El Pasador

Paolo Zavalloni (29 August 1932 – 20 June 2023), best known as Paolo Zavallone (as an assonance with the surnames of singers Renato Carosone and Fred Buscaglione) and El Pasador, was an Italian singer, bandleader and composer. Born in Riccione, Zavallone started his career in the early 1950s as the keyboardist in the orchestra of Henghel Gualdi [it]. In 1957 he formed his own band. He became popular in the 1970s, as the bandleader in several TV shows and as the composer and singer of its theme songs. His major hit was the 1977 disco song "Amada Mia, Amore Mio [it]", which peaked at #25 in Italian Singles Chart, #66 in Swiss Singles Chart, and #10 in German Singles Chart. Other hits include "Non stop", "Kilimangiaro" and "Papà ha la bua", a duet with his then 11 years old daughter Cristina. He also wrote songs for other artists, notably composing "Le notti lunghe" for Adriano Celentano. In 1978 Zavallone served as conductor of the Sanremo Music Festival, and between 1989 and 2001 he was official arranger of Zecchino d'Oro. Zavallone died on 20 June 2023, at the age of 90. "È morto El Pasador, autore e interprete delle sigle di 'La sberla' e 'Non stop'". La Repubblica (in Italian). 20 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023. "Addio a Paolo Zavalloni El Pasador delle sigle tv". Il Mattino (in Italian). 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023. "Bologna, morto Paolo Zavalloni: addio a 'el Pasadòr'". Il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). 20 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023. (in Italian) El Pasador on italiancharts.com "El Pasador Amada Mia Amore Mio Single". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 2023-06-20. (in Italian) El Pasador on discogs.com Paolo Zavallone at IMDb Paolo Zavallone discography at Discogs