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 Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and Xhosa language, Xhosa: eGoli ) (colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, Jo'burg or "The City of Gold") is the most populous city in South Africa. With 5,538,596 people in the City of Johannesburg alon ...

, where her family immigrated from Italy in 1947.Chilvers, Garth & Tom Jasiukowicz (1994). History of Contemporary Music of South Africa, Part 1 (Toga Pub., Braamfontein, South Africa) 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 Sergio Franchi ( , ; born Sergio Franci Galli; April 6, 1926 – May 1, 1990) was an Italian-American tenor and actor who enjoyed success in the United States and internationally after gaining notice in Britain in the early 1960s. In 1962, RCA ...

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 The John Golden Theatre, formerly the Theatre Masque and Masque Theater, is a Broadway theatre, Broadway theater at 252 West 45th Street (George Abbott Way) in the Theater District, Manhattan, Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York ...

from March 7, 1966 – April 15, 1967. Miss Valery recorded Original Cast Albums of all three productions.

Television

In 1965, she appeared on the

British television Television broadcasts in the United Kingdom began in 1932, however, regular broadcasts would only begin four years later. Television began as a public service which was free of advertising, which followed the first demonstration of a transm ...

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? ''What's My Line?'' is a Panel show, panel game show that originally ran in the United States, between 1950 and 1967, on CBS, originally in black and white and later in color, with subsequent American revivals. The game uses celebrity panelists ...

'' (on which she was a recurring panelist), that featured then-governor of

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...

as a contestant.

Career change

Dana Catalano made a career change later in life to become a healer. Her areas of expertise include

Reiki Reiki is a pseudoscientific form of energy healing, a type of alternative medicine originating in Japan. Reiki practitioners use a technique called ''palm healing'' or ''hands-on healing'' through which, according to practitioners, a " unive ...

and

hypnotherapy Hypnotherapy, also known as hypnotic medicine, is the use of hypnosis in psychotherapy. Hypnotherapy is generally not considered to be based on scientific evidence, and is rarely recommended in clinical practice guidelines. However, several p ...

. Her main practice is based in New York.

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.

Discography

Valery's first US album was an RCA collaboration album with

Al Hirt Alois Maxwell "Al" Hirt (November 7, 1922 – April 27, 1999) was an American trumpeter and bandleader. He is best remembered for his million-selling recordings of "Java (instrumental), Java" and the accompanying album ''Honey in the Horn (album ...

and

Boots Randolph Homer Louis "Boots" Randolph III (June 3, 1927 – July 3, 2007) was an American musician. His 1963 saxophone hit " Yakety Sax" became the signature tune of ''The Benny Hill Show''. Randolph was a prolific session musician and member of the Nas ...

titled ''Horns Of Plenty''. Valery recorded a version of the

Paul Simon Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter known for his solo work and his collaborations with Art Garfunkel. He and Garfunkel, whom he met in elementary school in 1953, came to prominence in the 1960s as Sim ...

song "You Don't Know Where Your Interest Lies" and released it as a single in January 1967, before

Simon & Garfunkel Simon & Garfunkel were an American folk rock duo comprising the singer-songwriter Paul Simon and the singer Art Garfunkel. They were one of the best-selling music acts of the 1960s. Their most famous recordings include three US number-one sing ...

released their version in July 1967 as the B-side to " Fakin' It". Valery's version became a notable song on the

Northern soul Northern soul is a music and dance movement that emerged in Northern England and the Midlands in the early 1970s. It developed from the British Mod (subculture), mod scene, based on a particular style of African American music, Black American ...

scene, having been a popular spin at

Wigan Casino The Wigan Casino is the colloquial name for the nightclub the Casino Club, that operated in Wigan between Friday, August 27 1965 (with Shirley Bassey topping the bill) and 1981, associated with the Northern Soul movement in the UK. The club's end ...

. 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 Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and Xhosa language, Xhosa: eGoli ) (colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, Jo'burg or "The City of Gold") is the most populous city in South Africa. With 5,538,596 people in the City of Johannesburg alon ...

, Dana won two SARIE awards in (1964 and 1965) for Best Female Vocalist.

