Wissenswertes

When they fell in love, Rita and Teddy caused a scandal in the Italy of the '60s: he was 19 years her senior and already married with a baby son. They finally had a church wedding in Lugano in 1968 and a civil ceremony in 1971. They are still together.

Although her birthday is on August 23, her star sign is Leo.

Rita Pavone is an Italian ballad and rock singer and actress who enjoyed success through the 1960s.

Pavone was a Senate candidate in the Italian general election of 2006. She participated as candidate for Per l'Italia nel Mondo (For Italy in the World), a centre-right list led by minister Mirko Tremaglia.

In 1965, Pavone made her first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show; she became a frequent musical guest there until 1970.

In 1962 she participated in, and won, the first Festival degli Sconosciuti ("Festival of the Unknown"), a song competition for amateur artists.

The main character in the Argentinian film "Nine Queens" tries to remember the tune of a Rita Pavone song throughout the story; the song, "Il Ballo del Mattone", plays as the end credits run.

Her self-titled 1963 album, led by the hit single "La Partita di Pallone" ("The Soccer Game") made her a national star at 17. "La Partita di Pallone" sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.

In the United States she sang alongside Diana Ross and The Supremes, Ella Fitzgerald, Tom Jones, Duke Ellington, and Paul Anka.

It is said that Elvis Presley made a painting of her after she went to Memphis and met her at a recording studio.

She was born in Turin, Italy.

Two sons with Reno: Giorgio and Alessandro.