival degli Sconosciuti|i=no}} ("Festival of the Unknown"), a song competition for amateur artists.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> Her self-titled 1963 album, led by the hit single "{{lang|it|[[La partita di pallone]]|i=no}}" ("The Soccer Game") brought her widespread recognition in Italy at age 17 and later international visibility. "{{lang|it|La partita di pallone|i=no}}" sold over one million copies and was awarded a [[music recording sales certification|gold disc]].<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book | first= Joseph | last= Murrells | year= 1978 | title= The Book of Golden Discs | edition= 2nd | publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. | location= London | page= [https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/164 164] | isbn= 978-0-214-20512-5 | url-access= registration | url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/164 }}</ref> Her recording of "{{lang|it|[[Cuore (song)|Cuore]]|i=no}}" ("Heart") also sold a million copies in 1963 and spent nine weeks at number one in Italy.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs"/>
Pavone made her first appearance on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' May 17, 1964,<ref>{{cite magazine |editor1-last=Ackerman |editor1-first=Paul |title=Rita Pavone Arrives for RCA's Promotion Tour |magazine=Billboard |date=9 May 1964 |volume=76 |issue=19 |page=3 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1964/Billboard%201964-05-09.pdf |access-date=13 September 2024 |publisher=Cook, Hal B. |location=Cincinnati, OH, USA |language=English |issn=0006-2510 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121193133/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1964/Billboard%201964-05-09.pdf |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |quote=[Pavone] is set to appear on the Ed Sullivan show on May 17 |url-status=live }}</ref> and she became a frequent musical guest there until 1970. In the summer of 1964, she had chart success in North America with a single "Remember Me", sung in English, backed with "Just Once More" (#13 [[CHUM Chart|Canada]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chumtribute.com/64-07-13-chart.jpg| title=CHUM Hit Parade - July 13, 1964}}</ref> The song reached number 26 [[Billboard Hot 100|in the United States]] and number 16 [[RPM (magazine)|in Canada]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.4724.pdf| title=RPM Top 40-5s - July 13, 1964}}</ref> In Canada, another single, "Wait for Me", reached number 33 in October 1964.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.4693.pdf| title=RPM Top 40-5s - October 19, 1964}}</ref>
She became popular among Spanish youth audiences, and a 2005 Spanish television documentary described her success there as uncommon for a foreign singer.
In the United States, she performed on programs that also featured artists such as [[Diana Ross]] and [[The Supremes]], [[Ella Fitzgerald]], [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]], [[Duke Ellington]], and [[Paul Anka]]. She also sang at [[Carnegie Hall]] in New York City.
Returning to Italy, Pavone made her acting debut, working in five films and participating in shows such as {{lang|it|[[Il Giornalino di Gian Burrasca]]}} (a children's TV show), {{lang|it|Alta pressione}} ("High Pressure"), {{lang|it|Stasera Rita}} ("Tonight Rita"), and the variety show ''[[Studio Uno (TV series)|Studio Uno]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Brioni |first1=Cecilia |title=Between Two Stages: Rita Pavone and i Giovani on Studio Uno (1961–1966) |journal=Italian Studies |year=2017 |volume=72 |issue=4 |pages=414–427 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/b7ntCnbc7HPzDFeaB97G/full |doi=10.1080/00751634.2017.1370895 |s2cid=149186139 }}</ref> In 1982, she participated in {{lang|it|Come Alice}} ("Like Alice"), which became a hit on Italian television.
Rita Pavone starred in six movies during the 1960s: {{lang|fr|Clémentine chérie}} (1963), ''[[Rita the American Girl]]'' (1965), {{lang|it|[[Rita la zanzara]]}} (1966), {{lang|it|[[Non stuzzicate la zanzara]]}} (1967), ''[[Little Rita nel West]]'' (1967), and {{lang|it|[[La Feldmarescialla]]}} (1968). The two "{{lang|it|Zanzara|i=no}}" movies and the {{lang|it|Il Giornalino di Gian Burrasca}} were directed by [[Lina Wertmüller]]. Although her movie career was aimed at a teen audience, her films have since attracted a small following,{{POV statement|date=December 2024}} today her films have found a cult niche.{{fact|date=December 2024}}
Pavone was also popular in the UK during 1966 and 1967. RCA Victor issued two of her singles; in quick succession both were hits, "Heart" peaking at number 27 and "You Only You" peaking at number 21 in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 978-1-904994-10-7 | page= 421}}</ref> During this period, she performed at venues including the [[London Palladium]]. She also recorded [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]'s "Try It and See", which later became "[[King Herod's Song]]" in the rock opera ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]''.
