Tony Renis

Elio Cesari (born 13 May 1938), known by his stage name Tony Renis, is an Italian singer, composer, music producer, and film actor.

Life and career Renis was born in Milan. In the mid-1950s he met with Adriano Celentano, and the two started performing an impression of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. In 1958, he was signed by the label "Combo Records", and released a few cover versions of Italian and American rock 'n' roll songs as lead vocalist of the band Combos. In 1961, Renis debuted at the Sanremo Music Festival with the song "Pozzanghere".

In 1962, Renis returned to the Sanremo Music Festival where he gained international recognition with the song "Quando, quando, quando", written with Alberto Testa.

In the 1980s, Tony Renis temporarily retired from performing and mainly worked as music producer. In 1981 he launched the career of child prodigy Nikka Costa.

In 1999, Renis received a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Oscar for the song "The Prayer", performed by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli, from the Quest for Camelot film soundtrack.

Filmography

Io bacio... tu baci, directed by Piero Vivarelli (1961) Appuntamento in riviera, directed by Mario Mattoli (1962) Obiettivo ragazze, directed by Mario Mattoli (1963) Ischia operazione amore, directed by Vittorio Sala (1966) Quando dico che ti amo, directed by Giorgio Bianchi (1967) La ragazza del bersagliere, directed by Alessandro Blasetti (1967) Non mi dire mai goodbye, directed by Frank G. Carrol (1967) Per amore... per magia..., directed by Duccio Tessari (1967) Totò Ye Ye, directed by Daniele D'Anza (1967, Television film) The Black Corsair, directed by Sergio Sollima (1976)