Italian American Singers

Italian-American singers came into prominence with the birth of popular music in the early 1940s. Here's a short list of singers from North and South America who share an Italian heritage:

Entertainers 1920s–1950s

Frank Sinatra

Dean Martin

Tony Bennett

Tony Bennett (Anthony Dominick Benedetto) (1926) - singer, accomplished painter
Perry Como (Pierino Ronald Como) (1912–2001) - singer, film actor, TV host
Don Cornell (Luigi Varlaro) (1919) - singer
Vic Damone (Vito Rocco Farinola) (1928) - singer, actor, TV host
Jimmy Durante (1893–1980) - vaudeville star, radio personality, singer, film actor
Eydie Gormé (Edith Gormezano) (1931) - Jewish-Italian singing partner of Steve Lawrence
Buddy Greco (Armando Greco) (1926) - singer, pianist
Morgana King (Maria Grazia Morgana Messina) (1930) - jazz singer, film actor
Dean Martin (Dino Paul Crocetti) (1917–1995) - singer, film actor, TV host
Al Martino (Alfred Cini) (1927–2009) - singer, film actor
Frank Sinatra (1915–1998) - singer, film actor, TV host
Jerry Vale (Gennaro Luigi Vitaliano) (1932) - singer

For CDs, DVDs and books on the crooners of the 1940s and '50s, please visit Italian American Singers 1.


Broadway Stars

Carol Lawrence (Carolina Maria Laraia) (1932) - singer, stage actor
Patti LuPone (1949) - singer, stage actor, TV actor
Liza Minnelli (1946) - singer, film actor


Popular Music - 1950-present

Bruce Springsteen

Madonna

Jon Bon Jovi

Frankie Avalon (Francis T. Avallone) (1939– ) - 1950s teen idol, actor

Toni Basil (Antonia Christina Basilotta) (1943) - singer-songwriter, filmmaker
Jon Bon Jovi (John Francis Bongiovi Jr) (1962– ) - Bon Jovi (Italian father)
Sonny Bono (Salvatore Phillip Bono) (1935–1998) - Sonny & Cher
Edward Brigati Jr. (1945) - singer-songwriter, The Young Rascals
Michael Bublé (1975) - Canadian singer (Italian parents)
Tim Buckley (1947-1975) - singer-songwriter (Italian mother)
Jeff Buckley (1966-1997) - singer-songwriter (Italian grandmother)

Freddy Cannon (Frederick Anthony Picariello) (1940) - singer
Harry Casey (1951) - singer-songwriter, KC and the Sunshine Band (Italian mother)
Roseanne Cash (1955) - country singer-songwriter (Italian grandparents)
Felix Cavaliere (1944) - singer-songwriter, The Young Rascals
Lou Christie (Luigi Sacco) (1943) - singer-songwriter
Jim Croce (1943-1973) - singer-songwriter

Bobby Darin (Walden Robert Cassotto) (1936–1973) - singer, actor, musician, songwriter
James Darren (James Ercolani) (1936) - singer, TV and film actor
Tommy DeVito (1936) - singer, The Four Seasons
Dion DiMucci (1939) - lead singer, Dion and the Belmonts
Micky Dolenz (1945) - singer, actor, The Monkees (Italian grandfather)

Faith Evans (1973) - singer-songwriter, actor (Italian father)

Fabian (Forte) (1943) - 1960s teen idol
Lita Ford (Carlita Fordson) (1958) - singer, musician, The Runaways (Italian mother)
Connie Francis (Concetta Franconero) (1938) - singer, actor
Annette Funicello (1942) - actor, singer, mouseketeer

Bob Gaudio (1942) - singer, The Four Seasons
Lou Gramm (Louis Andrew Grammatico) (1950) - lead singer, songwriter, Foreigner