In 1968, Pavone married [[Teddy Reno]] in Switzerland. He was her talent scout and the organizer of the first song contest she won, but their marriage attracted media attention in Italy because Reno was still legally married, and divorce was not yet permitted until 1970. They remarried in Italy in 1971 and had two sons: Alessandro in 1969 and Giorgio in 1974.
During the 1980s, Pavone acted in [[comedy films]] including {{lang|it|[[2 sul pianerottolo]]}}, {{lang|it|Risate in salotto}} and {{lang|it|Santarellina}}.
In 1992, Pavone returned to the United States, where she sang during a multiple-artist concert that included [[Whitney Houston]], [[Frank Sinatra]], the [[Bolshoi Ballet]], and [[Cher]] at the [[Sands Atlantic City|Sands hotel]] in [[Atlantic City, New Jersey|Atlantic City]]. She then turned to theater acting and participated in a [[William Shakespeare]] play. In 2002 she gave a concert at Miami's Dade Auditorium.
The main character in the Argentinian film ''[[Nine Queens]]'' tries to remember the tune of a Rita Pavone song throughout the story; the song "{{lang|it|Il ballo del mattone|i=no}}" plays as the end credits run.
Pavone was a Senate candidate in the [[Italian general election, 2006|Italian general election of 2006]]. She participated as candidate for {{lang|it|Per l'Italia nel mondo}} ("For Italy in the World"), a centre-right list led by minister [[Mirko Tremaglia]].
She participated at the [[Sanremo Music Festival 2020]] with the song "{{lang|it|Niente (Resilienza 74)|i=no}}".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scarpone |first=Cristian |title=Sanremo 2020: colpo di scena di Amadeus, due Big in più in gara |url=https://www.eurofestivalnews.com/2020/01/06/sanremo-2020-colpo-di-scena-di-amadeus-due-big-in-piu-in-gara/ |website=eurofestivalnews.com |date=6 January 2020 |language=it |access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref>
Pavone and her husband Reno now live in [[Ticino]], Switzerland. Their elder son Alessandro is a radio show host, and their younger son Giorgio is a rock singer.
== Appearances at the Sanremo Music Festival == [[File:Rita Pavone di Sanremo 2020IMG 2100.JPG|thumb|Pavone at a press conference during Sanremo 2020]] {| class="wikitable" !Year !Category !Song !Placement !Partner |- |[[Sanremo Music Festival 1969|1969]] | rowspan="3" {{n/a}} |"{{lang|it|Zucchero|i=no}}" |13th |[[Dik Dik]] |- |[[Sanremo Music Festival 1970|1970]] |"{{lang|it|Ahi ahi ragazzo!|i=no}}" | rowspan="2" |Non-finalist |Valeria Mongardini |- |[[Sanremo Music Festival 1972|1972]] |"{{lang|it|Amici mai|i=no}}" | rowspan="2" {{n/a}} |- |[[Sanremo Music Festival 2020|2020]] |{{lang|it|Campioni}} |"{{lang|it|Niente (Resilienza 74)|i=no}}" |17th |}
=== Appearances as guest === {| class="wikitable" !Year !Artists !Song !Author |- |[[Sanremo Music Festival 2005|2005]] |[[Toto Cutugno]] and [[Annalisa Minetti]] |"{{lang|it|Come noi nessuno al mondo|i=no}}" |S. Cutugno |}
==Discography== Pavone mainly recorded for [[RCA Victor]] until 1968, then signed briefly with [[Casa Ricordi|Ricordi]], which launched her vanity label RitaLand. She eventually returned to RCA Victor and recorded three more albums with the label. She also recorded a French language album with [[Phillips International Records|Phillips]].
