Hubbry Logo
Jula De PalmaJula De PalmaMain
Open search
Jula De Palma
Community hub
Jula De Palma
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Jula De Palma
Jula De Palma
Jula De Palma
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Jula de Palma in 1961

Iolanda Maria Palma (born 21 April 1931 in Milan), known as Jula De Palma, is an Italian singer.

Biography

[edit]

De Palma began her career in the early 1950s as a radio singer, collaborating with pianist, composer, and showman Lelio Luttazzi. Initially, she favored singing French songs like "C'est si bon," "Maître Pierre," or "Rien dans les mains, rien dans les poches" (composed by Henri Betti). She became popular for her strong voice and her interpretations of various jazz classics. Her albums "Jula in Jazz" (1958) and "Jula in Jazz 2" (1959) contained songs such as "I've Got You Under My Skin," "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)," and "Blues in the Night."

In 1957, she married composer Carlo Lanzi.[1] Two years later, she participated in the "Festival di Sanremo" where her passionate performance of the song "Tua" shocked the audience and the press. Due to its perceived "sexiness," she was barred from appearing on national television (RAI) for several years.

In 1970, she performed at the renowned Sistina Theatre in Rome, singing classics like "That Old Black Magic," "I Won't Dance," and "St. Louis Blues." She also performed the bossa nova tune "Desafinado" and two songs famous by Mina: "Bugiardo e incosciente" and "Non credere." This performance was later released as the album "Jula al Sistina."

After enjoying many years of success, she decided to retire from music in 1974 and relocated to Canada with her family. However, in 2001, she made a brief comeback on Italian television, making a reappearance in the spotlight.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Jula De Palma

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
''Jula De Palma'' is an Italian singer known for her distinctive contralto voice and sophisticated interpretations of jazz standards, American popular songs in English, and French chansons in their original languages. She stands out as a pioneering figure in Italian music for performing at the same level as leading American and French entertainers of her era, while developing an original style that helped modernize Italian popular song and facilitate international acceptance for subsequent Italian performers. Born Jolanda Maria de Palma on April 21, 1931, in Milan, she initially pursued acting, achieving early success in amateur theater including winning a national contest prize alongside actor Alberto Lionello. Her passion for jazz and international repertoire led to a pivotal audition with conductor and pianist Lelio Luttazzi in 1948, resulting in a recording contract with CGD at age seventeen and a shift to professional singing. She gained prominence in the 1950s and 1960s through radio, recordings, and occasional film appearances, where she often performed or contributed songs to soundtracks. De Palma's legacy endures as a myth in the Italian music world, with her work continuing to be referenced and her recordings featured in modern productions decades after her primary active period. Her ability to interpret international material authentically while influencing the evolution of Italian song has cemented her status as one of the most significant vocalists in mid-20th-century Italian entertainment.

Early life

Birth and family background

Jula De Palma was born Jolanda Maria de Palma on April 21, 1931, in Milan, Italy. Her given name was Jolanda Maria de Palma, but she was called Jula (pronounced "Yula") from childhood within her family, a nickname that remained with her and became her professional stage name. She spent her early years in Milan, where she was baptized Jolanda Maria. No further verified details about her parents, siblings, or extended family background are available in primary sources.

Education and early performing interests

Jula De Palma graduated from the Ginnasio Liceo G. Parini in Milan. Through the British Institute in Milan, she obtained a Cambridge Diploma in English language and literature. Her original ambition was to pursue a career in acting. She auditioned for director Irma Vassia and was immediately cast in leading roles in two plays that Vassia's amateur company entered in a national contest. The company, named "La Baracca," featured De Palma alongside Alberto Lionello as the leading actor. In the national contest involving forty amateur companies from across Italy, De Palma and Lionello won first prize as best performers, while "La Baracca" also received first prize as the top company. Despite this early success in amateur theater, De Palma's strongest passion was for singing, particularly jazz and American songs.

Musical career

Radio beginnings and first professional contract

Jula De Palma began her professional singing career in the late 1940s following her signing with CGD in 1948, initially as a radio performer. A pivotal moment occurred in 1948 when she met Teddy Reno, the founder and owner of the CGD record label, who recognized her potential and arranged an audition with Lelio Luttazzi, a young pianist, composer, conductor, and showman already under contract with CGD. The audition proved successful, leading De Palma to sign her first professional contract with CGD, which launched her into the Italian music scene. She quickly established a close collaboration with Lelio Luttazzi on radio broadcasts, where he provided musical direction and accompaniment for her performances. During this early radio phase, De Palma became particularly noted for her interpretations of French chansons, including "C'est si bon", "Maître Pierre", and "Rien dans les mains, rien dans les poches", all composed by Henri Betti. Her strong contralto voice and affinity for jazz and American song standards also distinguished her early work.

