Background
He was born in Angus, Ontario.
He was born in Angus, Ontario.
Panetta began singing at age five inspired by Elvis Presley. While attending Saint Elizabeth Catholic High School Panetta collaborated with classical vocalist Natalie Choquette for her record "Terra Mia" and that same year performed at the Beaches Jazz Festival in Toronto making him one of the youngest performers to ever take the stage at the event. In 2008 Panetta was signed by former Canadian Idol judge Farley Flex and after recording a short demo Civil Defense released his first independent popular-rock record titled "Unleashed" in 2011.
A year later in 2012 he was selected to perform at the "Una Voce per Padre Pio" (A Voice for Padre Pio in the World) tribute concert in Pietrelcina, Italy honoring the late Luciano Pavarotti.
Following the Italian tribute concert and a performance at the Brampton Powerade Centre, he released his second independent record titled "The Closer I Get"
Although classically trained in both opera and jazz, Panetta lends himself to a variety of different genres including. People’s-rock, alternative rock and folk.
In addition to English, he sings in Italian, French, Spanish and German. Currently residing in Toronto, Ontario Panetta graduated from Humber College in 2013.
In October 2006 he received a bursary award from the York Region Media Group Celebration of the Arts, and as of 2010 has performed at over 830 events including. The Semaine Italienne Festival in Montreal, Quebec the SOS Abruzzo-Earthquake Relief gala, the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Calgary United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund charity gala.
