Paolo Zavalloni (29 August 1932 – 20 June 2023), best known as Paolo Zavallone (as an assonance with the surnames of singers Renato Carosone and Fred Buscaglione)[1] and El Pasador, was an Italian singer, bandleader and composer.

Paolo Zavallone
Background information
Birth namePaolo Zavalloni
Also known asEl Pasador
Born(1932-08-29)29 August 1932
Riccione, Italy
Died20 June 2023(2023-06-20) (aged 90)
GenresDisco, Pop, Funk, Soul
Occupation(s)Bandleader, composer, artist, multi-instrumentalist
Instrument(s)piano, singer, songwriter
Years active1950s–1982

Life and career

edit

Born in Riccione, Zavallone started his career in the early 1950s as the keyboardist in the orchestra of Henghel Gualdi [it].[2][3] In 1957 he formed his own band.[2] He became popular in the 1970s, as the bandleader in several TV shows and as the composer and singer of its theme songs.[1][2] His major hit was the 1977 disco song "Amada Mia, Amore Mio [it]", which peaked at #25 in Italian Singles Chart, #66 in Swiss Singles Chart,[4] and #10 in German Singles Chart.[5] Other hits include "Non stop", "Kilimangiaro" and "Papà ha la bua", a duet with his then 11 years old daughter Cristina.[2] He also wrote songs for other artists, notably composing "Le notti lunghe" for Adriano Celentano.[2]

In 1978 Zavallone served as conductor of the Sanremo Music Festival, and between 1989 and 2001 he was official arranger of Zecchino d'Oro.[1]

Zavallone died on 20 June 2023, at the age of 90.[1][2][3]

Discography

edit

Singles[6]

edit
Year A-side B-side Label Number Name
1962 Cuando Calienta El Sol Solo un'ora (Cha cha delle ore) Club CLS 7 Paolo Zavallone
Jingle Bells Twist Il Vagabondo CLS 8
Daniela Moliendo Café CLS 9
Tango italiano Quando Quando Quando CLS 10
1963 Lacrime Di Una Tromba Gina CLS 18
1965 Surf Dell'Amore Non mandarmi via Italian Yank IY 10002
1975 Madrugada Ritratto Di Luisa New Polaris FK 26 El Pasador
1976 Amazonas Tu Amor FK 33
1977 Amada Mia, Amore Mio Una Rosa FK 44
Non Stop For Piano In Sol FK 49
1978 Jeans Flower Lo E Te FK 51 Paolo Zavallone
Mucho Mucho Bamba Dadam FK 52 El Pasador
La Sberla Rock Traumatologico FK 54
1979 Kilimangiaro Senorita C'est La Vie FK 57
1980 Good Bye Amore I Love You Toca... Toca... FK 65
Sbamm Ragdo Durium LDAI-8096
1981 Mexico Maraja Fontana Records 6025 283
Papà Ha La Bua Mettiti La Maglia 6025 286

Studio albums

edit
Year Title Label Number Name
1974 Cocktail Di Stili Broadway BW 13070 Paolo Zavallone
1975 Madrugada New Polaris POL/BP 716 El Pasador
1976 Il Meglio De El Pasador POL/BP 728

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d "È morto El Pasador, autore e interprete delle sigle di 'La sberla' e 'Non stop'". La Repubblica (in Italian). 20 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Addio a Paolo Zavalloni El Pasador delle sigle tv". Il Mattino (in Italian). 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Bologna, morto Paolo Zavalloni: addio a 'el Pasadòr'". Il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). 20 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  4. ^ (in Italian) El Pasador on italiancharts.com
  5. ^ "El Pasador Amada Mia Amore Mio Single". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
  6. ^ (in Italian) El Pasador on discogs.com
edit