Career

In 1953, she made her first recordings with Kurt Edelhagen. Soon afterwards she achieved success with songs such as "Malagueña", "The Breeze and I" (a global million-seller), and "Dreh dich nicht um" with the Werner Müller orchestra. In 1955, she was featured on The Colgate Comedy Hour with Gordon MacRae. In the mid 1960s, Valente worked with Claus Ogerman and recorded material in both Italian and English that he arranged/conducted and/or composed on the Decca and London labels. She was a favorite of singer Perry Como making eight guest appearances on his NBC Kraft Music Hall television program from 1961 to 1966. Between 1966 and 1972 she was also a frequent guest on the Dean Martin Show.

In Germany she was a major performer of Schlager music. There she recorded Cole Porter's I Love Paris under the German title Ganz Paris träumt von der Liebe, which sold more than 900,000 copies in 1954. Over the years, she has recorded or performed with many international stars, including Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, Perry Como, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Claus Ogerman, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Sy Oliver, Buddy Rich and Edmundo Ros. In 1959, she was nominated for a Grammy Award. Valente was a principal, along with Carol Burnett and Bob Newhart, on the short-lived CBS variety series The Entertainers (1964-65). A briglia sciolta, the Italian jazz CD recorded in 1989 and re-released in later years under the titles Fantastica and Platinum deluxe, was her best-selling CD worldwide. In 2001, she released a new album, Girltalk, with harpist Catherine Michel.

Film

In 1958, she filmed the musical comedy Hier bin ich - hier bleib ich (Here I Am, Here I Stay) which featured a guest appearance by Bill Haley & His Comets. During Haley's segment, Valente sings a duet with Haley on a newly recorded version of his song "Vive la Rock and Roll".

Personal life

In 1952, she married the juggler Erik van Aro (Gerd Eric Horst Scholz). He recognized her talent and accompanied her in her initial years of worldwide success, although they later divorced. Their son is the singer Eric van Aro.

In 1972, she married the British pianist Roy Budd. They had a son, Alexander, before they divorced in 1979.

Selected album discography

United States

• The Hi-Fi Nightingale, 1956
• Olé Caterina, 1957, (Decca DL-8436)
• Plenty Valente!, 1957, (Decca DL 8440)
• A Toast To the Girls, (Decca DL 8755)
• Schlagerparade, (Decca DL 8852)
• More Schlagerparade, (Decca DL 4035)
• À La Carte - Caterina Valente Sings In French, (Decca DL 4050)
• Arriba!, 1959
• The Greatest... in Any Language!, (Decca DL 4052)
• Golden Favorites, (Decca DL-4504)
• Rendezvous with Caterina, (Decca)
• Fire & FrenzyCaterina Valente & Edmundo Ros Orchestra:, 1960
• Classics with a Chaser, 1960, (RCA Victor LPM-2119)
• Super-Fonics, (RCA LSP-2241)
• Great Continental Hits, 1962. Decca
• South Of The Border, 1963.
• Valente In Swingtime, 1963. Teldec
• Caterina Valente's Greatest Hits, 1965. Decca
• The Intimate Valente, 1966. Decca
• Strictly U.S.A., (London LL 3307)
• Songs I've Sung on the Perry Como Show
• I Happen to Like New York, (London LL 3362)
• Valente & Violins, 1964. (London 3363)
• Sweet Beat, (London PS 536)
• Valente on T.V.
• Love, 1972. (London Phase 4), Stereo

Brazil

• Serenata d'Amore
• A Poliglota da Canção
• Caterina - A Cosmopolita, Polydor 46065
• Caterina Valente com Edmundo Ros

Peru

• Caterina Cherie, Polydor 46310

Argentina

• Una Cita Con Caterina Valente (A Date With Caterina Valente), Polydor 24011, 10 inch LP
• Olé, Caterina!, (Polydor 25019)
• Un Brindis para las Muchachas, (Polydor 25048)
• Bueno... Clásico... y Popular! (Classics with a Chaser), (RCA Victor LPM-2119)
• Classics with a Chaser, (RCA Victor LPM-2119)

Colombia

• Cosmopolitan Lady, (Polydor 46065)
• A Toast To The Girls, (Polydor 46074)

