Lena Zavaroni

Life and career Early life

Zavaroni was born in Greenock, Renfrewshire, and grew up in the small town of Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. Her parents owned a fish and chip shop. Her father Victor (b. 1939) played the guitar and her mother Hilda (née Jordan) ( 1940 – 1989) sang. Her grandfather Alfredo had emigrated from Italy.

Zavaroni began singing at the age of two. She was discovered in the summer of 1973 by record producer Tommy Scott, who was on holiday in Rothesay and heard her singing in a band with her father and uncle. Scott contacted impresario Phil Solomon, which led to his partner Dorothy Solomon becoming Zavaroni's manager.

Musical career

In 1974, Zavaroni appeared on Opportunity Knocks (hosted by Hughie Green) and won the show for a record-breaking five weeks running. She followed this with the album Ma! (He's Making Eyes at Me), a collection of classic and then-recent pop standards which reached number 8 in the UK Albums Chart. She remains the youngest person to have an album in the top 10, having reached the position at 10 years, 146 days old.

Zavaroni sang at a Hollywood charity show with Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball in 1974, at which Ball said: "You're special. Very special and very, very good", although some sources attribute the words to Sinatra. Following this, Zavaroni guest-starred on The Carol Burnett Show, and on 4 June 1974, The Tonight Show. She also appeared on The Morecambe and Wise Show, the 29 May 1975 episode of The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club, in the 1976 Royal Variety Show and performed at the White House for U.S. President Gerald Ford. Signed to the soul-oriented Stax Records label in the United States, Zavaroni was not especially successful in America despite the praise and television appearances; her Ma album did not enter the charts, and its title single only reached number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100 during a four-week chart run in the summer of 1974.

Stage and television career While attending London's Italia Conti Academy stage school, Zavaroni met and became long-term friends with another young star, Bonnie Langford. They starred in the ITV special Lena and Bonnie. In September 1978, the BBC broadcast Lena Zavaroni on Broadway. This episode which was chosen for the 1978 Golden Sea Swallow Festival, where it won the silver award.

In 1979, Zavaroni had her own TV series on the BBC titled Lena Zavaroni and Music and from 1980 to 1982 she had a TV series titled Lena.

Later years From the age of 13, Zavaroni suffered from anorexia nervosa. While she was at stage school, her weight dropped to . She blamed this on the pressure placed upon her to fit into costumes while at the same time "developing as a woman".

In September 1999, Zavaroni was admitted to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff for the neurosurgical procedure. It took place on 7 September and was described as "pioneering".

Her funeral took place at the Roman Catholic Church of St Augustine in Hoddesdon on 15 October 1999, and she was buried later that day at Hoddesdon Cemetery in Hertfordshire.

Discography

Albums Ma! (He's Making Eyes at Me) If My Friends Could See Me Now Presenting Lena Zavaroni Songs Are Such Good Things Lena Zavaroni and Her Music Hold Tight, It's Lena

Compilations and live albums The Lena Zavaroni Collection – Pickwick released a two-record set in 1976, made up of her first two albums. Lena Zavaroni in South Africa

Singles Year Title Peak chart positions Album 1974 "Ma! (He's Making Eyes at Me)" Ma! (He's Making Eyes at Me) 1974 "(You've Got) Personality" non-album single 1975 "You're Breaking My Heart" non-album single 1975 "Music Music Music" If My Friends Could See Me Now 1975 "Smile" non-album single 1976 "Some of These Days" non-album single 1977 "Air Love" Presenting Lena Zavaroni 1978 "I Should've Listened to Mama" Songs Are Such Good Things 1979 "Somewhere South of Macon" non-album single 1980 "Jump Down Jimmy" non-album single 1980 "Will He Kiss Me Tonight?" non-album single 1981 "Roses and Rainbows" non-album single 1982 "Hold Tight!" Hold Tight, It's Lena