# Tino Rossi > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tino_Rossi > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tino_Rossi.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tino_Rossi > Source revision: 1348304997 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) French singer and actor italian origin This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (August 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Tino Rossi Rossi in 1934 Background information Born Constantin Rossi (1907-04-29)29 April 1907 Ajaccio, Corsica, France Died 26 September 1983(1983-09-26) (aged 76) Neuilly-sur-Seine, Île-de-France, France Genres Cabaret French pop Occupations Singer actor Instruments Vocals, guitar Years active 1932–1982 Labels Columbia,Pathe Marconi Musical artist **Constantin** "**Tino**" **Rossi** (29 April 1907 – 26 September 1983) was a French singer and film actor. ## Biography ### Early life Rossi was born in [Ajaccio](/source/Ajaccio), Corsica, and was gifted with a voice well suited for [opera](/source/Opera). He became a [tenor](/source/Tenor) in the French [cabaret](/source/Cabaret) style. Later, he appeared in various films. During his career it is reported he recorded over 2000 songs.[1] He appeared in more than 25 films, the most notable of which was the 1954 production, *[Si Versailles m'était conté...](/source/Royal_Affairs_in_Versailles)* directed by [Sacha Guitry](/source/Sacha_Guitry). His romantic ballads had especially women swooning and his [art songs](/source/Art_song) by [Jules Massenet](/source/Jules_Massenet) (1842–1912), [Reynaldo Hahn](/source/Reynaldo_Hahn) (1875–1947), and other composers, sold out theaters wherever he performed.[2] Among his most famous hits, "[Petit Papa Noël](/source/Petit_Papa_No%C3%ABl)" sold over 30 million copies worldwide. Over the course of his 50-year singing career, Tino Rossi recorded over 2000 songs and sold over 200 million albums making him one of the best selling artists of all time.[3] ### Career This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) As a young man, Rossi played guitar and sang in many places of his hometown of Ajaccio, but later he went to perform in [Marseille](/source/Marseille) and at resort clubs along the [French Riviera](/source/French_Riviera). In the early 1930s he went to [Paris](/source/Paris) and within a few years achieved enormous success, joining a [Columbia Records](/source/Columbia_Records) roster that included the biggest stars of that time such as [Lucienne Boyer](/source/Lucienne_Boyer), [Damia](/source/Marie-Louise_Damien), Pills et Tabet, [Mireille](/source/Mireille_Hartuch), and [Jean Sablon](/source/Jean_Sablon). Rossi's success was greatly aided by songwriter [Vincent Scotto](/source/Vincent_Scotto) (1876–1952), who wrote his first hits and collaborated with him for many years, composing and arranging many of Rossi's songs. Prior to World War II, Rossi was a major box office attraction in the [French-speaking](/source/French_language) world, and expanded his audience in 1938 to the U.S. and Canada during a first visit there. Rossi began his film career with a role in *Les Nuits Moscovites* (1934); his first real success came with *[Marinella](/source/Marinella_(film))* (1936). During the [Occupation of France](/source/German_military_administration_in_occupied_France_during_World_War_II) by Nazi Germany Rossi's film career reached its peak, notably with *Fièvres* (1942), *Le Soleil a toujours raison* (1943), *Mon amour est près de toi* (1943) and *L'Île d'amour* (1944). Like many celebrities, Tino Rossi was arrested on 7 October 1944 by several police officers in search of information on his close Corsican friend, Etienne Leandri, suspected of active collaborationism. Following three months' detention in the prison of Fresnes, near Paris, during which he stubbornly refused the assistance of a lawyer, he was freed from further detention by a judge, who deemed the charge leveled against him void of substance. Tino Rossi who, in October 1943, had loaned his personal car to a resistance network to transport weapons and enable several escapes (including that of a general), accepted—an extremely rare action at the time—exceptional official apologies.[4] In 1946 he recorded his song *[Petit Papa Noël](/source/Petit_Papa_No%C3%ABl)* for a movie. The song remained classic for the family and sold several million copies after being released on [CD](/source/Compact_disc) in 1992. He is the recipient of the prestigious musical award [Grand Prix du Disque](/source/Grand_Prix_du_Disque). ## Personal life and honours In 1948, Tino Rossi married Lilia Vetti, a young dancer he had met in 1941 thanks to revue leader [Mistinguett](/source/Mistinguett). They had one son, musician, [Laurent](/source/Bimbo_Jet) (1948–2015), and remained married until Tino's death in 1983. In 1982, [President](/source/French_President) [François Mitterrand](/source/Fran%C3%A7ois_Mitterrand) named Rossi a Commander of the [Legion of Honour](/source/Legion_of_Honour) for his contributions to [French culture](/source/French_culture). That same year, Rossi gave his last public performance at the [Casino de Paris](/source/Casino_de_Paris), a show that popular demand turned into a three-month stint.