Viola Valentino

Viola Valentino, born Virginia Minnetti on July 1, 1952, is a prominent Italian singer who gained fame in the late 1970s and 1980s. Her musical journey began in 1968 when she performed under the name Virginia, later forming a duet with her then-husband called Renzo & Virginia. It was during this period that producer Giancarlo Lucariello recognized her talent and crafted her image as a captivating yet delicate performer.

In 1979, she adopted the stage name Viola Valentino, marking a significant turning point in her career with the release of her debut hit "Comprami" ("Buy Me"), which resonated with audiences in Italy and Spain. The following year, she solidified her status with two more chart-toppers: "Sei una bomba" ("You Are a Bomb") and "Anche noi facciamo pace" ("We Will Make Peace Too"), alongside the debut of her first album, "Cinema."

Valentino's participation in the prestigious Festival di Sanremo in 1982 with the hit "Romantici" further propelled her fame. That same year, she released her second album, "In primo piano," featuring the popular track "Sola." During her peak, she also ventured into acting, appearing in films such as "Delitto sull’autostrada" ("A Crime on a Highway") and "Due strani papà" ("Two Strange Daddies").

Although her popularity waned in the late 1980s, she continued to produce music, including the moderately successful "Il posto della luna" in 1986, and released a compilation album titled "Un angelo dal cielo" ("An Angel from Heaven") in 1991. Valentino's brief marriage to renowned singer Riccardo Fogli and her appearances on the cover of Playboy also contributed to her public persona.