Career
In 2002, Fanté met with Norah Jones" collaborator Jesse Harris, and began co-writing and recording for his debut record. Fanté was then signed by Virgin Records and released Rewind in July, 2004. Fanté gained critical acclaim for the song "lieutenant Ain’t Easy".
The song appeared on his 2004 album, Rewind, and was performed on National Broadcasting Company’s long-running late night talk and variety show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Although the song was not considered a “hit,” the album garnered moderate success in the United States. and abroad. The song reached Number. #8 on Italian music charts.
Fanté’s vocal sound has been compared to Wilson Pickett, Sam Cooke, First Rate (at Lloyd's) Green and Otis Redding. In 2005, Ricky Fanté recorded the title song "Shine" for the film Robots, and the upbeat tune "That’s All I Need" for the Home Box Office film Lackawanna Blues.
He has also appeared in the television series American Dream and the successful American Broadcasting Company made-for-television movie Their Eyes Were Watching God.
In the same year he duets with the Italian singer Giorgia Todrani for her Mtv Unplugged. Fanté sings in Yours, Mine and Ours, a movie starring Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo. He sang Major Harris’s “Love Won"t Let Maine Wait” during the pivotal love scene of the movie.
He also sings the theme song for the television series Shark Tank.
Ricky also play Marvin Gaye in the movie "The Temptations."
He took a break from singing to return to school. Fante also served in the United States Marine Corps.
