• Italian singing icon Ornella Vanoni dies at 91
• She leaves a prominent artistic legacy in Italian and global music

Italian singer Ornella Vanoni passed away on Friday at the age of 91, according to Italian media.

Local newspapers reported that Vanoni died at her home in Milan following a heart attack.

Vanoni was one of the most beloved singers in Italian musica leggera since the 1960s, known for her curly red hair and voice that effortlessly moved from warm alto tones to clear, high registers.

She sold over 50 million records and frequently collaborated with international artists like George Benson and Herbie Hancock, as well as Italian musicians Franco Califano and Gino Paoli.

Vanoni achieved her biggest commercial success in the late 1960s and 1970s with hits such as “La Musica e Finita” (“The Music is Over”), “Eternita” (“Eternity”), “L’Appuntamento” (“The Date”), and “Una Ragione di Piu” (“One More Reason”).

Born on September 22, 1934, in Milan, Vanoni began her career on stage before moving on to singing about the Milanese underworld in her 20s under the guidance of renowned theatre director Giorgio Strehler, who later became her mentor and lover.

In 1964, she won the Festival di Napoli, participated eight times at the Sanremo Festival, and placed second in 1968 with “Casa Bianca” (“White House”).

She was the first singer in the festival’s history to receive a career achievement award in 1999.

Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli described Vanoni as “one of the most original and refined artists,” noting that “her unique voice and remarkable talent left a lasting mark on Italian song, theatre, and entertainment.”

In recent years, Vanoni was known for her frankness, frequently appearing in gossip magazines to reveal past affairs. She continued performing and recording, with her last studio album, “Unica” (“Unparalleled”), released in 2021.