===Italian discography=== * ''Rita Pavone'' (1963, re-released on CD in 2003) * {{lang|it|Non è facile avere 18 anni}} (1964) * {{lang|it|[[Il Giornalino di Gian Burrasca]]}} (1965) * {{lang|it|Stasera Rita}} (1965) * {{lang|it|È nata una stella}} (1966, compilation) * {{lang|it|Ci vuole poco}} (1967) * ''[[Little Rita nel West]]'' (1968) * ''Rita 70'' * {{lang|it|Viaggio a Ritaland}} (1970) * {{lang|it|Gli italiani vogliono cantare}} (1972) * {{lang|it|Rita ed io}} (1976) * ''R.P.'' (1980) * {{lang|it|Gemma e le altre}} (1989) * ''Masters'' (2013)
===U.S. discography=== * ''Rita Pavone – The International Teenage Sensation'' (1964) * ''Small Wonder'' (1964) * ''This Is Rita Pavone'' (1965)
===French discography=== * ''Dame Baby Poupée'' Philips – 9101 209 (1979)<ref name="Discogs Pavone">{{cite web |title=Rita Pavone - Dame Baby Poupée |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/3967585-Rita-Pavone-Dame-Baby-Poup%C3%A9e |website=Discogs |date=1979 |access-date=1 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
===RCA singles (1963–1970)=== * "{{lang|it|[[La partita di pallone]]" / "Amore twist|i=no}}" (1963) * "{{lang|it|[[Come te non c'è nessuno]]|i=no}}" / "{{lang|fr|Clémentine chérie|i=no}}" (1963) * "{{lang|it|Alla mia età" / "Pel di carota|i=no}}" * "{{lang|it|[[Cuore (song)|Cuore]]|i=no}}" / "{{lang|it|Il ballo del mattone|i=no}}" (1963) * "{{lang|it|Non è facile avere 18 anni" / "Son finite le vacanze|i=no}}" (1964) * "{{lang|it|[[Che m'importa del mondo]]" / "[[If I Had a Hammer|Datemi un martello]]|i=no}}" (1964) * "{{lang|it|Scrivi" / "Ti vorrei parlare|i=no}}" (1964) * "{{lang|it|L'amore mio" / "San Francesco|i=no}}" (1964) * "{{lang|it|[[Viva la pappa col pomodoro]]" / "Sei la mamma|i=no}}" (1965)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm7kfYb8Xr8 |title=Rita Pavone – Viva La Pappa Col Pomodoro |last=Michael McKenna |date=6 November 2012 |publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://vimeo.com/120038560 |title=Heineken – The Match |website=Vimeo.com}}</ref> * "{{lang|it|Lui" / "La forza di lasciarti|i=no}}" (1965) * "{{lang|it|Il plip" / "[[Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious|Supercalifragilispiespiralidoso]]|i=no}}" (1965) * "{{lang|it|Stasera con te" / "Solo tu|i=no}}" (1965) * "{{lang|it|Il geghegè" / "Qui ritornerà|i=no}}" (1965) * "{{lang|it|[[Fortissimo (song)|Fortissimo]]" / La sai troppo lunga|i=no}}" (1966) * "{{lang|it|Mamma dammi la panna" / "Col chicco|i=no}}" (1966) * "{{lang|it|La zanzara" / "Perché due non fa tre|i=no}}" (1966) * "{{lang|it|[[Lara's Theme|Dove non so]]" / "Gira gira|i=no}}" (1967) * "{{lang|it|Una notte intera" / "Questo nostro amore|i=no}}" (1967) * "{{lang|it|I tre porcellini" / "[[A Spoonful of Sugar|Con un poco di zucchero]]|i=no}}" (1967) * "{{lang|it|Non dimenticar le mie parole" / "Da cosa nasce cosa|i=no}}" (1967) * "{{lang|it|Tu sei come" / "Ma che te ne fai|i=no}}" (1968) * "{{lang|it|Zucchero|i=no}}" (1969) * "{{lang|it|Ahi, ahi ragazzo|i=no}}" (1970)
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- |+Films |- !Title !Year !Role |- !scope=row|''[[Rita the American Girl]]'' |1965 |Rita Benvenuti |- !scope=row|''[[Rita the Mosquito]]'' |1966 |rowspan=2|Rita Santangelo |- !scope=row|''[[Don't Sting the Mosquito]]'' |rowspan=3|1967 |- !scope=row|''[[Rita of the West]]'' |Little Rita |- !scope=row|''[[The Crazy Kids of the War]]'' |Rita |- !scope=row|{{lang|it|[[Due sul pianerottolo]]}} |1976 |Mimma Castigliano |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Commonscat-inline}} *{{wikiquotelang|it}} *{{official|http://www.ritapavone.it/}} *{{IMDb name|id=0667939|name=Rita Pavone}} *{{discogs artist}} * Cecilia Brioni, 'Between Two Stages: Rita Pavone and i giovani on Studio Uno (1961–1966), Italian Studies, 72:4, p. 414–427. [https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/b7ntCnbc7HPzDFeaB97G/full]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pavone, Rita}} [[Category:1945 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:20th-century Italian women singers]] [[Category:20th-century Swiss women singers]] [[Category:Actresses from Turin]] [[Category:Italian actresses]] [[Category:Italian women singers]] [[Category:Swiss actresses]] [[Category:German-language Italian singers]] [[Category:French-language Italian singers]] [[Category:English-language Italian singers]] [[Category:Spanish-language Italian singers]] [[Category:English-language Swiss singers]] [[Category:French-language Swiss singers]] [[Category:German-language Swiss singers]] [[Category:Italian-language Swiss singers]] [[Category:RCA Victor artists]] [[Category:Italian pop singers]] [[Category:Singers from Turin]] [[Category:Italian expatriates in Switzerland]] [[Category:Naturalised citizens of Switzerland]]