William (Bill) Hudson (Salerno) (1949) - The Hudson Brothers (Italian mother)
Brett Hudson (Salerno) (1953) - The Hudson Brothers (Italian mother)
Mark Hudson (Salerno) (1951) - The Hudson Brothers (Italian mother)

Chris Isaak (1956) - singer, singwriter (Italian mother)

Alicia Keys (Alicia Augello Cook) (1981) - singer-songwriter, musician (Italian grandparent)

Lady Gaga (Stefani Germanotta) (1986) - singer-songwriter (Italian father)
Frankie Laine (Frank Paul LoVecchio) (1913) - singer, TV host
Cyndi Lauper (1953) - singer, songwriter, actress (Italian mother)
Gary Lewis (1946) - singer, musician, Gary Lewis & The Playboys (Italian mother)
Joe Long (Joseph LaBracio) (1941) - bass guitarist/vocal arranger, The Four Seasons

Lady Gaga

Chris Isaak

Gwen Stefani

Don McLean (1945) - singer-songwriter (Italian mother) 
Tim McGraw (1967) - country music singer (Italian grandfather) 
Johnny Maestro (John Mastrangelo) (1939-2010) - lead singer, The Crests
Nick Massi (Nicholas Macioci) (1935) - bass singer, The Four Seasons
Madonna (Ciccone) (1958) - singer-songwriter, actor (Italian father)
Kathy Mattea (1959) - country singer (Italian name)
Melanie (Safka) (1947) - singer-songwriter (Italian mother)
Jim Messina (1947) singer, musican, producer, Loggins & Messina, Poco

Laura Nyro (Laura Nigro) (1947-1997) - singer-songwriter (Italian father)

John Oates (1949) - singer, Hall & Oates (Italian mother)

Suzi Quatro (1950) - singer-songwriter, musician, actor (Italian father)
Johnny Rivers (John Ramistella) (1942) - singer-songwriter, producer
Bobby Rydell (Robert Louis Ridarelli) (1942) - 1950s teen idol

Richie Sambora (1959) - lead guitarist /singer-songwriter, Bon Jovi
Shakira (Shakira Ripolli) (1977) - singer, songwriter, dancer (Italian grandparent)
Nancy Sinatra (1940) - singer, actor
Nikki Sixx (Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna) (1958) - singer, Mötley Crüe (Italian father)
Bruce Springsteen (1949) - singer-songwriter (Italian mother)
Gwen Stefani (1969) - singer-songwriter, musician (Italian father)
Connie Stevens (Concetta Ingoglia) (1938) - singer, actor (Italian father)
Dodie Stevens (Geraldine Ann Pasquale) (1946) - singer

Steve Tyler (Steven Victor Tallarico) (1948) - lead singer, Aerosmith (Italian grandfather) 

Frankie Valli (Francis Stephen Castelluccio) (1937) - lead singer The Four Seasons
Steven Van Zandt (Steven Lento) (1950) - songwriter, musician, E Street Band
Gino Vannelli (1952) - Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, composer
Bobby Vee (Robert Thomas Velline) (1943) - 1960s teen idol

"Weird Al" Yankovic (1959) - parodist, comedy musician (Italian grandparent)
Timi Yuro (Rosemarie Timotea Aurro) (1940-2004) - soul and R&B singer
Frank Zappa (1940-1993) - singer-songwriter


For CDs, DVDs and books on the teen idols of the 1950s and early '60s, please visit Italian American Singers 2.


For CDs, DVDs and books on Italian-American singers and bands of the 1960s and early '70s, please visit Italian American Singers 3.


For CDs, DVDs and books on Italian-American singers and bands of the 1970s and early '80s, please visit Italian American Singers 4.


