Style, sophistication, elegance-where can we find that old-school cool in our consumer culture of instantly disposable celebrity? Time to meet Patrizio Buanne. Tall, dark and handsome, perfectly groomed and impeccably dressed, the clean cut Italian with the rich baritone voice is an enigma. Inspired by the singers of yesteryear, Patrizio harks back to a time when a man would not dream of singing on stage in anything less than a suit, shoes, polished, clean-shaven, hair neatly brushed, with a dab of cologne behind the ears. Nothing strange about that, you might say. Except that Patrizio is only 26 years old - and hopelessly devoted to his art - romantic crooning.

In 2003 Patrizio was introduced to music producer Christian Seitz. They both shared the same passion and vision for music, so bravely quitting his burgeoning TV career they went to work on the album - going into London's world famous Abbey Road studios with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to realize his dream. 18 months later the result is "L'Italiano" (The Italian"), an album mixing traditional Neapolitan romance and singing tradition with Italian standards from the 50's and 60's - songs barely known outside of Italy but destined to become favorites for a new generation. To listen to Patrizio is to immerse yourself in the soundtrack of a world familiar from film and television - from Federico Fellini, Sophia Loren to the Godfather, Goodfellas and The Sopranos. "My music is as Italian as pasta in an Italian kitchen," says Patrizio. "These songs are timeless classics. To me, crooning is more than a way of singing; it's a way of life! And I want to share that with a new audience."

Eddie O'Louglhin of Next Plateau was introduced to Patrizio by Christian Seitz in 2003 and was so impressed he immediately orchestrated an arrangement for Patrizio worldwide with Universal Records. Patrizio's album The Italian will be released in the U.S. January 2006 on Next Plateau / Universal Records.