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Artist: Mario Biondi

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Mario Biondi:

Sun

Singer Mario Biondi, with multi-platinum album sales throughout Europe, is known as the only true Italian Soul Singer. With a warm, deep, sensual voice, Biondi patiently and carefully cultivated his musical passion starting at a young age alongside his father, singer Stefano Biondi. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with many diverse artists including Burt Bacharach, Tower of Power, The Crusaders and Michael Bolton to name a few. Biondi's new album, Sun, is also a work of collaboration. Produced by Mario along with Jean-Paul Maunick (aka Bluey, the lead singer of the successful British Jazz band Incognito) the album features guest appearances from the legendary Chaka Kahn and smooth jazz luminary Al Jarreau.

Charting Italian vocalist Mario Biondi possesses a deep, smooth yet grainy baritone that is extremely low, intense, and profoundly emotional when interpreting soul, R&B, and jazz. His love for the former helped to shape his particular styling, which takes its cue from the influence of great vocalists like Lou Rawls, Al Jarreau, and Isacc Hayes. A professional since his teens, Biondi was a session singer for years -- in 1988 he had the opportunity to support Ray Charles. He received his first big break in 2004 when his jazz-pop single "This Is What You Are" (on which he was backed by the High Five Quintet) became an international hit and dancefloor anthem that inspired numerous remixes. Since that time, Biondi has explored numerous sounds and traditions, from contemporary European jazz (Handful of Soul, 2006), adult contemporary R&B (Beyond, 2015) and global pop stylings (Brasil, 2018).

Biondi was born of artistic stock in the Sicilian city of Catania. His great grandfather was a respected painter, his grandmother a singer, and his father a popular songwriter. Biondi sang throughout his childhood, first performing in public at age 12 in church, and soon singing in public squares before hundreds of people. From there he competed in the Festival della Canzone Siciliana, taking third place. Biondi's musical pursuits earned him the opportunity to perform alongside such Italian vocal greats as Califano, Bongusto, and Fiorello, as well as American legend Ray Charles.