From a musical family, his father was a big band musician. Gino Vannelli played drums at a young age and after finishing high school studied musical theory at McGill University.
In the late 60s, he signed to RCA Canada under the name Van Elli. He eventually went to Los Angeles, California where he signed with Herb Alpert's A&M Records after chasing Alpert down in the parking lot of A&M Studios. He released his first album with that record label in 1973. Gino's brother, Joe, served as arranger and keyboardist for most of his recording career. At a time when polyphonic synthesizers were non-existent, Joe overdubbed multiple parts to create a texture of sound that was largely progressive for the early 1970s. Gino's 1978 song, "I Just Wanna Stop," written by his brother Joe, earned him an American Grammy Award nomination and reached #4 on the Billboard charts and #1 in Canada. He won Canada's Juno Award for Best Male Artist in 1976 and 1979. Also, Gino and Joe Vannelli shared the Juno Award for Recording Engineer of the Year three times: in 1986 for "Black Cars," in 1987 for "Wild Horses"/"Young Lover," and in 1991 for "The Time of Day"/"Sunset on L.A.". Gino is also noted for being the first Caucasian singer to appear on Soul Train in 1974.
Vannelli's other hits include "Living Inside Myself" (1980) and "Wild Horses" (1987).
In 1990 Gino recorded the album 'Inconsolable man' and toured extensively for the first time in well over a decade. His 'Live in Montreal' album was released in 1991.
In 1993, Québécoise singer Martine St. Clair recorded "Wheels of Life" as a duet with Vanelli as well as a French-language version called "L'Amour Est Loi".
It was some 4 years since his last 'Live' album before Gino released one of his best albums ever, the heavily jazz influenced album 'Yonder Tree'. Issued in 1995 the album received rave reviews from critics and fans alike.
Never one to stand still in terms of style, Gino subsequently released his 'Slow Love' album in 1998. A collection of beautifully crafted romantic songs, slightly more MOR than his previous album.
We had to wait until 2003 for the release of Gino's 'Canto' album. A collection of classical and operatic songs which exemplified his compositional skills as well as his incredible voice. With a symphonic Orchestra he sings in English, Spanish, Italian and French. This album reflected an artist freed from the shackles of commerciality and one able to concentrate on just the music. The result was acclaimed around the world and proved particularly successful in Europe. From the album, Parole Per Mio Padre" (Words For My Father), was so loved by Pope John Paul II that Gino performed the song live at the Vatican in a televised event.
In 2006 Gino released a best of album but again not one to follow the norm, this album entitled 'These are the Days' contained many of his previously best known songs together with 7 completely new pop songs.
He has since released four more albums, the latest of which was released in 2019.
Gino now lives in Oregon with his family where he actively teaches music. He continues to perform across the country today.
Gino Vannelli's official website
Wikipedia entry on Gino Vannelli
Persona Non Grata
Gino Vannelli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Welcome to Heaven, the land of the rich and the free
The water's so clean you can fill your canteen with it cold
Please hand me your locket and I promise you pockets of gold
No soldiers to knock on your door
Now what can a man ask for more
[Chorus:]
Just lay your money down
Persona non grata!
On your knees and kiss the ground
I know all the right people we will make you legal in a flash
I won't take no for an answer no credit no checks just cash
Well it may seem like a lot but I'm really not in it for greed
As god as my witness I have a family and mistress to feed
What price can you put on a dream
Your fortune lies across the stream
[Chorus]
Persona non grata!
Persona non grata!
No soldiers to knock on your door
Now what can a man ask for man
[Chorus]
Persona non grata! [Repeat]
Lay your money down [Repeat]
Persona non grata! [Repeat]
The lyrics of Gino Vannelli's song "Persona Non Grata" describe a world that's portrayed as a utopia where people can escape from the harsh realities of their current lives. The opening lines lament the loss of the past, the cry of the toucan (symbolizing the exotic and the wild), for a more sanitized and perfect world. Vannelli then paints the picture of a promised land with clean water and no soldiers to disrupt the peace. He then tempts people with the promise of riches and quick legal status. Despite the initial promises of generosity and compassion, Vannelli ultimately reveals the ulterior motives of the character he has created in the song. The "price" of his services may seem steep, but he's not doing it solely for the money, claiming he has a family and mistress to feed.
The song ultimately leaves us with a sense of unease, as Vannelli seems to be warning us against the dangers of chasing an unrealistic vision of perfection. In this sense, the song can be seen as a commentary on the allure of conformity and the trade-offs one must make to achieve it. The phrase "persona non grata" (meaning an unwelcome person) takes on a cynical connotation, as Vannelli's character invites people in with open arms, only to exploit them for his own gain.
Line by Line Meaning
Now the cry of the toucan for your man is history
The past is irrelevant, welcome to a new era.
Welcome to Heaven, the land of the rich and the free
A paradise for those with wealth and power.
The water's so clean you can fill your canteen with it cold
The environment is pristine and untouched by pollution.
Please hand me your locket and I promise you pockets of gold
Give me your possessions and I'll make you rich.
No soldiers to knock on your door
A place of safety and security.
Now what can a man ask for more
It's the perfect place to live.
Persona non grata!
Unwanted outsiders are not welcome.
Just lay your money down
You must pay to gain entry.
On your knees and kiss the ground
Subservience is required.
I know all the right people we will make you legal in a flash
I have connections and can bend the rules to my advantage.
I won't take no for an answer no credit no checks just cash
Payment in full is mandatory and non-negotiable.
Well it may seem like a lot but I'm really not in it for greed
I'm not motivated by money, I have other priorities.
As god as my witness I have a family and mistress to feed
I have personal obligations that require financial support.
What price can you put on a dream
You can achieve your hopes and desires here.
Your fortune lies across the stream
Great wealth and success are waiting for you on the other side.
Lay your money down
Payment is still required to enter.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
n0manland
This was a top 20 hit in South Africa. He is a very versatile singer.
RoAr Fox
And I thought that I was the only one who's favourite song from Gino Vannelli was this one! It's good to know that I'm not the only one with great taste in music! :o) Thanks a lot for uploading Kurdtss
reboot_2.0
Great video! Thanx for posting. A question: Does anyone remember an alternative (radio) version of this song that had the last 30 or so seconds follow a more rock sound?
ferchw
He's really got that special touch!!
mary71257
Thanks for sharing this so others can watch...I have a copy of this at home and I love it...
ashleyw34m
He is so good-looking, in addition to the great voice. He looks like an actor whose name escapes me ...
joostisabelle
a great song, off the same album that had Wild Horses
MusicalFeelings
Great !!
MissParker0106
Nice addition. Thank you for uploading.
Timothy Halstead
He also has a song with the lines "Don't give the devil the time of day" AND "Dieing of old age at 17" Anyone know the actual name of that song???