Albums (LP)

* 1962 ''Everybody's Doin' the Twist'' – CBS ALD 6562 – South Africa * 1962 ''Dan, Dana, and the Diamonds,'' (Dan Hill, Dana Valery, The Diamonds & Mike Shannon), CBS S.A. (Collaboration) * 1962 ''Original South African Cast Album – Wait a Minim!'' – Gallotone GLP-GALP 1221 * 1963 ''Two Diamonds,'' with Mike Shannon – CBS – South Africa * 1963 ''This is Dana Valery'' – CBS ALD 6658 – South Africa * 1963 ''All'Italiana'' – CBS 6694 – South Africa * n.d. ''Dan Hill at The Grove,(Featuring Dana Valery & Introducing Una Valli)'', CBS ALD 6721 – South Africa (Collaboration) * 1964 ''Dana'' – CBS ALD 6747 – South Africa * 1966 ''The Exciting Dana Valery'' – CBS ALD 6825 – South Africa * 1967 ''I'll Remember Summer'' (Arr and Conducted by Dan Hill) – CBS ALD 6969 South Africa * 1964 ''Original London Cast Album – Wait a Minim!'' – Decca SKL 4610 (1964) * 1966 ''Original Broadway Cast Album – Wait a Minim!'' – London AMS 880002 (1966) * 1971 ''Horns of Plenty (Collectors Limited Edition)'' – RCA PRS-372 Collaboration album w/

, Dana Valery * 1972 ''Not The Flower But The Root'' – Brunswick Records BL 754180 (American Debut Album) * 1975 ''Dana Valery'' – RCA/Phantom BPL1-1124 * 1999 ''Zodiac Meditation Music'' – DVC Productions

EP albums (45rpm)

* n.d. ''Dana Valery's Great Italian Hits'' – "Cuando caliente el sol" / "La mezza luna" / "La terza lune'' / Dimelo in Settembre" (CBS EXP-2115 South Africa) * n.d. ''Tango Italiana'' – "Tango Italiana" / El Maintenant" / "From Russia With Love" / "This Is My Prayer" (CBS EXP-2124)

Singles (45rpm)

* 1962 "

Hava Nagila "Hava Nagila" (, ''Hāvā Nāgīlā'', "Let us rejoice") is a Jewish folk song. It is traditionally sung at celebrations, such as weddings, Bar and bat mitzvahs, and other Jewish holidays among the Jewish community. Written in 1918, it quickly ...

" / "Tintarella di Luna" (South Africa CBS SSC-330) * 1962 "Autumn Concerto" / "

Till image:Geschiebemergel.JPG, Closeup of glacial till. Note that the larger grains (pebbles and gravel) in the till are completely surrounded by the matrix of finer material (silt and sand), and this characteristic, known as ''matrix support'', is d ...

" (South Africa CBS SSC-331) * 1963 "No School Tomorrow" (South Africa CBS) * 1963 "Keep Away From Other Girls (South Africa CBS) * 1963 " What Now My Love" / " I Wish You Love" (South Africa CBS SSC-431) * 1964 "Renato" / "Bahia Bossa Nova" (South Africa CBS SSC444) * 1964 "This Is My Prayer" / "Would I Love You Again" (South Africa CBS SSC-479) & (UK Decca F.11881) * 1964 "I Wake Up Crying" / "Never Let Go," (UK Decca F.11977) * 1964 "I'm Leaving It Up to You" (with Charles Jacobie) (South Africa CBS) * 1964 "The Kind of Boy I Can't Forget" (South Africa CBS) * 1964 "Poor Boy" (South Africa CBS) * 1965 "We're Gonna Be Happy" / "Cuore (Heart)," (South Africa CBS SSC-563) * 1965 "She Doesn't Love You (Half As Much As Me)" / "We're Gonna Be Happy" (UK Decca F.12134) * 1965 "Tall Man" (backed by the Diamonds) (South Africa CBS) * 1966 "I Remember Love" (South Africa CBS) * 1966 "Retreat Song" (South Africa CBS) * 1967 "Having You Around" / "You Don't Know Where Your Interest Lies" (with

, writer and uncredited minor vocal) (US Columbia 44004) * 1967 "You" / "Imagine," (US Columbia 4-44301) & (South Africa CBS SSC-858) * 1967 "Having You Around" / "Zabadak" (US Columbia 44389) & (South Africa CBS SSC-330) * 1967 "You Don't Know Where Your Interest Lies" (CBS) (Recorded in Nashville) * 1969 "Get in Line Girl" / " Clinging Vine" (US Liberty 56156) * 1969 "Happy Birthday To Me" / "A Girl Without Love" (US ABC Records 45-11161) * 1969 " Surround Yourself with Sorrow" / "Breakfast in Bed" (US ABC Records 45–11214)& (US ABC Records AMP 45-15743/15745) * 1970 " Put Your Hand in the Hand" / "Point of No Return" (US Liberty 56209) & (South Africa Liberty LYS193) * 1971 "You on My Mind" / "

Portofino Portofino (; ) is a ''comune'' located in the Metropolitan City of Genoa on the Italian Riviera. The town is clustered around its small harbour, and is known for the colourfully painted buildings that line the shore. Since the late 19th centur ...

