Toto Cutugno
Encyclopedia
Salvatore "Toto" Cutugno (born July 7, 1943) is an Italian
pop singer-songwriter and musician.
, Tuscany
, to a Sicilian father and a Tuscan mother. Shortly after his birth the family moved to La Spezia
(Liguria
).
He began his musical career as a drummer, but later formed a band that performed his own songs. He also had cowritten for popular French-American singer Joe Dassin
, contributing some of his most famous songs, including "L'été indien" ("Africa"), "Et si tu n'existais pas" and "Le Jardin du Luxembourg" (written with Vito Pallavicini
). He also co-wrote Dalida
's "Laissez moi danser" (Voglio l'anima"), which became a Platinum record shortly after its release.
In 1976 Cutugno participated for the first time in the Sanremo Music Festival coming up with 3rd place with his band Albatros with the song, Volo 504. He then won in 1980 with the song "Solo noi", and again in 1983, with his smash hit, "L'Italiano
", and subsequently finished second in six editions: in 1984 with the song "Serenata" ("Serenade"), in 1987 with "Figli" ("Sons" or "Children"), in 1988 with "Emozioni" ("Emotions"), in 1989 with the song "Le mamme" ("The Mamas"), in 1990 with Ray Charles
with the song "Gli amori" ("Loves", but entitled "Good Love Gone Bad" in Charles' version) and in 2005 with Annalisa Minetti with the song "Come noi nessuno al mondo" ("No One Else in the World Like Us"). Toto Cutugno participated in the festival a total of 13 times.
He won the Eurovision Song Contest
in 1990 with his own composition "Insieme: 1992
" ("Together: 1992"), a ballad which celebrated European political integration. Along with Gigliola Cinquetti
, Italy's only other Eurovision winner from 1964, he presented the 1991 contest, which was staged in Rome
as a result of his victory.
Cutugno may be best-known for his worldwide hit song, "L'Italiano (Lasciatemi Cantare)", which was on his hit CD, "I Grandi Successi".
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
pop singer-songwriter and musician.
Biography
Toto Cutugno was born in FosdinovoFosdinovo
Fosdinovo is a comune in the Province of Massa-Carrara in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 110 km northwest of Florence and about 15 km northwest of Massa....
, Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, to a Sicilian father and a Tuscan mother. Shortly after his birth the family moved to La Spezia
La Spezia
La Spezia , at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the Liguria region of northern Italy, is the capital city of the province of La Spezia. Located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea, it is one of the main Italian military and commercial harbours and hosts one of Italy's biggest military...
(Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
).
He began his musical career as a drummer, but later formed a band that performed his own songs. He also had cowritten for popular French-American singer Joe Dassin
Joe Dassin
Joseph Ira Dassin , more commonly known as Joe Dassin, was an American singer-songwriter best known for his French songs of the 1960s and 1970s.-Biography:...
, contributing some of his most famous songs, including "L'été indien" ("Africa"), "Et si tu n'existais pas" and "Le Jardin du Luxembourg" (written with Vito Pallavicini
Vito Pallavicini
Vito Pallavicini was an Italian lyricist.Born in Vigevano, he wrote numerous songs, during his career for Adriano Celentano , Caterina Caselli and many others. He died at the age of 83....
). He also co-wrote Dalida
Dalida
Dalida , born with Italian name of Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti, was a world-famous singer and actress born in Egypt with Italian origins but naturalised French with the name Yolanda Gigliotti. She spent her early years in Egypt amongst the Italian Egyptian community, but she lived most of her adult...
's "Laissez moi danser" (Voglio l'anima"), which became a Platinum record shortly after its release.
In 1976 Cutugno participated for the first time in the Sanremo Music Festival coming up with 3rd place with his band Albatros with the song, Volo 504. He then won in 1980 with the song "Solo noi", and again in 1983, with his smash hit, "L'Italiano
L'Italiano
L'Italiano is an Italian pop song by Toto Cutugno released 1983. It was his biggest international hit and is his best known composition...
", and subsequently finished second in six editions: in 1984 with the song "Serenata" ("Serenade"), in 1987 with "Figli" ("Sons" or "Children"), in 1988 with "Emozioni" ("Emotions"), in 1989 with the song "Le mamme" ("The Mamas"), in 1990 with Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
with the song "Gli amori" ("Loves", but entitled "Good Love Gone Bad" in Charles' version) and in 2005 with Annalisa Minetti with the song "Come noi nessuno al mondo" ("No One Else in the World Like Us"). Toto Cutugno participated in the festival a total of 13 times.
He won the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
in 1990 with his own composition "Insieme: 1992
Insieme: 1992
"Insieme: 1992" was the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1990, in Zagreb, Croatia , performed in Italian by Toto Cutugno for Italy, that country's second victory in the Contest.-Eurovision:...
" ("Together: 1992"), a ballad which celebrated European political integration. Along with Gigliola Cinquetti
Gigliola Cinquetti
Gigliola Cinquetti is an Italian singer, TV presenter and journalist.-Biography:At the age of 16 she won the Sanremo Music Festival in 1964 singing "Non ho l'età" , with music composed by Nicola Salerno and lyrics by Mario Panzeri...
, Italy's only other Eurovision winner from 1964, he presented the 1991 contest, which was staged in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
as a result of his victory.
Cutugno may be best-known for his worldwide hit song, "L'Italiano (Lasciatemi Cantare)", which was on his hit CD, "I Grandi Successi".
Discography
- Albatros (1976)
- Come ieri, come oggi, come sempre (1978)
- La mia musica (1981)
- L'italiano (1983)
- Azzura malinconia (1986)
- Voglio l'anima (1987)
- Innamorata, innamorato, innamorati (1987)
- Mediterraneo (1987)
- Toto Cutugno (1990)
- Insieme 1992 (1990)
- Non è facile essere uomini (1992)
- Voglio andare a vivere in campagna (1995)
- Canzoni nascoste (1997)
- Il treno va (2002)
- Cantando (2004)
- Come noi nessuno al mondo (2005)
- Un falco chiuso in gabbia (2008)
- I Miei Sanremo(2010)
External links
- Official website
- Toto Cutugno Spain Oficial (Idiomas: Español/Italiano/Inglés)
- Toto Cutugo Fanclub Romania
- "Insieme: 1992" lyrics with English translation
- MSN Group