Antonio Morese (9 December 1935 – 5 December 2021), known professionally as Toni Santagata, was an Italian folk singer, composer, comedian, and actor. He was sometimes credited as Tony Santagata.
Life and career
Born in Sant'Agata di Puglia, Foggia, Santagata debuted as a comedian at the Derby Club in Milan, with the show Toni Santagata e il suo cabaret, later also released as an album. In the following years he embraced folk music, both recording some classics of the Apulian tradition and composing songs. In 1973 Santagata won the folk section of Canzonissima with "Lu maritiello"; the song was also his major hit, peaking at the sixth place on the Italian hit parade.
Santagata died on 5 December 2021, at the age of 85.