[5] ## Death and legacy Rossi died of pancreatic cancer in 1983 in [Neuilly-sur-Seine](/source/Neuilly-sur-Seine), France. His body was transported to [Ajaccio](/source/Ajaccio) for burial in the family grave. His wife died in 2003 aged 79. Ajaccio named a street and the sailing harbor in his honor and in [Nogent-sur-Marne](/source/Nogent-sur-Marne), there is a square named Tino Rossi Square. A garden on the banks of the Seine in Paris - the Jardin Tino Rossi - was also named in his honour.[6] Tino Rossi's unique status on Corsica is reflected in several (somewhat hidden) references to him in the [comic book](/source/Comic_book) "[Asterix in Corsica](/source/Asterix_in_Corsica)" (1973) by Uderzo and Goscinny.[7] ## Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1934 Moscow Nights Le chanteur napolitain 1935 The Coquelet Affair Jean Clairval 1935 Justin de Marseille Le chanteur 1935 Adémaï in the Middle Ages Le troubadour 1936 Marinella Tino Pirelli 1936 Au son des guitares Jeannot 1937 The Kiss of Fire Mario Esposito 1938 Lights of Paris Carlo Ferrari 1942 Fever Le ténor Jean Dupray 1943 Le soleil a toujours raison Tonio 1943 The Exile's Song Ramon Etcheverry 1943 My Love is Near You Jacques Marton 1944 The Island of Love Orsani dit Bicchi 1946 Song of the Clouds Sylvio 1946 Le Gardian Renaud 1946 Destiny André Cartier / Fred Cartier 1947 The Unknown Singer Julien Mortal / Paolo 1949 Two Loves Sylvain Vincent / Désiré Vincent 1949 Marlene Manuel Ceccaldi 1949 The Pretty Miller Girl Franz Schubert 1950 Sending of Flowers Paul Delmet 1951 Paris Still Sings Tino Rossi 1952 In the Land of the Sun Titin Olivieri 1952 Her Last Christmas Marc Damiani 1954 Si Versailles m'était conté... Le gondolier 1954 Tourments Jacques Duffot dit Tony Caylor 1963 Jusqu'au bout du monde 1970 L'âne de Zigliara Himself - Lui-même ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Tino Rossi, 76, Singer; Recorded 2,000 Songs"](https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/28/obituaries/tino-rossi-76-singer-recorded-2000-songs.html). *The New York Times*. 28 September 1983. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Brown, Marisa. ["Tino Rossi profile"](http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tino-rossi-p41301). AllMusic.com. Retrieved 29 March 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Tino Rossi, 76, Singer; Recorded 2,000 Songs"](https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/28/obituaries/tino-rossi-76-singer-recorded-2000-songs.html). *The New York Times*. 28 September 1983. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Last biography on Tino Rossi by Emmanuel Bonini, *Le Vrai Tino*, Didier Carpentier editor, 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Laurent Rossi and Anne-Sophie Simonet, *Tino - L'Étoile éternelle* (foreword of Mrs Marcel Pagnol), Nice-Matin editor, 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Jardin Tino Rossi & Musée de la Sculpture | Paris Insiders Guide"](https://www.parisinsidersguide.com/jardin-tino-rossi.html). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** The hero of the cartoon refers in particular to the success *Tchi-Tchi* (1936). Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Tino Rossi](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Tino_Rossi). ## External links - ["Raquel Bitton - de Piaf a Tino Rossi](http://frenchmorning.com/raquel-bitton-de-piaf-a-tino-rossi), frenchmorning.com; accessed 26 August 2015. (in French) - [Rossi profile](https://web.archive.org/web/20081211163217/http://www.fundacionjoseguillermocarrillo.com/sitio/muspopular_tino_rossi.php), fundacionjoseguillermocarrillo.com; accessed 26 August 2015. (in Spanish) - [Tino Rossi](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0744332/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) - [Tino Rossi biography](http://www.dutempsdescerisesauxfeuillesmortes.net/fiches_bio/rossi_tino/rossi_tino.htm), dutempsdescerisesauxfeuillesmortes.net; accessed 26 August 2015. (in French) - [Amazon.com profile](https://www.amazon.com/Goscinny-Uderzo-Present-Asterix-Adventure/dp/0752866443); accessed 26 August 2015. Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States France BnF data Italy Czech Republic Spain Netherlands Latvia Poland Israel Belgium Artists MusicBrainz Discography of American Historical Recordings People Deutsche Biographie DDB Other IdRef SNAC Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tino Rossi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tino_Rossi) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tino_Rossi?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.