Antonio Morese (9 December 1935 – 5 December 2021), known professionally as Toni Santagata, was an Italian folk singer, composer, comedian, and actor.
Born in Sant'Agata di Puglia, Foggia, Santagata debuted as a comedian at the Derby Club in Milan, with the show Toni Santagata e il suo cabaret, later also released as an album.
[1] In the following years he embraced folk music, both recording some classics of the Apulian tradition and composing songs.
[1] In 1973 Santagata won the folk section of Canzonissima with "Lu maritiello"; the song was also his major hit, peaking at the sixth place on the Italian hit parade.
[1][2] Santagata died on 5 December 2021, at the age of 85.