Sicilian musician Pino Leto declares his love for Scotland

Nov 4 2010 By Carla Callaghan

Pino Leto

SICILIAN singer and musician, Pino Leto is taking Scotland by storm with his immensely popular gigs – and growing celebrity fan base.

The singer moved from Sicily to Glasgow with his Scottish wife, Sharon and their son Sonny and settled in Cumbernauld.

Pino is so famous for his music throughout Italy that he gets stopped in the street there, and it would appear the talented musician is gaining more and more Scottish fans by the minute.

The singer and dad-of-one has brought his array of songs to piano bars and restaurants all over Scotland which has proved very popular.

The 45-year-old even counts Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr as a close friend.

Supporting fellow Italian singer, Zucchero at his gig in Glasgow is one of Pino’s highlights of his career.

He said: “I had the honour to support Zucchero, he is one of my favourite artists.

“I still couldn't believe it, even weeks after I did it - I talked to him and had dinner together which was fantastic, he is not a big diva - he is like one of the guys.”

Managing his 16-year-old son’s rock band Well Known Secret is also top of Pino’s priorities, but does admit he would love Sonny to follow in his footsteps: “It is a completely different genre for Sonny’s band - I would love for Sonny to do it, but I never push him into anything.”

Speaking about whether his fame in Scotland will reach the heights it has in Italy and Sicily, Pino said: “I am not under any illusion, if anything I will probably be more known at the piano bars - I am playing all over Scotland at the moment.

“They seem to like me, so that is good.”

Whilst on a trip to Sicily, Pino was introduced to Jim Kerr, who now resides there by a mutual friend. The pair are close companions and both are big fans of one another’s work.

Speaking about Jim, Pino said: “I met Jim Kerr at his hotel in Sicily and we have become good friends, when I go back to Sicily I go and see him.
“He is a nice guy, another one who is not a diva.

“I would love to do something with Jim Kerr but I don't think I would be that lucky in my lifetime.”

Moving from sun-soaked Sicily to the rainy streets of Scotland would be hard for anyone, but Pino insists Scotland is his second home: “I love Scotland, the only thing I don't love about Scotland is the weather!

“I am like an adopted Glaswegian, I love Glasgow - it is my town now, I wouldn't change it for anything else.”

For tour dates and to hear Pino’s songs, please visit his MySpace page at www.myspace.com/pinoletomusic