Lena Hilda Zavaroni
The Brightest Star
Lena was born on 04/11/1963 in Greenock/Scotland. She grew up in the small town of Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, where she lived with her father Victor, mother Hilda and younger sister Carla.
Lena came from a family with a musical background. Her father played the guitar and accordion, her mother sang and her uncle played the drums. Her cousin Margaret has a wonderful voice too and often attended talent competitions with Lena when they were younger.
Lena often sang in the family band. In the summer of 1973 she was discovered by Tommy Scott an artist and record producer. He called Phil Solomon the partner of Dorothy solomon to let him know of this little girl with a huge voice
that he had just discovered. Dorothy Solomon later become her manager and Lena moved to live with her in London.
Lena’s first appearance on TV was on Hughie Green’s Opportunity Knocks 1973/74, where she won the viewers vote five weeks running. She was also the youngest person to appear on Top Of The Pops, she sang her hit record Ma! He's Making Eyes At Me, Which reached number 8 in the charts, Lena was only 10 Years old.
Lena recorded her first Album in 1974, Ma! He’s making eyes at me, which was a big hit for such a tiny little girl. See discography for details of Lena’s albums and singles.
Lena attended the Italia Conti Theatre School. It was founded in 1911 which makes it the oldest running theatre school to date.
Lena hit America by storm. Appearing on the Tonight show, where she was described as a shy and unspoiled little girl from Scotland. She also appeared with Jerry Lewis on the MDA Telethon where he described her as a young Judy Garland and quite unbelievable. He said she was captivating they were having her back in the morning on the show. Lena appeared on the Carol Burnett show where she did a little bit of acting (Lena was very versatile), she also appeared on the Cher Show which was a charity show with Frank Sinatra and Lucille ball who said to her "Lena you are special, very special and very very good". Lena then went on to tour Japan where she appeared on a Japanese Television Show and she also sang Ma! In Japanese.
Lena went on to guest on shows Like the Bachelor Show, The Morecambe and Wise Show, Summertime Special, Junior Showtime, The Royal Variety Show Hi Summer and many many more. Lena could only make 40 appearances a year up to the age of 14 which was quite restricting when you are at the height of your career. After 14 it was to double until the age of 16.
Lena did a television show in 1979 at the age of 15, Lena and her music and to follow was her own series in 1980/1981 and 1982. She appeared in panto’s across the country and carried on guesting on various shows. Lena worked with an array of stars such as, Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lewis, Johnny Carson, Shirley Bassey, The Nolans, Morecambe & Wise, Michael Barrymore, Lulu, Rob Hull & Emu the list is endless.
Lena did some advertising, one being for the Skoda, Lena never drove, she took about 10 lessons and gave up. She eventually got around on a scooter.
I knew of Lena Zavaroni when I was a youngster and watched her on television when ever she would appear, my nan and I were fans so we had all her records, my nans favourite was Roses and Rainbows.
After her death the only thing that was broadcast was a documentary on her (The Real Lena Zavaroni). This documentary was pretty much based on her illness, although very informative I believe people would like to have seen more of what made Lena a legend. Lena was larger than life yet very very tiny and only standing at 4f 9”. She had a great sense of humour and this came out in her work. To think that Lena was suffering from Anorexia Nervosa from the age of 13, she did remarkably well to continue working the way she did. She had energy like no other person, she was professional at all time, sweet, lovely, gentle, remarkable a wonderful lady inside and out. Lena also suffered from depression. She was admitted to the University Hospital Of Wales to undergo an operation called a Leucotomy (also know as a Lubotomy) to cure depression (not Anorexia) but unfortunately contracted a chest infection and died of Pneumonia on the 1st October 1999 she 35.
Lena will never be forgotten, thanks to the wonderful websites and the people that have taken the time to upload lots of her shows on Youtube. As a fan I just wanted to show my appreciation to a wonderful and The Brightest Star – Miss Lena Zavaroni - so decided to build a website in her memory as I believe it should live on.