Tonina

Tonina Saputo is an outstanding singer, composer, bassist, and poet. Born in San Diego, California, she grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, where she still resides today.

As the daughter of a Ugandan father and a Sicilian mother, she combines diverse cultural and musical influences. Her remarkable sense of rhythm, melody, and extraordinary vocal interpretation make her music a captivating experience, reflected in millions of streams on Spotify.

As a vocalist, she impresses with her charismatic voice, often compared to that of Billie Holiday. As a bassist, she is frequently likened to greats such as Esperanza Spalding.

Tonina’s music blends genres such as soul, jazz, pop, and flamenco, offering an intensely emotional experience. In addition to her solo career, she performs with her trio or quartet, showcasing her striking voice and virtuosity on the bass. She is renowned for her interpretations in various languages and her ability to seamlessly merge traditional and modern musical styles.

Short Bio
Tonina began playing the double bass at the age of nine, inspired by her father and influenced by her parents’ diverse musical tastes, ranging from jazz and soul to classical music.

Her education included eleven years of classical music training. She performed with prestigious ensembles such as the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Missouri All-State Orchestra. Early highlights of her career included performances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York.

At the age of 17, she was accepted into the renowned Berklee College of Music, where she studied bass, songwriting, and Africana Studies. She later deepened her skills at Berklee’s Valencia campus in Spain, where she worked with Grammy-winning producer Javier Limón. Limón produced her debut album, Black Angel, released in 2018. This album reflects her multicultural influences and features songs in English, Spanish, and Italian.