Umberto Antonio Tozzi is a popular Italian composer, pop singer and actor. Having excellent vocal abilities from early childhood, he earned the fame of a composer at age 22. Today, recognized as the most sought-after Italian performer outside the homeland, since the beginning of the release of his albums, Tozzi has sold about 45 million records.
Biography
On March 4, 1952, Umberto Tozzi was born in Turin. Parents of the future star emigrated from Italian Puglia, the easternmost region. Umberto's brother - Franco was a sought-after performer in the 60s. The younger brother began his musical career by accompanying the group of his older brother at performances. Umberto played the guitar.
In the late 60s. Many young bands from unknown artists toured the areas around Turin. In 1968, when Umberto turned 16 years old, he was a member of the music group “Off Sound”. With the rock singers of the ensemble, U. Tozzi continued to follow his brother.
In 1970, he first sang a solo of the first verse of the song "Here." In the world fashion capital of Milan, the road of young talent crossed with Adriano Pappalardo. They gathered thirteen talented musicians, organized a group and went on independent tours in Italy.
The beginning of a solo career
The first recorded song by Umberto Tozzi with the beautiful title “Meeting of Love” (“Incontro d'amore”) in solo performance was released by the studio “Number One” in 1973. Working with the company turned out to be fruitful and lasted for many years. From time to time, they invited Umberto to accompany third-party musicians on the guitar when they recorded their CDs.
In 1974, a twenty-two-year-old Italian, together with Damiano Nino Dattoli (Damiano Nino Dattoli) writes a song called Un corpo e un'anima ("Body and Soul"). The composition was later interpreted for the duo of American singer Wess Johnson and Italian Dori Ghezzi. The song won the Canzonissima program, a popular music competition at that time (the program went on air from 1956 to 1974).
Soon, Dattoli, Tozzi and guitarist and producer Massimo Luca jointly organize a musical group, calling it I Data. The group immediately took a quick start and recorded the album Strada Bianca (White Way). Unfortunately, this was their only album, the small circulation made it a rarity and now finding that disc is quite problematic.
Dattoli and Tozzi put the music on the song Io ti ringrazio (I thank you), which at that time was still unknown. It was performed by Italian singer and composer Domenica Berthe (screenwriter Mia Martini). Collaborating with Alberto, Ivano Fossati (Ivano Alberto Fossati, Italian singer and musician) Tozzi is preparing to arrange his album.
On the way to world fame
The meeting and collaboration with the Florentine producer and composer Giancarlo Bigazzi brought a lot of fruit to both Bigazzi and Umberto Tozzi. Both young people and the older generation liked to listen to their joint work, which occupied the tops in the charts. In 1976, Umberto fully, with stunning success, soloed, recording "My Loving Woman" (new album). The single from the album called Io camminerò (“I Will Go”), sung by the Italian Fausto Leali, took 1st place in the list of tops for several weeks.
The songs “I love you”, “You”, “Gloria” became the most famous compositions of the musician, brought him world fame of the performer and composer.
In 1980, the Italian recorded another album, “Tozzi”. His main song was Stella stai ("Be a Star") - another hit musician. A group of Menudo from Puertro Rico recorded the song in Spanish a year later and called it "Clear."
1st album reissued in 1980, including 2 discs, with live concert recordings and the same name In Concerto. In 1981, the birth of the next album Notte rosa ("Night Rose"), popular today. "Notte rosa" Umberto Tozzi was a novelty, not characteristic of eighties music. In 1982, the album Eva "Eve" was recorded.
In 1984, before a three-year lull, another Hurrah album (Hurray) was recorded.
After the break
The victory in San Remo brought Tozzi another round of fame in 1987. The finalist was the song Si put dare di pi u (You can give more), which he performed with Giorgio Morandi (Giorgio Morandi,) and Enrico Ruggeri. The composition took place in the collection "Moments of Eternity" of the best songs of Umberto. The collection was published immediately after the performance of the legendary trio.
Then there was a triumph at Eurovision in 1987. The song Gente Di Mare (“People of the Sea”) took 3rd prize. The song was performed with Italian Raffaele Riefoli.
In October 1987, another new song was recorded - the song "Invisible".
The Royal London Albert Hall Theater received Umberto Totti in 1988. After that, a second album with concert songs was released, named after the London Theater Concert Hall.
Creative break
The list of victories was supplemented by another one; the song “We are friends” was the leader at the San Remo festival. A new album was also named, followed by the release of the next collection of “My Songs” with the best tunes.
In 1994, he won the Festivalbar, where Tozzi performed the song Io muoi di te (“I am sick with you”), which is part of Equivocando's collection “Speaking ambiguously”. The album included songs, music and lyrics to which Umberto wrote himself.
Subsequently, he released about a dozen more albums.
Top Songs
The song of Umberto Tozzi Ti Amo "I Love You" (1977), to which he wrote music and himself performed, on the table was the crown of his creations. For seven months, she stayed at the top of the top parades in the homeland of the performer and gained international fame far beyond the borders of Europe. American and Australian discos endlessly scrolled the recording of the song to the delight of their guests.
“Ti amo” Umberto Tozzi was recognized as the best at Festivalbar and was the leader in sales from July to October 1977, exceeding all records. So, in France they sold more than a million copies.
Later, in 2001, Umberto Tozzi and Monica Bellucci jointly re-recorded the song with a new musical arrangement for the movie Asterix and Obelix: Cleopatra's Mission.
Another version of Umberto Tozzi Tiamo was recorded right after that. The musician performs her duet with the Frenchwoman Lena Ka.
The musician does not stop there and in 1978, he presents the world the composition Tu (“You”). Umberto Tozzi's song “Tu” has gained no less worldwide popularity. In 1979, the song Gloria saw the light.
American Laura Branigan in 1982 performed her version of Gloria by Umbero Tozzi in her native language. America took the song with great enthusiasm and awarded it a top place in the charts. In arranging the version, the singer was assisted by Greg Mevison (keyboardist Umberto) and musician John Gillis (pseudonym Jack White).
In France, the song Umberto Tozzi Tiamo (Ti amo), performed by Frenchwoman Yolanda Cristina Giglotti (pseudonym Dalida), sung in French, was more fond of.
Umberto Tozzi today
The musician continues his concert activity, performing in European countries and far beyond its borders. The cost of his individual performance reaches 50 thousand dollars.
Interesting Facts
Until 1982, almost all albums were released at the beginning of the summer, which is why Tozzi was awarded the title “Singer of the Summer”. It was not very pleasant, because musicians of one season are forgotten quite quickly. Promotion on the radio, discos and in music programs still does not allow the "easy" summer songs to live up to the second season. The musician was not enthusiastic about this state of affairs and in 1983, the truly “summer” song “There is in the air” interrupts the established tradition, presented in the cold season.
A musician becomes a bard after a break with the author of his lyrics - Giancarlo Bigazzi. After some lull, Umberto Tozzi begins to write texts himself.
The musician visited Moscow with concerts several times: in 2005 he performed in the Kremlin, in 2009 at the “Disco of the 80s”, and in 2013 at the Crocus City.
The Italian starred in 3 films, in two he played himself:
- Dolce Italia (TV) (2002)
- Buenafuente (TV series) (2005-2010)
- Quelli che ... il calcio (TV series) (2001-2010)
