Trivia

His father, an employee at the local railway station, was very passionate about music, and encouraged all his sons to learn to play an instrument.

After a spell in the local brass band, Reitano moved to Reggio Calabria, where he studied at the Francesco Cilea Conservatory for eight years, learning piano, trumpet, and violin.

After a successful performance at the Castrocaro Music Festival, he was offered a contract with the Italian label Dischi Ricordi, and in 1967 he participated for the first time at the Sanremo Festival.

In the late 1950s, Reitano moved with his brothers to Hamburg, where they formed a rock'n'roll band, Benjamin & His Brothers. They often played at the Star-Club, sharing the bill with Rory Storm, Tony Sheridan and The Beatles.

Reitano was also an actor and starred in such films as Povero Cristo, I'm Crazy About Iris Blond and Long Lasting Days.