Additional Singers

George Biondo - singer, guitarist, Steppenwolf
Chris Carrabba - lead singer, Dashboard Confessional
Gary Cherone - former lead singer, Van Halen
Glenn Danzig (Glenn Anzalone) - former lead singer, The Misfits
Benny DeFranco - singer, guitarist, The DeFranco Family
Merlina DeFranco - singer, drummer, The DeFranco Family
Marisa DeFranco - singer, keyboardist, The DeFranco Family
Nino DeFranco - singer, guitarist, The DeFranco Family
Tony DeFranco - lead singer, guitarist, The DeFranco Family
Ronnie James Dio (Ronald James Padavona) - singer, songwriter, Black Sabbath
Joe Dolce - singer, Joe Dolce Music Theatre
Charlie Dominici - singer, Dominici
Davey Havok (David Paden Passaro) - singer, AFI
Adam Lazzara - lead singer, Taking Back Sunday
Natalie Merchant - singer-songwriter (Italian father) 
Jerry Only (Gerald Caiafa) - guitarist, lead singer, The Misfits 
Gerard Way - lead singer, My Chemical Romance (Italian mother)


Rock/Pop Musicians

Sal Abruscato - drummer, Life of Agony
Steve Albini - singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, Shellac
Trey Anastasio - guitarist, composer, singer, Phish
Frank Bello - bass player, Anthrax
Charlie Benante - drummer, Anthrax
Patrick Bonfrisco - drummer, Enewetak
Terry Bozzio - drummer, Frank Zappa
Dr. Chud (David Calabrese) - former drummer, The Misfits 
Vinnie Colaiuta - drummer, Frank Zappa
Alessandro Cortini - keyboardist, Nine Inch Nails
Dan Costello - guitarist, The DeFranco Family
Peter Criss - drummer, Kiss
Warren Cuccurullo - guitarist, Frank Zappa
Chris DeGarmo - guitarist, Queensrÿche
Joey DeMaio - bassist, songwriter, Manowar
Liberty DeVitto - drummer, Billy Joel
Nick Falcon - guitarist, The Young Werewolves
Josh Farro - lead guitarist, Paramore
Zac Farro - drummer, Paramore
D. J. Fontana - drummer for Elvis Presley
John Frusciante - guitarist Red Hot Chili Peppers
Neil "Spyder" Giraldo - lead guitarist for Pat Benetar
Frank Iero - rhythm guitarist, My Chemical Romance
Tony Iommi - guitarist, songwriter, Black Sabbath
Chris Impellitteri - guitarist, Impellitteri
Joe Jonas - singer, Jonas Brothers (Italian ancestry)
Kevin Jonas - guitarist, singer, Jonas Brothers
Nick Jonas - guitarist, singer, Jonas Brothers
Guy Lombardo - Canadian bandleader, The Royal Canadians
Fred Mascherino - guitarist, backing vocals, Taking Back Sunday
Tom Morello - guitarist, Rage Against the Machine
Tony Mottola - guitarist (solo)
Mason Musso - singer, guitarist, Metro Station
Felix Pappalardi - bassist, producer, Cream, Mountain
Joe Perry - lead guitarist, songwriter, Aerosmith
John Petrucci - metal guitarist, Dream Theater
Guy Picciotto - guitarist, singer, Fugazi
Jeff Porcaro - drummer, Toto
Matt Rubano - bassist, Taking Back Sunday
Ralph Santolla - guitarist, Deicide
Joe Satriani - rock guitarist, multi-instrumentalist
Johnny Thunders (John A. Genzale) - guitarist, New York Dolls
Mark Tremonti - lead guitarist, Creed
Steve Vai - guitarist, composer, producer, Frank Zappa
Zacky Vengeance - guitarist, Avenged Sevenfold
Chris Vrenna - producer, songwriter, Tweaker
Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein (Paul Caiafa) - former guitarist, The Misfits
Mikey Way - bass guitarist, My Chemical Romance (Italian mother)
Dean Ween (Michael Melchiondo) - guitarist, Ween
Sandy West (Sandra Pesavento) - drummer, The Runaways


To find more information on any of the singers or musicians on our lists, please copy and paste the name into the search box below:

 

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