Renato Cioni (15 April 1929 – 4 March 2014) was an Italian operatic lyric tenor renowned for his interpretations of the Italian repertory. Born in Portoferraio on the Isle of Elba, Cioni was the son of a fisherman. He pursued his musical education at the Cherubini Conservatory in Florence. In 1956, he gained significant recognition after winning an international voice contest organized by the Rome Opera, which led to his stage debut at Spoleto as Edgardo in "Lucia di Lammermoor." That same year, he appeared as Pinkerton in a television production of "Madama Butterfly" alongside Anna Moffo.

Cioni's career flourished with performances in major Italian cities such as Rome, Naples, and Milan, where he made his La Scala debut in 1961 as Pinkerton under the direction of Gianandrea Gavazzeni. Internationally, he debuted in the United States in 1959 at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia and performed at Carnegie Hall in New York. He also appeared at the San Francisco Opera in 1961 and made his UK debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in 1962. His Metropolitan Opera debut came in 1970 as Pollione.

Cioni recorded several operas, including "Lucia di Lammermoor" and "Rigoletto" with Joan Sutherland in 1961. He also performed in a notable production of "La traviata" at La Scala in 1964, which was released commercially. Despite his initial success, Cioni's career was affected by his lack of formal vocal training, which led to a decline in his vocal abilities. He continued to perform sporadically, including a controversial concert in Finale Ligure in 1980.

Renato Cioni passed away in Portoferraio in 2014, survived by his wife Loretta and their four children. His legacy remains as one of the notable Italian tenors of the 20th century.