Renato Pagliari, best known as one half of Renée And Renato, who had a Christmas number one with 'Save Your Love', has died aged 69.
Born in Rome, Pagliari was working as a waiter in Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands when he was spotted by songwriter Johnny Edward on TV talent show New Faces in 1975. Edwards decided then that Pagliari would be perfect to sing the male part of 'Save Your Love', but it took until 1982 for the song to actually be recorded. It went to number one in the UK singles charts for four weeks in December the same year, by which time Renée (real name Hilary Lester) had already left to form another band.
Despite this, the duo released two more singles, 'Just One More Kiss' and 'Jesus Loves Us All', neither of which managed to live up to the success of 'Save Your Love'. Pagliari also sang on the 'Just One Cornetto' TV advert for Walls, but could most recently be seen singing in his son's Italian restaurant, Renato's, in Tamworth.
Pagliari died in hospital last week after surgery for a brain tumour. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter and three grandsons.