Gino Paoli

Gino Paoli

Gino Paoli
Background information
Birth name Gino Paoli
Born 23 September 1934
Monfalcone, Italy
Genres Pop
Occupation(s) singer-songwriter, artist
Instruments vocals
Years active 1959–present
Labels RCA Italiana, Durium (Italy), Dischi Ricordi, Fonit Cetra
Associated acts Ornella Vanoni
Website ginopaoli.it

Gino Paoli (Italian pronunciation: [ˈdʒino ˈpaoli]; born 23 September 1934 in Monfalcone) is an Italian singer-songwriter. He is a seminal figure who has written a number of songs widely regarded as classics in Italian popular music, including: "Il cielo in una stanza", "Che cosa c'è", "Senza fine" and "Sapore di sale".

Biography

Paoli was born in Monfalcone, a little town near Trieste, but moved to Genoa at a young age.

After several different jobs, he was signed to Ricordi with friends and fellow musicians Luigi Tenco and Bruno Lauzi. His first success was the single "La Gatta", which has been used in Italian language teaching classes in American middle schools and high schools.

"Il cielo in una stanza" was composed in 1959. According to Paoli, the lyrics came to him while lying on a brothel bed. Gazing at the purple ceiling, he thought, "Love can grow at any moment at any place".[1] Mina's single release of the song topped the list of annual sales in Italy[2] and reached Billboard Hot 100. Video performances of the song were included in the movies "Io bacio... tu baci" and "Appuntamento a Ischia". Later it was featured in the "Goodfellas" movie. Carla Bruni Sarkozy covered the song (mixing French with her native Italian) in her debut album ("Quelqu'un m'a dit").

Gino Paoli’s debut album – Gino Paoli was released in Italy on October 8, 1961 on Dischi Ricordi.[3]

"Il cielo in una stanza" success was followed by "Sapore di sale" (1963), arranged by Ennio Morricone and believed to be his most famous song. In the same year he attempted suicide by shooting himself in the heart (the bullet is still inside his chest).

In 1974 he returned with the LP I semafori rossi non sono Dio, followed by Il mio mestiere (1977). Both showed a more mature inspiration than his 1960s works. In the 1980s Paoli produced a series of successful albums, and in 1985 he toured Italy together with Ornella Vanoni.

In 1987 he was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies for the Italian Communist Party. He abandoned politics in 1992 to pursue his music ambitions.

Autograph of Gino Paoli on the muretto of Alassio

He had a long relationship with actress Stefania Sandrelli. Their daughter, Amanda Sandrelli, is also an actress.

During an interview in February 2015, when the journalist cited a famous phrase of an Italian minister saying that the taxes are a good thing, Gino Paoli insulted him with in rude manners;[4] because he is under investigation for 2 million € tax evasion in swiss bank accounts.[5]

Discography

Legal problems

In February 2015, Police raided his residence to probe an illicit two million euro transfer to a Swiss bank in 2009. He is currently undertrial for tax evasion.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Paolo Grugni CANZONI SEMPREVERDI. The Madrepennuta site, 2006
  2. ↑ Top Annuali Singles. hitparadeitalia site. Retrieved 27 June 2007
  3. ↑ http://discografia.dds.it/scheda_titolo.php?idt=3886. Gino Paoli’s discography. Retrieved 6 October 2009
  4. ↑ http://video.repubblica.it/edizione/firenze/il-drone-sulla-collina-della-vergogna-tonnellate-di-pneumatici-tra-le-crete-senesi/198558/197600?ref=vd-auto
  5. ↑ http://www.corriere.it/spettacoli/15_febbraio_19/blitz-finanza-casa-gino-paoli-accusato-evasione-fiscale-ded46934-b81f-11e4-8ec8-87480054a31d.shtml
  6. ↑ http://www.ilmessaggero.it/PRIMOPIANO/CRONACA/gino_paoli_evasione_soldi_svizzera_intercettazioni/notizie/1198901.shtml

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gino Paoli.