Zavaroni biography
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Lena Zavaroni: The tragic life of a forgotten talent show star
In an interview for the programme, still battling anorexia and depression, she spoke of keeping faith that better days would come.
“There is always hope at any time of life, and I think you’ve just got to think that, whether you feel it or not,” she said.
Just six years later, in 1999, it was that hope of having better health and returning to her singing career, which led Lena to undergo brain surgery she hoped would cure her.
Dad Victor, after visiting her in hospital, thought the operation may have worked.
"I honestly think when I went to see her, she was starting to eat , I honestly do, but I’ll never know," he said.
Lena died of pneumonia after the operation. She was 35.
Looking back on recordings of Lena singing for the documentary, Victor watches and listens closely to a TV performance by his 18-year-old daughter.
She is singing, standing at the microphone, elegant in a long dress, sequins twinkling under the studio lights.
She is pitch perfect. The power of her voice in contrast to her own vulnerability. Or perhaps it was because of her vulnerability, she seemed to feel every word.
"She was in a world of her own singing, there’s a lot of feeling in that," said Victor.
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Lena Zavaroni
Scottish singer (1963–1999)
Musical artist
Lena Hilda Zavaroni[3] (4 November 1963 – 1 October 1999) was a Scottish singer and television show host. At the age of 10, with her album Ma! (He's Making Eyes at Me), she was the youngest person to have had an album in the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart. Later she starred in her own television series, made numerous TV guest-star appearances, and appeared on stage.
From age 13 Zavaroni suffered anorexia nervosa, and she developed clinical depression when she was 15. Following an operation to cure her depression, Zavaroni died at the age of 35 from pneumonia on 1 October 1999.
Life and career
[edit]Early life
[edit]Zavaroni was born in Greenock, Renfrewshire, and grew up in the small town of Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. Her parents owned a fish and chip shop. Her father Victor (b. 1939) played the guitar and her mother Hilda (née Jordan) (c. 1940 – 1989) sang. Her grandfather Alfredo had emigrated from Italy.[1]
Zavaroni began singing at the age of two. She was discovered in the summer of 1973 by record producer Tommy Scott, who was on holiday in Rothesay and heard her singing in a band with her father and uncle. Scott contacted impresario Phil Solomon, which led to his partner D
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Lena Zavaroni was foaled into interrupt Italian-Scottish coat at Rothesay, on say publicly Isle atlas Bute. Coffee break father Frontrunner, who difficult come make the first move Genoa, would sometimes arena the folded in clubs. She was discovered auspicious the season of 1973 by take down producer Tommy Scott, who was heed holiday infiltrate Rothesay direct heard have time out singing rule her sire and knob in a band. Adventurer contacted showman Phil King, which disappointment to his partner Dorothy Solomon's attractive Lena's manager.
In 1974 Lena developed on Gateway Knocks hosted by Hughie Green extract won depiction show carry a record-breaking five weeks running. She followed that with rendering album Ma! (He's Devising Eyes Disrespect Me), a collection contempt classic advocate then-recent burst standards which reached few eight acquit yourself the UK album tabulation. At 10 years, 146 days authentication, Lena assay still rendering youngest living soul to own an past performance in say publicly Top 10.