Dana Valery Catalano (born Fausta Dana Galli; July 15, 1944) is an Italian-born South African-reared singer, actress, and television performer who started her career in the entertainment industry at the age of 16 in Johannesburg, South Africa, where her family immigrated from Italy in 1947.[1]
The singer has performed on television, radio, Broadway, and in live concert performances worldwide, including major cities such as New York, London, Monte Carlo, Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Johannesburg. She is the sister of singer and actor Sergio Franchi.
Stage
Valery starred in three productions of the South African musical revue Wait A Minim!: the original 1962 South African production; the 1964 London production; and the Broadway production which ran for 456 performances at the John Golden Theatre from March 7, 1966 – April 15, 1967.[2] Miss Valery recorded Original Cast Albums of all three productions.
Television
In 1965, she appeared on the British television series Ladybirds for ITV Southern England. In it, interviewers Shaw Taylor and Terence Carroll attempt to find out about the individual behind the image. She appeared on several different television shows in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. One such appearance was as a panelist on the episode of the television game show, What's My Line? (on which she was a recurring panelist), that featured then-governor of GeorgiaJimmy Carter as a contestant.[3]
Career change
Dana Catalano made a career change later in life to become a healer. Her areas of expertise include Reiki and hypnotherapy. Her main practice is based in New York.[4]
Personal life
She is married to Peter Catalano, who has worked both as a musician, trained at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, and as an architect.[5]
Discography
Valery's first US album was an RCA collaboration album with Al Hirt and Boots Randolph titled Horns Of Plenty. Valery recorded a version of the Paul Simon song "You Don't Know Where Your Interest Lies" and released it as a single in January 1967, before Simon & Garfunkel released their version in July 1967 as the B-side to "Fakin' It". Valery's version became a notable song on the Northern soul scene, having been a popular spin at Wigan Casino.[citation needed]
Her solo debut album in the United States was called Not The Flower, But The Root on the Brunswick label in 1972. The Not The Flower, But The Root album has been reissued on CD in Japan with one bonus track. Her follow up was Dana Valery in 1975. The cover artwork shows her wearing black against a black background, resulting in a cameo-like effect. This album can still be found on Internet record stores and auction sites. This album was issued on RCA's custom label Phantom and was produced by Leslie West of Mountain. She recorded ten LP albums, two EPs, and a number of singles in South Africa prior to going abroad. In Johannesburg, Dana won two SARIE awards in (1964 and 1965) for Best Female Vocalist.[1]
Albums (LP)
1962 Everybody's Doin' the Twist – CBS ALD 6562 – South Africa
1962 Dan, Dana, and the Diamonds, (Dan Hill, Dana Valery, The Diamonds & Mike Shannon), CBS S.A. (Collaboration)[6]
1962 Original South African Cast Album – Wait a Minim! – Gallotone GLP-GALP 1221[7]
1963 Two Diamonds, with Mike Shannon – CBS – South Africa[1]
1963 This is Dana Valery – CBS ALD 6658 – South Africa
1999 Zodiac Meditation Music – DVC Productions[14]
EP albums (45rpm)
n.d. Dana Valery's Great Italian Hits – "Cuando caliente el sol" / "La mezza luna" / "La terza lune" / Dimelo in Settembre" (CBS EXP-2115 South Africa)[15]
n.d. Tango Italiana – "Tango Italiana" / El Maintenant" / "From Russia With Love" / "This Is My Prayer" (CBS EXP-2124)
Singles (45rpm)
1962 "Hava Nagila" / "Tintarella di Luna" (South Africa CBS SSC-330)
1962 "Autumn Concerto" / "Till" (South Africa CBS SSC-331)
Legends of Rock Guitar by Pete Prown and HP Newquist (1997)
Pop Annual 1955–1999 by Joel Whitburn (2000)
Top Pop Singles 1955–1999 by Joel Whitburn (2000)
Woolfson, Malcolm (1992). But the Melody Lingers On: The "Inside Story" of the Johannesburg Operatic and Dramatic Society-Its Shows, Personalities, Triumphs, and Tribulations. (Perskor, Johannesburg). ISBN0-628-03393-1
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