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Natalino Otto, stage name of Natale Codognotto
(Cogoleto, Genoa, Italy, 25 December 1912 - Milan,
Italy, 4 October 1969) was the singer who started
the Swing (genre)|swing genre in Italy. 

== Debut on the American radio ==
Natalino Otto's career as a singer and musician
started in the clubs of his native region,
Liguria. During 1930s he worked as an entertainer
on board transatlantic liners on the routes
between Europe and North America, which gave him
the opportunity to get to know American music
genres, especially jazz and swing.

In 1935 he was hired by an Italian-American radio
station in New York. Back in Italy in 1937, Otto
presented an innovative repertoire, strongly
influenced by American music of that era. But he
had to face Italian Fascism|Fascist regime
censorship, that banned anything foreign. He was
forced to translate song titles and lyrics into
Italian language|Italian. The Italian state radio
company EIAR did not broadcast his songs, and
labelled them as "barbaric negro antimusic".

Banned from the radio, Natalino Otto worked for
recording companies instead, together with two
great Italian bandleaders such as Gorni Kramer and
Pippo Barzizza. In a short while he won the
audience with his records - one of the few Italian
singers of those times, if not the only one, to
achieve success without his songs playing on the
radio. Italian people danced to his swing tunes,
which earned him the nickname "King of Rhythm".

== Cinema and San Remo Festival ==
Thanks to his popularity, also the film|movie
industry wanted him. He was offered singer roles
in a few films. He was the leading character in
Tutta la città canta directed by Riccardo Freda
in 1945. He also starred in La casa senza tempo
and Carosello del varietà.

During 1950s Natalino Otto took part for five
times to the San Remo Music Festival. His best
result was a third place in 1955 with a song
titled Canto nella Valle. In that year he married
Flo Sandon's, also an Italian singer.

== Over two thousand songs ==
Early in 1960s Otto retired from the public scene,
but he continued to be involved in show
organization, recordings and musical research.

He was a very prolific singer. He recorded over
two thousand songs during his career. His greatest
hits were Ho un sassolino nella scarpa, Mamma
voglio anch'io la fidanzata, Mister Paganini,
Polvere di stelle, Op op trotta cavallino,
Natalino studia canto, Il valzer del
boogie-woogie, La classe degli asini.

== A talent scout ==
Natalino Otto and his wife Flo Sandon's are
credited with the discovery of one of Italy's
greatest singers of all times - Mina
(singer)|Mina. On the night of 24 September 1958 a
band of teen-age students was playing in a dancing
hall in Cremona. Otto and his wife were present,
and were greatly impressed by the singer of that
group. They went to meet her at the end of the
concert and proposed her a trial recording
session. One month later, Mina's first single was
out.

== External links ==
* http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0653287/ Filmography
*
http://www.fotopalmas.com/_indici/Otto_Natalino.ht
m Photos by Giuseppe Palmas
*
http://www.ansa.it/genova2004/notizie/rubriche/eng
lish/20040315151932875664.html The Swinger of
Sampierdarena

it:Natalino Otto