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((short description|Scottish singer (1963–1999)))
((Use British English|date=August 2013))
((Use dmy dates|date=December 2019))
((Infobox musical artist  <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name            = Lena Zavaroni
| image           = Lena Zavaroni (1974).jpg
| caption         = Lena Zavaroni at the age of 10 in 1974, standing in front of a miniature of the [[Peace Palace]] in [[Madurodam]]
| image_size      =
| background      = solo_singer
| birth_name      = Lena Hilda Zavaroni
| alias           =
| birth_date      = ((birth date|df=y|1963|11|4)) 
| birth_place     = [[Greenock]], [[Renfrewshire (historic)|Renfrewshire]], Scotland
| death_date      = ((death date and age|df=y|1999|10|1|1963|11|4))
| death_place     = [[Heath, Cardiff|Heath]], [[Cardiff]], Wales<ref name="BBC1" />
| origin          = [[Rothesay, Argyll and Bute|Rothesay]], [[Isle of Bute]], Scotland
| genre           =
| occupation      = Singer
| years_active    = 1974–1989<ref name="BBC2"/>
| label           =
| associated_acts =
| website         =
))

'''Lena Hilda Zavaroni'''<ref>''The Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women. From the earliest times to 2004''. Edited by Elizabeth Ewan, Sue Innes and Sian Reynolds. Edinburgh, Scotland: Edinburgh University Press, 2006</ref> (4 November 1963 – 1 October 1999) was a Scottish singer and television show host. At age 10, with her album ''Ma! (He's Making Eyes at Me)'', she was the youngest person in history to have an album in the top 10 of the [[UK Albums Chart]]. Later she starred in her own television series, made numerous TV guest-star appearances, and appeared on stage. From the age of 13, Zavaroni suffered [[anorexia nervosa]] and developed [[Major depressive disorder|clinical depression]] when she was 15. Following an operation to cure her depression, Zavaroni died at the age of 35 from pneumonia on 1 October 1999.

==Life and career==
===Early life===
[[File:Zavaroni's Cafe, Rothesay - geograph.org.uk - 908937.jpg|thumb|The family business in Rothesay, Zavaroni's Cafe]]
Zavaroni was born in [[Greenock]], [[Renfrewshire (historic)|Renfrewshire]], and grew up in the small town of [[Rothesay, Bute|Rothesay]] on the [[Isle of Bute]]. Her parents owned a [[fish and chip shop]]. Her father Victor (b. 1939) played the guitar and her mother Hilda (née Jordan) (((circa|1940)) – 1989) sang. Her grandfather Alfredo had emigrated from Italy.<ref name="BBC1">((cite web |title=Child star Lena dies at 35 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/463512.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=2 October 1999 |access-date=31 July 2013))</ref>

Zavaroni began singing at the age of two. She was discovered in the summer of 1973 by record producer [[Tommy Scott (Scottish musician)|Tommy Scott]], who was on holiday in Rothesay and heard her singing in a band with her father and uncle. Scott contacted impresario [[Phil Solomon (music executive)|Phil Solomon]], which led to his partner Dorothy Solomon becoming Zavaroni's manager.((Citation needed|date=January 2019))

===Musical career===
((refimprove section|date=June 2022))
In 1974, Zavaroni appeared on ''[[Opportunity Knocks (UK TV series)|Opportunity Knocks]]'' (hosted by [[Hughie Green]]) and won the show for a record-breaking five weeks running. She followed this with the album ''[[Ma! (He's Making Eyes at Me)]]'', a collection of classic and then-recent pop standards which reached number 8 in the UK Albums Chart. She remains the youngest person to have an album in the top 10, having reached the position at 10 years, 146 days old.<ref name="BBC2">((cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/463549.stm |title=Tragic Zavaroni ruined by illness |publisher=BBC News |date=2 October 1999 |access-date=31 July 2013))</ref>((not in citation given|date=February 2023))

