Selim Valentino

Selim Valentino is an artist from South Africa.

He is known for his warm, richly textured voice and his evergreen repertoire of heartfelt ballads that have enchanted both local and international audiences since his introduction into the music scene.

A burning desire to be amongst the best in his genre led him to the United Kingdom while still in his 20’s, where he immersed himself in music, singing for almost five hours a day.

In 2001 Valentino returned to South Africa and under the tutelage of vocal specialist, the late Jean Stuart, a retired opera singer, who honed his natural talent. In the early 2000’s he starred in many leading roles in musical theatre productions such as The Sound of Music, Annie Get Your Gun and The King and I.

Veteran songwriter/producer and radio director Clive Ridgway spotted the unique quality in his voice and together the two embarked on a journey that culminated in a record deal with the international label EMI Music, resulting in the release of his debut classical crossover album Cry For Love in 2012 (under the name Selim Kagee).

Valentino collaborated with the world- renowned group Celtic Woman on their 2012 Christmas album and he was invited to perform at the prestigious Sergio Franchi Concert in Connecticut, USA in 2014. During the same year he won the hearts of all South Africans by performing the South African National Anthem live on international television from Perth, Australia for the Boks vs Wallabies rugby match.

With an elegant and expressive stage presence, Valentino has since gone on to produce his own orchestra concerts, performing evergreen ballads and stirring originals using his unique combination of both pop and operatic vocal styles.

Classic Feel Magazine described him best, “an impressive new, proudly South African addition to the adult contemporary and crossover fields of which these four greats (Bocelli, Groban, Pavarotti and Bublé) are among the most well-known exemplars”.