His journey as a singer began when he was six years old, in his native Sicily, and he’d travel from town to town performing at weddings with his father, who was a professional balladeer and drummer.
From Sicilian wedding ceremonies to Australian television screens, with his appearance on Showcase 1970, Patano’s journey has been a long one filled with invaluable experiences and life lessons.
Along the way, he has visited Vietnam on a tour to entertain the American and Australian troupes and performed in various musical ensembles (spanning the genres of Latin American, jazz and pop).
But interestingly, Pantano never formally studied singing or music; he’s never even taken a single lesson.
Performing is Pantano’s destiny; it’s in his blood.
While Pantano didn’t win Showcase 1970, he received an honourable mention from the jury and $200 for fourth place, plus another $200 for being the first pop singer to reach the finals.
Pantano now performs in myriad venues across Melbourne, including the Federal Hotel, Piccolo Mondo, the Summer Hill Hotel and Tabù, to name a few.
Next Thursday, he’ll appear on Channel 7’s Mike Walsh Show.
Pantano’s also about to begin releasing music, and he’s currently recording a song written especially for him by Buddy England, called Every Time You Touch Me.
Pantano declared that he is determined to reach the heights of international fame and stardom and become the next Tom Jones or Engelbert Humperdinck.
Fifteen years since his arrival in Australia, and at just 22 years of age, Pantano’s story has just begun.
