Caterina Valente....

1931 Born on January 14 in Paris France. Her mother, Maria Valente, is a world-famous musical clown and her father, Giuseppe, is a talented musician. Her parents are Italian; Caterina therefore acquires Italian nationality.
1936 First appearance at the Friedrichsbau in Stuttgart within the family group.
1952 November 25 Caterina marries the German juggler Erik van Aro. (she obtains double citizenship by receiving a German passport) She becomes his assistant. Erik later becomes Caterina's manager.
1953 March–May: Appears as a singer at the Grock circus.
April: Auditions for Radio Zurich. Producer Walter "Walo" Linder produces 15 tracks straightaway.
November: Guest singer for the Kurt Edelhagen orchestra.
1954 February: First record "Istanbul."
September: First one million-selling hit in Germany with the German version ("Ganz Paris träumt von der Liebe") of the Cole Porter song "I love Paris." Huge successes such as "Wo meine Sonne scheint" (Island in the sun) and "Dich werd ich nie vergessen" (I will never forget you) follow. Film career starts with "Mannequins for Rio." This is followed with title roles in several box office hits, including "Liebe Tanz und 1000 Schlager" (Love, Dance, and 1000 Songs) with Peter Alexander and "Casino de Paris" with Vittorio de Sica and Gilbert Becaud.
1955 International success with "Malaguena." Second international hit with "The breeze and I." Both tracks originate from the "Andalucía" suite by Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona and were recorded with Werner Müller and his orchestra. USA debut in the television broadcast "COLGATE COMEDY HOUR"
1957 First public appearance in the USA (Cotillion Room at New York's Hotel Pierre).
The first German Caterina Valente show "Bonsoir Kathrin" is broadcast on September 10.
1958 August 8: Her son, Eric Philippe Bruno, is born in Mannheim, Germany. OLYMPIA owner Bruno Coquatrix is godfather.
1959 April 1: Premiere of her sensational one month run at the Paris OLYMPIA.
"Best Female Vocalist" Grammy nomination for "La Strada dell’amore", awarded the "Grand Prix National du Disque" (Grand prize for music) from the Academie Francaise for the song "Bim Bom Bey."
1961 Perry Como has Caterina as a guest on his TV show, thus helping her to achieve her definitive breakthrough in the USA. He hosts her twelve times in the years to follow. The first Italian Caterina Valente show "Bonsoir Caterina" is broadcast.
1963 Gold disc for first charity LP "All Star Festival" for UNICEF. Caterina Valente’s song “La Golondrina” is featured among other performances by such stars as Doris Day, Maurice Chevalier, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Edith Piaf.
1964 September: “The Entertainers” premiers on US-Television. Caterina co-hosts 22 shows with Carol Burnet, Bob Newhart and Dom Deluise
1968 The TV special “Caterina from Heidelberg” is seen by over 50 million viewers via US broadcaster CBS.
1970 Caterina's successful appearance at London's TALK OF THE TOWN leads to an invitation to perform at the "Royal Command Performance" in London.
1971 February 19 Divorces her husband, Erik van Aro,. The two remain business partners and friends.
May 17–June 7: Russian tour (Moscow, Kiev, and Leningrad) Performs at the UN's 26th anniversary gala in Washington at President Nixon's request.
1972 January: Legendary 18 concerts at Paris' OLYMPIA with Michel Legrand.
March 4: Marries British composer and pianist Roy Budd.
December 27: Awarded “Ordre de l’education Artistique” (order of artistic education) in Paris
1974 March 9: Birth of her son Alexander. Paulette Coquartrix from Paris' Olympia is godmother
1980 Divorces her second husband, Roy Budd.
1984 Caterina Valente is named the first ambassador for SOS Children’s Villages.
1985 Huge German Democratic Republic tour
1986 16 million viewers in Germany and neighbouring countries see the TV show "Bravo Catrin" to mark her 50th year on the stage. Awarded the “Grosses Bundesverdienstkreuz” (grand order of merit) for life time as well as humanitarian achievements. Tours Germany, Austria and Switzerland with the Count Basie Orchestra conducted by Thad Jones.
1987 Last stage appearance in the USA at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles
1989 Records jazz CD "A briglia sciolta" in Italy, which, under various publications and titles including "Fantastica" and "Platinum Deluxe" among others, becomes the biggest selling Valente CD.
1996 Last stage appearance in Europe at the Leipzig Opera
2001 Her collaboration with harpist Catherine Michel is published on CD under the title "Girltalk". This last production is awarded the highest praise from international critics. The last track on this CD sees Caterina singing "Papa n'as pas voulu," the song she sang during her first appearance in 1936.
2003 March: With a surprise appearance, as a duet partner of her son Eric van Aro jr. on the "Paolo Limiti Show" in Italy, Caterina decides to retire.
http://www.caterinavalente.com/picts/Valente%20Bio%20English.pdf