Zavaroni sang at a Hollywood charity show with [[Frank Sinatra]] and [[Lucille Ball]] in 1974, at which Ball said: "You're special. Very special and very, very good", although some sources((who|date=June 2022)) attribute the words to Sinatra. Following this, Zavaroni guest-starred on ''[[The Carol Burnett Show]]'', and on 4 June 1974, ''[[The Tonight Show]]''.<ref>((Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZnmGZTlZu0|title=Lena The Tonight Show |date=4 June 1974|access-date=19 September 2023|via=[[YouTube]]))</ref> She also appeared on ''[[Morecambe and Wise|The Morecambe and Wise Show]]'', the 29 May 1975 episode of ''[[The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club]]'', in the 1976 ''[[Royal Variety Performance|Royal Variety Show]]'' and performed at the [[White House]] for U.S. President [[Gerald Ford]]. Signed to the [[Soul music|soul]]-oriented [[Stax Records]] label in the United States, Zavaroni was not especially successful in America despite the praise and television appearances; her ''Ma'' album did not enter the charts, and its title single only reached number 91 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] during a four-week chart run in the summer of 1974.((Citation needed|date=February 2023))

===Stage and television career===
While attending London's [[Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts|Italia Conti Academy stage school]], Zavaroni met and became long-term friends with another young star, [[Bonnie Langford]].((Citation needed|date=June 2022)) They starred in the ITV special ''[[Lena and Bonnie]]''.<ref name="Bio2">[http://elvispelvis.com/lenazavaroni.htm#obit Fuller Up Obituary.] ((Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060424052907/http://elvispelvis.com/lenazavaroni.htm#obit |date=24 April 2006 )) Retrieved 21 April 2006</ref> In September 1978, the BBC broadcast ''Lena Zavaroni on Broadway''.<ref>''Radio Times'', 2–8 September 1978</ref>

In 1979, Zavaroni had her own TV series on the BBC titled ''[[Lena Zavaroni and Music]]'' and from 1980 to 1982 she had a TV series titled ''[[Lena (TV Show)|Lena]]''.((cn|date=June 2022))

===Later years===
From the age of 13, Zavaroni suffered from anorexia nervosa. While she was at stage school, her weight dropped to four stone (25&nbsp;kg, 56&nbsp;lbs). She blamed this on the pressure placed upon her to fit into costumes while at the same time "developing as a woman".<ref name="BBC2"/> She continued to have anorexia throughout the 1980s.

In 1989, Zavaroni married computer consultant Peter Wiltshire. The couple settled in north London but separated 18 months later. Also in 1989, Zavaroni's mother Hilda died of a tranquilliser overdose, and a fire destroyed all of her show business mementos.<ref name="BBC2"/>

After the breakup of her marriage, Zavaroni moved to [[Hoddesdon]], Hertfordshire, to be nearer to her father and his second wife. By this time, she was living on state benefits and, in 1999, was accused of stealing a 50p packet of [[Gelatin dessert|jelly]], but the charges were later dropped.<ref name="BBC2"/>

===Health issues and death===
[[File:Lena Zavaroni grave Hoddesdon.jpg|thumb|upright|Lena Zavaroni's grave in [[Hoddesdon Cemetery]] in 2018]]
Zavaroni underwent drug treatments and received [[electroconvulsive therapy]] in an attempt to end her depression. She begged doctors to operate on her to relieve her depression. Although the operation would not cure her anorexia, she was desperate for it to proceed, and threatened suicide if it did not (she also took a drug overdose).<ref name="BBC4">((cite web |title=Inquest told of star's suicide threat |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/554625.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=8 December 1999 |access-date=31 July 2013))</ref>

In September 1999, Zavaroni was admitted to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff for the psychosurgical operation. It took place on 7 September and was described as "pioneering".<ref name="BBC4"/> After the operation, she appeared to be in satisfactory condition and after a week she was "making telephone calls, cheerful and engaging in conversation", even asking her doctor if he thought there was any chance that she would get back on stage and sing again. However, three weeks after the operation, she contracted pneumonia which saw her weight drop to less than ((convert|5|st|lb kg|spell=in)) and died from bronchial pneumonia on October 1st.((citation needed|date=January 2024))

Although some reports said that the surgery was a lobotomy (also known as a leucotomy), the hospital said that it was not, and the treatment was intended for depression rather than anorexia as was rumoured at the time.<ref name="BBC4"/><ref name="BBC3">((cite web |title=Star dies following brain surgery |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/463655.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=4 October 1999 |access-date=31 July 2013))</ref>

