Flo Sandon's(1924-2006)

Flo was born in an upper class family of American extraction (UK origin). They lived in Rome from 1910 on. By chance Flo (Mammola is her birth name) was born in Vicenza (North Western Italy) where her father, a skilled restoring architect - specialist in stained glass windows) was called, at the time, to work at some damaged historical buildings and churches. Flo started to sing for fun. In 1944, Flo was working for US Army Corps in Rome, as interpreter. One day to celebrate a US Colonel's birthday, she was invited to sing an American song and "Stardust" was selected by many. When Flo started to sing, she sounded like a coming singer. By the merest chance, a successful Italian crooner, in those days, was recording a fascinating Italian version of "Stardust" making that song a hit in Italy. Who was the crooner? Natalino Otto, her husband 11 years later. Flo's career began in 1947 singing in the "Hot Club the France", a well-known Jazz Club, with Django Reinhardt and Stephen Grappelly. In 1950 had her first hit in "Verde luna" (Italian version from "Blood and Sand" with R.Hayworth and T.Power). In 1951 another film "Anna" by Alberto Lattuada offered Flo the chance for another success: doubling the main actress Silvana Mangano while singing "Non dimenticar". As a matter of fact, Flo won the very first "Golden Record" in Italy (1,000,000 records sold in Europe, 10,000,000 worldwide) and she was very flattered when Nat King Cole asked to perform an English version that he did beautifully, some years later. In 1953 Flo won the "Sanremo Festival" with "Viale d'autunno". Many were the Tours around the world and several the hits: just to mention a few..."El Negro zumbon", "Malasierra", "Sadie Thompson's song", "Never let me go", "Souvenir d'Italie", "Arrivederci". In 1955 married Natalino Otto (see above). They had one child, a girl named Silvia, in 1956. Unfortunately Natalino died in 1969 and for that reason Flo retired from the scenes, but in 1994/1995 at 70, she accepted the role of an eccentric mother in a very brilliant music comedy directed by Pietro Garinei "Gli uomini sono tutti bambini!" (All men are kids!). That was the first time for Flo to sing and dance at the same time: she did it successfully!