Tino Rossi

Constantin "Tino" Rossi (29 April 1907 – 26 September 1983) was a French singer and film actor.

Biography Early life Rossi was born in Ajaccio, Corsica, and was gifted with a voice well suited for opera. He became a tenor in the French cabaret style. Later, he appeared in various films. During his career it is reported he recorded over 2000 songs. He appeared in more than 25 films, the most notable of which was the 1954 production, Si Versailles m'était conté... directed by Sacha Guitry. His romantic ballads had especially women swooning and his art songs by Jules Massenet (1842–1912), Reynaldo Hahn (1875–1947), and other composers, sold out theaters wherever he performed.

Among his most famous hits, "Petit Papa Noël" 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.

Career

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 and at resort clubs along the French Riviera. In the early 1930s he went to Paris and within a few years achieved enormous success, joining a Columbia Records roster that included the biggest stars of that time such as Lucienne Boyer, Damia, Pills et Tabet, Mireille, and Jean Sablon.

Rossi's success was greatly aided by songwriter 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 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 (1936).

During the Occupation of France 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, Étienne Léandri, 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.

In 1946 he recorded his song Petit Papa Noël for a movie. The song remained classic for the family and sold several million copies after being released on CD in 1992.

He is the recipient of the prestigious musical award 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. They had one son, musician, Laurent (1948–2015), and remained married until Tino's death in 1983.

In 1982, President François Mitterrand named Rossi a Commander of the Legion of Honour for his contributions to French culture. That same year, Rossi gave his last public performance at the Casino de Paris, a show that popular demand turned into a three-month stint.

Death and legacy Rossi died of pancreatic cancer in 1983 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. His body was transported to 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, 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.

Tino Rossi's unique status on Corsica is reflected in several (somewhat hidden) references to him in the comic book "Asterix in Corsica" (1973) by Uderzo and Goscinny.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1934 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