| Tommy Leonetti | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nicola Tomaso Lionetti September 10, 1929 Bergen County, New Jersey |
| Died | September 15, 1979 (aged 50) Houston, Texas |
| Known for | Songwriter Actor |
Tommy Leonetti (10 September 1929 – 15 September 1979)[1] was an American pop singer-songwriter and actor of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. In Australia his most famous song was "My City of Sydney" (written by Leonetti & Robert Troup)[2][3] and was used by the Australian TV channel ATN7 in Sydney for station identification into the 1980s. In America he achieved greater success as a songwriter for movies and Broadway plays.
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Tommy Leonetti was born Nicola Tomaso Lionetti in Bergen County, New Jersey in 1929. He married the American actress Cindy Robbins and was stepfather to her daughter, Kimberly Beck.[1] They lived in Sydney, Australia in the 1960s and 1970s before returning to America.
Married in 1958 to Patricia Quinn (later "Alice" in the 1968 film Alice's Restaurant) and divorced in 1964 (no children). Leonetti acted in minor roles in American TV series: Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964-1965 as 'Corporal Nick Cuccinelli'), I Spy (1966), Hawaii Five-O (1977), The Waltons (1978) and The Eddie Capra Mysteries (1978). He had a film role in The Human Duplicators (1965) a science fiction alien invasion movie.
"Free", Leonetti's 1956 single, has been described as a US one-hit wonder peaking at number 23. He also had a minor hit with his version of "I Cried" which reached number 30 in 1954. Your Hit Parade (1957–1958), The Steve Allen Show (1958–1959) and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1971–1973) featured performances by Leonetti.[1] He also hit in the US with the only charted version of the spiritual "Kum Ba Yah" in early 1969.
While in Australia, Leonetti hosted his own talk-show from 1968 to 1970 for ATN-7, and provided the basis for the parody character Norman Gunston (according to creator Garry McDonald).
He had a major Sydney hit with "Let’s Take a Walk" (penned by Leonetti and Bobby Russell) with his step-daughter Kim in 1968. Leonetti's rendition of "My City of Sydney", as used by ATN7 for nightly sign-off can be viewed on YouTube. Sydney punk rockers XL Capris[2] (with lead vocalist Johanna Pigott) provided their version in 1979 (also on YouTube), this promo includes blue-tinged portions from Leonetti's TV sign-off. Other versions were performed by yodeller Mary Schneider,[2] 1990s punk rockers Frenzal Rhomb[2] and James Valentine on his radio show in February 2008.
According to Garry McDonald, the character of Norman Gunston and his television show were initially devised as a parody of Leonetti's late-night Sydney TV variety show, "The Tommy Leonetti Show", hosted by Leonetti from 1969 to 1970.
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) lists 49 works credited to "Tommy Leonetti".[3] Music for films included: Squeeze a Flower (1970), Massacre at Central High (1976, starred stepdaughter Beck) and She Came to the Valley (1979).[1] He also co-wrote (with Jill Williams) and sang "Cross Roads" for Massacre at Central High.[3] TV music included: The ABC Weekend Special episodes 1.2 "The Ransom of Red Chief", 1.9 "Soup and Me", 2.5 "Little Lulu" and 2.6 "Soup for President".[1]
Leonetti died in 1979 in Houston, Texas, of cancer, at the age of 50.[1] Gravestone name is "Nicholas Tommy Leonetti".[4]