Her funeral took place at the Roman Catholic Church of St Augustine in Hoddesdon on 15 October 1999, and she was buried later that day at [[Hoddesdon Cemetery]] in Hertfordshire.<ref name="BBC4"/>

==Discography==
((refimprove section|date=June 2022))
===Albums===
*''[[Ma! (He's Making Eyes at Me)]]''<ref name="album1a">[http://www.discogs.com/Lena-Zavaroni-Ma-Hes-Making-Eyes-At-Me/master/125478 Ma! (He's Making Eyes at Me)] at [[discogs]]</ref><ref name="album1b">[http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Pickwick-Group-Ltd/CDs-/_i.html?_nkw=Lena+Zavaroni&submit=Search&_fsub=2702663013&_sid=1080645933 Ma! (He's Making Eyes At Me)] at [[Pickwick Records|Pickwick Group ebay store]]</ref>
*''[[If My Friends Could See Me Now (Lena Zavaroni album)|If My Friends Could See Me Now]]''
*''[[Presenting Lena Zavaroni]]''
*''[[Songs Are Such Good Things]]''
*''[[Lena Zavaroni and Her Music]]''
*''[[Hold Tight, It's Lena]]''

Compilations and live albums
*''The Lena Zavaroni Collection''<ref name="album3">[http://www.discogs.com/Lena-Zavaroni-The-Lena-Zavaroni-Collection/release/993915 The Lena Zavaroni Collection] at discogs</ref> – [[Pickwick Records|Pickwick]] released a two-record set in 1976, made up of her first two albums.
*''[[Lena Zavaroni in South Africa]]''

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Year
! style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Title
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions
! style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
!width=50|((center| <small>[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]</small><ref>[http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/lena%20zavaroni Lena Zavaroni] at [[The Official Charts Company]]</ref><ref>[http://www.45cat.com/artist/lena-zavaroni Lena Zavaroni] at 45cat</ref>))
!width=50|((center|<small> [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]</small>))<ref name=aus>((cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=348))</ref>
!width=50|((center|<small> [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]</small>))
|- 
|| 1974
| "[[Ma! He's Making Eyes at Me|Ma! (He's Making Eyes at Me)]]"
| ((center|10))
| ((center|90))
| ((center|91))
| ''[[Ma! (He's Making Eyes at Me)]]''
|-
|| 1974
| "(You've Got) Personality"
| ((center|33))
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| non-album single
|- 
|| 1975
| "You're Breaking My Heart"
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| non-album single
|- 
|| 1975
| "Music Music Music"
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| ''[[If My Friends Could See Me Now (Lena Zavaroni album)|If My Friends Could See Me Now]]''
|- 
|| 1975
| "Smile"
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| non-album single
|- 
|| 1976
| "Some of These Days"
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| non-album single
|- 
|| 1977
| "Air Love"
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| ''[[Presenting Lena Zavaroni]]''
|- 
|| 1978
| "I Should've Listened to Mama"
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| ''[[Songs Are Such Good Things]]''
|- 
|| 1979
| "Somewhere South of Macon"
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| non-album single
|- 
|| 1980
| "Jump Down Jimmy"
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| non-album single
|- 
|| 1980
| "Will He Kiss Me Tonight?"
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| non-album single
|- 
|| 1981
| "Roses and Rainbows"
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| non-album single
|- 
|| 1982
| "Hold Tight!"
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| ((center|-))
| ''[[Hold Tight, It's Lena]]''
|}

==References==
((Reflist))

==External links==
((Commons category))
* ((IMDb name|1078354))
* ((BBC Online|id=music/artists/aff837a0-055d-4ed2-b894-676b6930f755|title=Lena Zavaroni))
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120913142507/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2ba1d4ce38 Lena Zavaroni] at British Film Institute

((Lena Zavaroni))

((Authority control))

((DEFAULTSORT:Zavaroni, Lena))
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:1999 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from pneumonia in Wales]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts]]
[[Category:Italian British musicians]]
[[Category:People from Greenock]]
[[Category:People from Rothesay, Bute]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish women singers]]
[[Category:Scottish child singers]]
[[Category:Scottish people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Stax Records artists]]
[[Category:Mezzo-sopranos]]
[[Category:Scottish Roman Catholics]]

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