Ornella Vanoni, Italian Music Icon Selling Over 50 Million Records, Dies at 91
Milan – Ornella Vanoni, a defining voice of Italian musica leggera and one of the country’s most beloved singers, has died at the age of 91. Her passing marks the end of a nearly sixty-year career that saw her sell over 50 million records and collaborate with musical giants like George Benson, Herbie Hancock, Franco Califano, and Gino Paoli.
Born September 22, 1934, in Milan, Vanoni began her artistic journey in theater, mentored by director Giorgio Strehler, who was also her companion. She transitioned to music, achieving early success with a win at the 1964 Naples Festival. Vanoni became a mainstay at the prestigious Sanremo Festival, participating eight times and achieving a second-place finish in 1968 with “White House.” In 1999, she received a lifetime achievement award, a first for a singer in the festival’s history.
Vanoni’s repertoire included enduring hits such as “The Music is Over,” “Eternity,” “The Appointment,” and ”One More Reason,” songs that found international recognition, appearing in films like Ocean’s twelve and the Gossip Girl television series.
Known for her candid nature, Vanoni frequently graced the covers of celebrity magazines, openly sharing details of her personal life alongside her continued musical pursuits. Her most recent album,Diverse,released in 2024,offered fresh arrangements of her classic songs.