Jazz albums and key recordings

Jula De Palma established her reputation as a jazz interpreter with two key studio albums released in the late 1950s. Her first, Jula in Jazz (1958), featured arrangements by pianist and bandleader Lelio Luttazzi and included her versions of American jazz standards such as "Pennies from Heaven," "Night and Day," "I've Got You Under My Skin," and "The Nearness of You." These recordings highlighted her expressive delivery and sophisticated phrasing on classic material. The follow-up album, Jula in Jazz 2 (1959), continued in the same vein, presenting interpretations of songs like "Blues in the Night," "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)," "Just One of Those Things," and others, further showcasing her command of the jazz repertoire. These albums are often regarded as her most significant contributions to jazz recording, distinguished by her contralto voice and specialization in jazz standards. The works remain notable examples of Italian jazz vocalism during that era, blending American songbook material with her distinctive interpretive style.

Sanremo Festival 1959 and RAI ban

In 1959, Jula De Palma competed in the Sanremo Music Festival performing the song "Tua," a love song she delivered with a personal and passionate interpretation that resonated strongly with audiences and critics alike. Despite finishing only fourth in the competition, her performance generated widespread media attention, with her image appearing on numerous magazine covers and newspaper front pages. The sensual nature of her delivery led RAI, the Italian national broadcaster, to deem the song too provocative and impose a veto on its broadcasting. This decision sparked a public controversy and media frenzy, with some observers viewing the interpretation as overly sexy or inappropriate, resulting in her absence from national television for several years. The record nevertheless sold strongly amid the attention. De Palma distanced herself from the scandal, describing it as unmerited and arising solely from her artistic approach to a love song. During a press conference, she threatened legal action against anyone who continued to discuss the incident in the media. Over time, press coverage subsided and RAI lifted its veto.

Major performances and later work

In 1970, De Palma performed a celebrated live concert at Rome's Teatro Sistina, accompanied by Gianni Ferrio's orchestra, showcasing her refined interpretations of jazz standards and Italian songs. The repertoire featured selections such as "That Old Black Magic", "I Won't Dance", "St. Louis Blues", "Desafinado", "Bugiardo e incosciente", and "Non credere". The performance was recorded and released as the album Jula al Sistina. In 1974, after many years of success, she retired from music and moved to Canada with her family. In 2001, De Palma made a brief return to the public eye with an appearance on Paolo Limiti's television program Ci vediamo in TV, where she discussed her career and performed as a guest of honor across two episodes. Her earlier recordings have continued to find new audiences through their inclusion in film soundtracks, including her version of "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" in Nurse Betty (2000) and "Nel Giardino Del Mio Cuore" in Ferrari (2023).

Acting career

Film and television appearances

Jula De Palma made occasional acting appearances in Italian films and television during the 1950s and early 1960s, often in productions that intersected with her musical identity. Her film credits include Napoli piange e ride (1954), where she portrayed Marisa Celli, followed by Lacrime di sposa (1955), Motivo in maschera (1955), Vendicata! (1956), and La canzone più bella (1957), in which she played Luciana. She also appeared in the television series Giallo club - Invito al poliziesco (1960) as Barbara and in Un marito in condominio (1963). In addition to on-screen roles, De Palma provided uncredited vocals as the singing voice for Valentina Cortese in Kean: Genius or Scoundrel (1957). Her musical contributions extended to film soundtracks across several decades, with performances featured in Violent Summer (1959), Copacabana Palace (1962), Nurse Betty (2000), and Ferrari (2023), among others.

Personal life

Marriage and relocation

Jula De Palma married the composer and arranger Carlo Lanzi in 1957. In 1974, after many years of success in her musical career, she retired from performing and relocated to Canada with her family. The move followed a brief period spent in London, after which the Lanzi family settled in Toronto, Ontario—a city De Palma had visited twice previously as a singer and had come to love for its vast scale, abundant nature, lakes, and harmonious blend of skyscrapers and greenery. Her mother (her father having died in 1969), sister, and sister's family also joined the relocation to Toronto from London, though Carlo Lanzi's mother and brother remained in Rome. Over the years, as preceding generations passed away, Toronto became her true home.

Legacy and influence

Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.