" (US Brunswick 55464) * 1972 "I Wanna Pay You Back" (Backed by the Chi-Lites), (US Brunswick 55482) * 1973 "I'm A Woman Now" / "The Fountain" (US Brunswick 55494) * 1976 "

I'd Love You to Want Me "I'd Love You to Want Me" is a song by American singer-songwriter Lobo (musician), Lobo. It was released in September 1972 as the second single (music), single from his second album ''Of a Simple Man''. The song was Lobo's highest-charting hit o ...

" / "I Never Had It So Good," (UK RCA/Phantom 10316) * 1976 "

Will You Love Me Tomorrow "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", sometimes known as "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was first recorded in 1960 by the Shirelles for their album '' Tonight's the Night''; released as a singl ...

"/"I Never Had It So Good" (UK Phantom 10566), US #95 * 1978 "Du Bist Das Licht in Meiner Welt" (Germany WB 17093) * 1978 "He Brings Down The Raindrops"/"Those Were The Best Years" (Germany WB 17102) * 1979 "I Don't Want To Be Lonely"/"

Rainbow Connection "Rainbow Connection" is a song from the 1979 film '' The Muppet Movie'', with music and lyrics written by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher. The song was performed by Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog during the film's opening number, where it o ...

" (US Scotti Bros. SB 509), US #87 * n.d. "Roses and Rainbows"/"I Gave You My Love" (Philippines Scotti Bros. SB 2002) * 1981 "Roses And Rainbows"/"I Gave You My Love" (US Scotti Bros. SB-612) & (Germany Scotti Bros. 100-07-093)

Television appearances

* The Ed Sullivan Show – 3 March 1968, WCBS 52min * The Kraft Music Hall – 17 July 1968, WNBC 52min * The Kraft Music Hall – 16 October 1968, WNBC 52min * The

Jonathan Winters Jonathan Harshman Winters III (November 11, 1925 – April 11, 2013) was an American comedian, actor, author, television host, and artist. He started performing as a stand up comedian before transitioning his career to acting in film and te ...

Show – 20 November 1968, WNBC 57min * Operation Entertainment – 20 December 1968, WABC 52min * The

Show – 16 January 1969, WNBC 57min * Operation: Entertainment – 31 January 1969, WABC 52min * The Hollywood Palace – 15 February 1969, WABC 52min * The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson — 13 June 1969 * The Jimmie Rodgers Show – 16 June 1969, WCBS 52min * The Liberace Show – 12 August 1969, WCBS 52min * The Hollywood Palace – 1 November 1969, WABC 52min * The Ed Sullivan Show – 4 January 1970, WCBS 52min * The Engelbert Humperdinck Show – 18 February 1970, WABC 52min * The Ed Sullivan Show – 31 May 1970, WCBS 52min * The Des O'Connor Show – 2 September 1970, WNBC 52min * The

Mike Douglas Michael Delaney Dowd Jr. (August 11, 1920Cook County Birth Certificates, file number 6053268, borAugust 11, 1920/ref>Social Security Death Index, Michael D. Dowd Jr., Birth: 11 Aug 1920, death: 11 Aug 2006 residing in North Palm Beach, FL, acce ...

Show – 9 August 1974 *

- 9 September 1974 *

Tattletales ''Tattletales'' is an American game show produced by Mark Goodson, Goodson-Bill Todman, Todman Productions in association with Fremantle (company), Fremantle. The program had two runs on the CBS daytime schedule between February 1974 and June ...

- 20–26 June 1975 (with Tim Saunders)

Film

*''Coach'' (1978 movie) soundtrack "My Life's a Sing-a-Long"

Bibliography

* ''Legends of Rock Guitar'' by Pete Prown and HP Newquist (1997) * ''Pop Annual 1955–1999'' by Joel Whitburn (2000) * ''Top Pop Singles 1955–1999'' by Joel Whitburn (2000) * Woolfson, Malcolm (1992). ''But the Melody Lingers On: The "Inside Story" of the Johannesburg Operatic and Dramatic Society-Its Shows, Personalities, Triumphs, and Tribulations''. (Perskor, Johannesburg).

References

External links

* *
Dana Valery Catalano's personal website

Image from ''Ladybirds'', U.K.,(1965)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valery, Dana South African pop singers South African women pop singers 1944 births Living people People from Codogno Singers from Johannesburg Singers from New York City Date of birth missing (living people) 20th-century South African women singers Italian emigrants to South Africa South African emigrants to the United States American musical theatre actresses American television actresses Reiki practitioners 21st-century American women English-language singers from South Africa German-language singers of South Africa