United Kingdom

• Caterina Valente & Edmundo Ros: Nothing But Aces, Decca 4157
• Great Continental Hits, Decca LK 4508
• Valente In Swingtime, 1963. Decca SKL 4537
• I Happen to Like New York, Decca LK 4630
• Caterina Valente's Greatest Hits, 1965
• The World of Caterina Valente, 1971. Decca SPA 192

Australia

• I Happen to Like New York, World Record Club S/4384, 196?
• Great Continental Hits, World Record Club, 196?
• The Best of Caterina Valente, SUMMIT Karussell SRA 250-548 (on the cover)/2430 032 (on the label)

Germany

• Plenty Valente!, 1957. Polydor LPHM 43.037
• A Date With Caterina Valente, Polydor 45 517
• Olé Caterina!, Polydor 46 029 LPHM
• Weltschlager mit Caterina Valente, 1959. Polydor Sonderauflage Bertelsmann J 53503, 10 inch LP
• Ihre großen Erfolge
• Konzert für Frack und Petticoat - Classics with a Chaser, RCA LSP-2119
• Super-Fonics, RCA LSP-2241
• Caterina Valente & Edmundo Ros: Latein Amerikanische Rhythmen, DECCA BLK 16184-P
• Caterina in Italia, Decca BLK 16211-P
• Caterina on Tour, Decca BLK 16213-P
• Caterina Valente & Silvio Francesco: Deutsche Evergreens, Decca SLK 16 189 P
• Pariser Chic, Pariser Charme, Decca SLK 16266 P
• I Happen to Like New York, Decca SLK 16 290
• Wenn es Nacht wird in den Städten, 1965. Decca SLK 16 345
• Portrait in Music, Decca SLK 16 420-P
• Happy Caterina, Decca SLK 16485-P
• Die großen Erfolge (Decca ND 103, Stereo)
• Schlager, Lieder & Chansons, Decca ND 182
• Schlager, Lieder & Chansons 2, Decca ND 557
• Caterina Valente & Edmundo Ros: Olé Mambo, 1969. Decca 79 505
• Caterina Valente & Edmundo Ros: Latin together, Decca SLK 16849-P
• Ich wär so gern bei Dir, Decca 6.22003
• The Best Of Caterina Valente, Polydor 184047
• Tanz mit Catrin, HÖR ZU TELDEC HZT 514
• Ganz Paris träumt von der Liebe - Caterina Valente singt ihre Welterfolge, 1970.
• Bonjour Kathrin - Caterina Valente präsentiert ihre größten Erfolge, 1965
• Bonjour Kathrin, Karussell 635 106

Japan

• Cosmopolitan Lady, 10 inch LP
• Caterina Latin Album, 1963
• De Luxe Latin Album, 1966

South Africa

• Latein Amerikanische Rhythmen, 1960
• Du bist Musik, 1956 (45106 LPH - Polydor Sternchen)

Selected filmography

• Bonjour Kathrin (1956)
• Liebe, Tanz und 1000 Schlager
• Schneewittchen und die 7 Gaukler
• du bist wunderbar (1959)

Awards

(Incomplete list)

• 1961 Bravo Otto, „Female singers“ Gold (also 1960, 1962 and 1963 in Silver)
• 1964 "Europremio" European TV Award, Venice, Italy
• 1965 „O Globo“ Award for Best Foreign Singer of Latin American music, Brazil
• 1965 "FAME Award", USA
• 1968 Bundesverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse ("1st Class Cross of Merit"), Germany
• 1972 "Officier de l'éducation artistique" Officer of Artistic Education, Paris, France
• 1986 „Großes Bundesverdienstkreuz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland“ Grand Cross of Merit, Germany
• 1966 Goldene Kamera, Germany
• 1990 Bambi, Germany
• 1991 Goldene Europa „Lifetime-Award“, Saarbrücken, Germany
• 1995 Bambi „Lifetime-Award“, Germany
• 1998 Platin Romy Lifetime Award, Austria
• 2002 Echo, „Lifetime-Award“ Germany
• 2004 "Premio GABARDI", Lifetime Milano, Italy
• 2005 Honorary Bambi, Germany

[ Source: Wikipedia ]