Fortunato Isgro

About Fortunato Isgro

 

Biography

 

My name is Fortunato Isgro, however my nick name is Nato and I was born in the Gold Coast Hospital in Queensland on 17th March 1983. I grew up on the Gold Coast as a child where I went to school at Coombabah Primary and Coombabah High School.

 

My musical ambition was born when I started playing the keyboard at the age of ten, where I received piano lessons. I had difficulties with my piano teacher, as she insisted I learn to read music, however I found it much more comfortable and easier to play by ear. Needless to say I didn’t continue with piano lessons for very long, and decided to teach myself, with some help from influential family and friends who also played by ear.  I continued playing the piano and started singing at the age of twelve, where my father would teach me traditional Italian songs.

 

My first musical performance was at the Paradise Point Bowls Club on the Gold Coast, when I was at the age of sixteen.  I performed here on a weekly basis on Saturday nights, where my music was well received. After a short while news spread about me and I received additional work at Paradise Point Bowls Club, a weekly job at Musgrave Hills Bowls Club and a monthly job at the Italo-Australian Club in Broadbeach. At this stage in life I decided to leave school so that I could commit myself to music and working five nights a week with my father as a professional fisherman.

 

At the age of eighteen I moved to Melbourne, where I lived for five years. While in Melbourne I played at many reception venues such as Dandenong Grand international, Ferraro Reception, and Melrose, just to name a few, as well as at many Italian pension clubs for dinner dances and special occasions. In the last year that I lived in Melbourne I started playing music in a reception band, where I performed at many weddings, engagements, christenings and parties.

 

In 2006 at the age of 23 I returned to the Gold Coast, where I started my year off by being invited to Tasmania to perform for an Italian festival with Ricky Daniel, which I really enjoyed.  The Italo-Australian Club heard of my return and signed me up to a contract where I played for every Saturday night of the year. In September of that year I was approached by the Italo- Australia Centre in Brisbane where I was offered to play for every second Sunday of the year, which I gladly accepted as I knew there was a greater number of people to which I could perform.

 

While playing in Brisbane I was approached by Tavernetta Function Centre and I accepted to play there for their Friday Night Buffet every two months. Since being there I have received an increasing number of jobs for weddings, christenings, birthdays and parties.

 

My first radio Interview was in May of 2007 with 4EB 98.1FM, where I sang and had an interview with Grace De Marco of the Italian program. In this interview I was able to explain what I do and where I perform. The radio station continues to play my CD’s on the Italian program frequently.

 

In June 2007 I also got in touch with 3ZZZ, a radio station in Melbourne and I sent them my CD’s, which they also play on their Italian program.

 

In July of 2007 I went on holiday to Italy, where I performed at a festival and also played at a bar in Sicily for four nights, which was a great learning experience.

 

By playing in Brisbane my name is slowly getting around and more people are getting to know who I am and what music I play. In September I was approached by the Brisbane Symphonic band to perform with them as a special guest, which went very well, and was also the first time I sang at the AMFE House Hall.

 

One day as I was sitting playing the piano I received a phone call from a radio station from Melbourne 96.5 Inner FM a very good man by the name of Ron Lopes, asking me if I would like to come on talk back radio one Saturday with another great man by the name of Tony Tardio, of course I said that I would love too. Up to this day that is one of the most memorable interviews that I have had. I then got invited on to Stereo 97.4 where I have another great chat with Tony Tardio.

 

In July 2008 I was asked to go to Melbourne to do a floor show at the Vezini club which went very well and I have been asked back for the following year. In this time that I was in Melbourne I met a very well known artist by the name of Tony Pantano, which I got an invitation to go sing with Tony as a special guest at the Vibe Café in St Kilda. From this time I have been regularly travelling to Melbourne to perform with Tony Pantano as a special artist.

 

In November 2008 I was invited as a guest on Tony Tardio’s program on Rete Italia. Rete Italia is the largest and most broadcast Italian radio station in Australia which has over 500,000 listeners. Since November I have been asked back onto the station, and have performed live in the studio, which was well received by audiences.

 

I have many up and coming events which will broaden my experience, including being a guest performer for the Ingham Italian Festival in May 2009, where I will perform for a dinner dance and a night show. I will also be travelling to the Lismore Italian Club to perform to the Italian residents there.

 

 

Influences

Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, Engelbert Humperdinck

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