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BIOGRAPHY
Rossana Spallino
is a native of Sicily, born in Bivona, province of Agrigento. The city of
Agrigento is Tampa’s sister city in Sicily. Rossana is the daughter of Franco
Spallino and Giovanna Pupello. Musical talent is a thread woven into her
family. Rossana's uncle Luigi Pupello plays the piano, her younger brother
Fabio Spallino has performed in bands playing the keyboard and drums and her
cousin Piero Lattuca has been her accompanying pianist for many of her
performances throughout Sicily.
Rossana began formally singing at age 13 when she was chosen to perform solos in
the musicals “Caino e Abele,” and “La Barunissa di Carini.” Both musicals toured
throughout Sicily and Rossana made her television debut when "Caino e Abile" was
aired on the Italian television network Rai.
Rossana soon found herself singing for summer festivals, holiday events,
weddings and countless cabarets in Sicily. From Palermo to Sciacca, Rossana's
voice has resonated through many towns in Sicily including Bivona, Alessandria
Della Rocca, Santo Stefano Quisquina, Prizzi, Corleone and many others. Some of
the summer festivals she has sung for include the Festa di Santa Rosalia, Festa
della Donna and the Festa di San Valentino.
A highlight of her singing career was performing at a special event to honor the
Italian designer Antonio Berardi, who is also from the province of Agrigento,
Sicily.
Rossana moved to the United States in 1999 after marrying Jim Callan. The couple
met while her husband was in Sicily visiting his relatives who reside in Bivona
and Alessandria Della Rocca. Jim is of the families Chiaramonte and DeRosa, who
now reside in the Chicago area and the Tampa Bay area. Currently Rossana and
her husband live in Tampa, Florida with their daughter Giovanna & son Francesco.
Rossana has sung in Ybor City, Tampa’s national historic landmark district at
the Tampa Sister Cities Committee annual dinner, the annual Italian Fest, and Tampa’s first Italian
heritage day. Rossana has also performed at the Tampa Convention Center for the
Krewe of Sant’Yagos Debutante ball. Rossana has sung at various events and other
functions in the Tampa Bay and Chicago area as well. Rossana has enjoyed sharing her voice
with countless audiences, who have embraced her Italian voice and lyrics.
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