TONY PANTANO

Tony Pantano was born in Messina Italy and arrived in Australia with his parents in 1956. Tony's first steps of his career were carved at the age of 12 when he worked with his father at local Italian dances and weddings, playing slap bass and singing. At the age of 15 he formed his own pop group Isy And The Dynamics featuring a female drummer that proved to be very successful. That band recorded a single on the In label in 1965, ''One Night/Let Bygones Begone''.

Pantano changed his style from pop to Latin American when he joined the group Sammy and The Dolphins as their lead vocalist and bass player. The band cut one EP 'The Dolphins At Sergio's Rendezvous' at the Allan Eaton Recording Studios in Melbourne. During this time he learned much and his ambition was to become a solo performer but before that he did he a tour of Vietnam entertaining the troops with a Maori group. On his return to Australia he entered the talent show Showcase and won his way to the Grand Final. His first single ''Every Time You Touch Me'' was released in 1971 on the Air label and reached the Top 40.

Tony Pantano was without a doubt one of Australia’s greatest ever vocalists and was someone other show business identities looked up to and admired enormously, as an entertainer, and a human being. Tony was powerful and significant a force in Australian and world show business. Tony had been compared to the likes of great talents such as Tom Jones, Englebert Humperdinck, Mario Lanza, Elvis Presley and Luciano Pavarotti all rolled into one amazing entertainer. Tony had worked with some of the best in the business throughout his illustrious career and is regarded one of the best male vocalists to come out of Australia. 

To further support Tony’s stance at a world-class level, the amazingly talented performer / entertainer had been a headliner in live entertainment shows, corporate functions and events throughout Australasia, Europe and The United States. Additionally, Tony had been a headline act on several international cruise lines for over 20 years and in international hotels & casinos. With a credit of 15 albums, Tony had an abundance of material. Tony was nominated “Best Male Vocalist” by various award groups including a Mo Award record-breaking achievement where Tony won “Best Male Vocal” 11 times and “Entertainer of the Year” twice, making this a record (13) “Mo Awards” in Australia. Tony had also been nominated for Best Male Vocal for 8 years for “The Ace Awards”. (Australian Club Entertainment Awards). Tony Pantano died in 2023 of cancer.

SINGLES

Every Time You Touch Me

1 FEB '71

#34

Tonight

24 JAN '72

#80

References


http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/