Italian singer, actress and TV personality of Albanian origins Anna Oxa was born 64 years ago as Iliriana Hoxha in Bari, is divorced and has 2 children.
Anna started singing when she was a kid in a local piano bar and released her first 45 rpm at the age of 15. The following year, in 1978, she participated at the San Remo Music Festival with the track ‘Un’Emozione Da Poco’, arriving in second place. The song was then released as a single and was very successful, so much so that it was a number one hit in her native Italy, and likewise her debut album which was issued shortly afterwards.
Oxa then collaborated with singers Lucio Dalla & Rino Gaetano and recorded the single ‘Il Pagliaccio Azzurro’ and subsequently her second album and continued gaining popularity in her country. She also starred in a musical movie to promote her album.
During the 80s, Anna returned to participating in the San Remo Festival 6 more times, and succeeded to win the 1989 edition with the song ‘Ti Lasciero`’ sung in duet with Fausto Leali. They then represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest but with a different song, placing 9th.
Oxa proceeded with her career and released 8 albums during the 90s, which led her to achieve more success. She competed 3 times in the San Remo Music Festival and co-hosted it in 1994. Then, in 1999, she was that edition’s winner with the track ‘Senza Pieta`’.
In the last 2½ decades, Anna issued 4 studio albums and 18 singles. She participated 5 more times in the San Remo Festival, the latest being in 2023. Apart from San Remo, since the beginning of her career, Oxa participated 16 times in the Festivalbar and 5 times in the Disco Per L’Estate. Anna has also conducted, competed and guest appeared in numerous TV shows including ‘Azzurro’, ‘Fantastico’, ‘Mai Dire Gol’, ‘Amici di Maria de Filippi’, ‘Top of the Pops’, ‘Tale e Quale Show’, ‘Verissimo’, ‘San Remo Giovani’ and ‘The Voice Senior’.
As awards, Anna won a Telegatto in 1989 and a Premio Lunezia in 2003.
*Image: no infringement intended. Source: amica.it