Flo Sandon's
Encyclopedia
Mammola Sandon, known by the stage name
of Flo Sandon's (29 June 1924 – 17 November 2006), was an Italian singer who was popular in the post-WWII
years. She won the Sanremo Music Festival in 1953 with the song "Viale d'autunno".
, in the Veneto
. Her musical career began in 1944 when she debuted in a Red Cross charity show. Her stage name Sandon's came by chance - it was an oversight by the illustrator
who prepared her first record cover.
Her first big break as a professional vocalist came in 1947, when she sang in The Hot Club Of France with two jazz legends: guitarist Django Reinhardt, and violinist Stephane Grappelly. Celebrity came in 1952 thanks to the movie Anna
directed by Alberto Lattuada
and starring Silvana Mangano
, Vittorio Gassmann and Raf Vallone
. Flo Sandon's did not appear in the movie itself, but she performed two songs on the movie sound track, "T'ho voluto ben" and "El negro Zumbon". Both were great hits. Nat King Cole
liked "T'ho voluto ben" so much that a few years later he recorded it with the new title "Non dimenticar
".
In 1953 Flo Sandon's took part in the Sanremo Music Festival for the first time, and won. The song was "Viale d'autunno" and it was also performed by another singer, Carla Boni
. Both winners were at their first appearance at the popular song contest, and succeeded ahead of the great favorite Nilla Pizzi
. The press speculated about a possible plot against Pizzi: allegedly she had been originally chosen to perform "Viale d'autunno" but was then dismissed, possibly out of spite or jealousy, and the song offered to Sandon's and Boni.
In 1955 Flo Sandon's married Natalino Otto
, also an Italian singer. They toured together in Italy
and abroad for several years.
They are credited for the discovery of one of Italy's greatest singers of all times - Mina
. In the night of 24 September 1958, the Happy Boys, a band of teen-age students was playing in the Rivaloro del Re dance hall, Cremona. Otto and his wife were present, and were greatly impressed by the singer of that group. They went to meet her at the end of the concert and proposed her a trial recording session. One month later, Mina's first single was out.
Flo Sandon's competed five more times at the Sanremo Music Festival, but never won again. She however won another song contest, the Festival of Naples in 1960 with "Serenata a Mergellina".
Other hits from her repertoire include "Vorrei volare", "Kiss Me", "I Love Paris", "Passa il tempo", "Concerto d'autunno", "Verde luna", "Domani", "Que sera sera" and "Bevi con me".
Flo Sandon's died in Rome
at the age of 82.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
of Flo Sandon's (29 June 1924 – 17 November 2006), was an Italian singer who was popular in the post-WWII
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
years. She won the Sanremo Music Festival in 1953 with the song "Viale d'autunno".
Career
Sandon was born in VicenzaVicenza
Vicenza , a city in north-eastern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region, at the northern base of the Monte Berico, straddling the Bacchiglione...
, in the Veneto
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
. Her musical career began in 1944 when she debuted in a Red Cross charity show. Her stage name Sandon's came by chance - it was an oversight by the illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
who prepared her first record cover.
Her first big break as a professional vocalist came in 1947, when she sang in The Hot Club Of France with two jazz legends: guitarist Django Reinhardt, and violinist Stephane Grappelly. Celebrity came in 1952 thanks to the movie Anna
Anna (1951 film)
Anna is a 1951 Italian drama film directed by Alberto Lattuada and starring by the same trio as Bitter Rice: Silvana Mangano as Anna, the sinner who becomes a nun; Raf Vallone as Andrea, the rich man who loves her; and Vittorio Gassman as Vittorio, the wicked waiter who sets Anna on a dangerous...
directed by Alberto Lattuada
Alberto Lattuada
Alberto Lattuada was an Italian film director.Lattuada was born in Milan, the son of composer Felice Lattuada...
and starring Silvana Mangano
Silvana Mangano
Silvana Mangano was an Italian actress.Raised in poverty during World War II, Mangano trained as a dancer and worked as a model before winning a "Miss Rome" beauty pageant in 1946...
, Vittorio Gassmann and Raf Vallone
Raf Vallone
Raffaele "Raf" Vallone was an Italian footballer, actor and an international film star.Born in Tropea, Calabria, the son of a lawyer, Vallone attended Liceo classico Cavour in Turin, and studied Law and Philosophy at the University of Turin and entered his father's law firm...
. Flo Sandon's did not appear in the movie itself, but she performed two songs on the movie sound track, "T'ho voluto ben" and "El negro Zumbon". Both were great hits. Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
liked "T'ho voluto ben" so much that a few years later he recorded it with the new title "Non dimenticar
Non Dimenticar
"Non Dimenticar" is a popular song with music by P. G. Redi , the original Italian lyrics by Michele Galdieri, with English lyrics by Shelley Dobbins...
".
In 1953 Flo Sandon's took part in the Sanremo Music Festival for the first time, and won. The song was "Viale d'autunno" and it was also performed by another singer, Carla Boni
Carla Boni
Carla Boni , was an Italian singer.-Life and career:Born as Carla Gaiano in Ferrara, Boni had worked on RAI, the Italian State Radio and television network, as a singer since 1951. She sang the Italian version of song Johnny Guitar...
. Both winners were at their first appearance at the popular song contest, and succeeded ahead of the great favorite Nilla Pizzi
Nilla Pizzi
Nilla Pizzi was an Italian singer.Born as Adionilla Negrini Pizzi in Sant'Agata Bolognese, she was particularly famous in Italy during the 1950s and 1960s. She won the first edition of the San Remo Festival in 1951, singing "Grazie dei fiori", and she won also the second edition , singing "Vola...
. The press speculated about a possible plot against Pizzi: allegedly she had been originally chosen to perform "Viale d'autunno" but was then dismissed, possibly out of spite or jealousy, and the song offered to Sandon's and Boni.
In 1955 Flo Sandon's married Natalino Otto
Natalino Otto
Natalino Otto, stage name of Natale Codognotto was an Italian singer. He started the swing genre in Italy.-Early years:Natalino Otto was born at Cogoleto, province of Genoa, in northern Italy....
, also an Italian singer. They toured together in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and abroad for several years.
They are credited for the discovery of one of Italy's greatest singers of all times - Mina
Mina (singer)
Anna Maria Quaini, Grand Officer , known as Mina, is an Italian pop singer. She was a staple of Italian television variety shows and a dominant figure in Italian pop music from the mid-1960s to mid-1970s known for her three-octave vocal range, the agility of her soprano voice, and her image as an...
. In the night of 24 September 1958, the Happy Boys, a band of teen-age students was playing in the Rivaloro del Re dance hall, Cremona. Otto and his wife were present, and were greatly impressed by the singer of that group. They went to meet her at the end of the concert and proposed her a trial recording session. One month later, Mina's first single was out.
Flo Sandon's competed five more times at the Sanremo Music Festival, but never won again. She however won another song contest, the Festival of Naples in 1960 with "Serenata a Mergellina".
Other hits from her repertoire include "Vorrei volare", "Kiss Me", "I Love Paris", "Passa il tempo", "Concerto d'autunno", "Verde luna", "Domani", "Que sera sera" and "Bevi con me".
Flo Sandon's died in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
at the age of 82.