Hermes Davide Fastino Croatto Martinis, known as Tony Croatto, was born on 2 March 1940, in Attimis, Italy. He began his musical career at age 19 with his siblings Nelly and Tim, forming the pop group Los TNT. The trio became popular in Uruguay, Argentina, and Spain, recording songs like “Eso, eso, eso” for RCA Records. After Tim left in 1966, Nelly and Tony continued as the duo Nelly y Tony until 1974, when Nelly retired. Croatto then moved to Puerto Rico and in 1975 co-founded the nueva trova group Haciendo Punto en Otro Son. He released numerous solo albums, including Felicidades (1975). One of his notable compositions is “Soy de una raza pura” for Lucecita Benítez. Croatto died on 3 April 2005 in Carolina, Puerto Rico, after being diagnosed with lung and brain cancer.
