User:Christianvi2000

Chris Vinante was born in Trento, a small town in northern region of Italy. At the age of 15, Chris was already playing ambient music as a DJ in local clubs and private parties. Exploring all types of music from electronic, experimental, to progressive and house, Chris soon decided that the music was his true calling. He left his studies of the tourism business to follow his passion for the nightlife.

Over the years Chris' talent become quiet popular, playing along side his friend ABI Dander DJ and with many of today's still most popular DJ's like Stefano Noferini, Marco Bellini, Leo Girardi and Joy Kiticonti. While doing public relations for his ABI Dander - who was then performing in some in some of the most famous clubs in northern Italy including ALTER EGO CLUB in Verona, MOVIDA/MUSIKO and GILDA AFTER HOUERS in Jesolo - Chris made many new connections with various modeling agencies who offered him work as both a DJ and an agent.

After the tragic death of his friend ADI Dander, Chris began to concentrate more on his model agency work than in DJ-ing. Chris soon became a part of organizing Fantastic Fashion Week at FIERA DI VERONA. He personally organized a beauty contest for Luigi Ferrari. La piu bella del mondo (the most beautiful girl in the world) at Favourite Simply Reed Italian Club ALTER EGO in Verona and received the personal compliments from nightlife legend and club owner, Mr .Gigi.

With the chance to DJ at ALTER EGO and be known in the national night life scene, Chris Vinante's career began to really shine. Soon thereafter Chris fell in love with a woman who grew to love everyone else but him. As a result, this complicated love story threw Chris in a state of depression that lost him many friends and many business contacts. In one very lazy period Chris decided that his life no longer made sense in that area and he moved to London.

In London, still depressed and trying to forget his unlucky love life by brushing cigarettes from the West End clubs for 3.50 per hour, Chris began working in an Italian restaurant as a waiter, kitchen porter and pizza chef. He soon met Dominico Cumbo and began to work part time as a food and wine importer for his company. Having become a very good pizza chef, singing Sinatra songs while making his pizzas, co-workers and restaurant patrons started to call Chris ‘Sinatra' after his passion for the singer. These encouragements lead Chris to begin trying to sing some Sinatra songs while making pizzas.

Italy's passion for Frank Sinatra become apparent as rave party-goers began to listen to more relaxing, lounge-type music such as Francesco De Gregori, Ray Charles and of course Frank Sinatra. By casually purchasing a book on the Frank Sinatra life Chris had no idea how his own life was about to be profoundly influenced. Chris started to read about Sinatra and was deeply impressed by the man and his story. The last pages of the book are quite sad, outlining Sinatra's days in the hospital. While reading the last page of the book (Sinatra was still alive), Chris fell asleep very sad but somehow inspired. The next morning Chris woke up to see Sinatra movies and songs on every TV channel and the news announcing Sinatra's death.

Chris was now fast becoming a popular pizza chef at Fratelli la Bufala in Hampstead Place, winning an award for the best pizza place in London by numerous magazines. Performing as a DJ working private parties and clubs including The Telegraph Brixton and The DITCH in Shoredietch, Chris returned to the night life scene he loved so much. When customers heard Chris singing Sinatra songs during his pizza making, they advised him to take lessons and become a singer fulltime. One drunken night at home Chris was recording is last Jazz House CD and began thinking about what to BE and what to DO next with his life. In that particular moment Chris just happened to be looking at the picture of Frank - and only one thought came into his mind: DO BE DO BE DO…. The very next day, Chris began searching for a singing teacher. That search lead him to Sonya Jones (James Last Orchestra) and her boyfriend Richard Derbyshire (Living in a Box) who are still his vocal trainers today. Chris asked Sonya and Richard if they tught there was any chance for him to successfully sing Sinatra songs in restaurants. After they heard Chris sing they told him that he would have to work hard on his pronunciation and tunes, but that he had the perfect range of voice for it! After six months of intensive singing lessons, Sonia and Richard felt Chris that he was ready to sing in public.

Thanks to the sales representative job, Chris knew many restaurant owners and managers - many of whom were very happy to give him a chance. The start of his singing career was unfortunately a disaster. It was very embarrassing for Chris and for his voice trainers, Sonia and Richard who went to see some of his first gigs. But Chris did not give up. He continued to train and propose himself to other places for more performances. One of those places was Giuseppe's Restaurant in London Bridge, which is today, Chris' resident performance venue. In the beginning, things did not take off as well as both Chris and Giuseppe had hoped. When Chris first started to sing on off Saturdays, it was not long before the owner soon called Chris to say that there had not been much interest or any improvement in business on those nights. Giuseppe even said that he had actually received some customer complaints about the performances. But Giuseppe believed in Chris and helped him by sponsoring more singing lessons.

Within the next few months, people began to ask for Chris - not just on Saturday s but on week days as well. He started getting calls to perform at private parties. His Piccadilly Circus Nat was a bank manager and asked him to sing at his wedding. Chris was also invited to sing at Christmas parties for the City of London Police, (Bishop Gate Team) and Scotland Yard (Foreign Questions Team.)

Meanwhile, Chris started singing regularly in Notting Hill Gate's popular ARANCINA where he has been favorably reviewed by the Daily Telegraph. Chris has also been asked to DJ at the Notting Hill Carnival for the last three years. Within two years of his singing career, Chris continued to improve his skill and increase his fan base.

Today, in addition to singing Sinatra music, Chris also writes his own songs and continues to perform as a DJ. What is next for Chris and his future? ONLY THE BEST IS YET TO COME!