Dana Valery

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Dana Valery Catalano
Dana Valery 1973.JPG
Valery in 1973
Background information
Birth nameFausta Dana Galli
Born (1944-07-15) July 15, 1944 (age 81)
Codogno, Italy
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
  • therapist
  • relationship counsellor
  • hotelier
Years active1962–present
Labels

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]

Contents

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 Georgia Jimmy 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)

EP albums (45rpm)

Singles (45rpm)

Television appearances

Film

See also

Bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Chilvers, Garth & Tom Jasiukowicz (1994). History of Contemporary Music of South Africa, Part 1 (Toga Pub., Braamfontein, South Africa) ISBN   0-620-18121-4
  2. "Dana Valery – Broadway Cast & Staff". IBDb.com.
  3. "Vida Blue". IMDb.com. 31 May 1973.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. Dana Valery Collaboration Album Archived 16 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 13 March 2013
  7. Original South African Cast Album, Wait a Minim! 1962), Castalbums.org, Retrieved 16 February 2013
  8. Dana Valery, SoulSafari.wordpress.com, Retrieved 17 March 2013
  9. "Wait a Minim! - 1964 Original London Cast". Castalbums.org.
  10. "Wait a Minim! - 1966 Original Broadway Cast". Castalbums.org.
  11. "Dana Valery – Horns of Plenty, RCA album". Ebay.com.
  12. "Dana Valery – Not The Flower But The Root, !972 Release". Ebay.com.
  13. "Dana Vallery Dana Valery, USA Debut album". Ebay.com.
  14. Zodiac Meditation music. (1999) (instrumental; co-writers Dana & Peter Catalano, and Denise Rich); DVC Productions, CDs
  15. "Dana Valery – Dana Valery's Great Italian Hits, South African EP". Ebay.com.
  16. "Dana Valery – 1964 single". Ebay.com.
  17. "Dana Valery – 1975 Single". Ebay.com.
  18. 1 2 "Dana Valery - Chart Singles Discography". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  19. "Coach". IMDb.com. 17 March 1978.