GINO PAOLI

He just turned 73 a few months ago, but still women consider him as a charming and handsome man. Gino Paoli, as we already mentioned in July’s issues, belongs to what in Italy is known as “ la scuola Genovese ”(the Genovese music style school.)

Son of a naval engineer and a housewife, Gino Paoli was born in Monfalcone in 1934, but before he turned 12 his family moved to Genova. After working as a porter, advertising graphic designer and house painter in his teen years, he made his debut as a dance hall singer. In the following years then, with his friends Luigi Tenco and Bruno Lauzi, he put up a jazz band.

This caught the attention of the Ricordi record company producers who eventually offered him a contract.

In 1960, after recording several songs written by other artists, he decided it was time to record a composition of his own: “La gatta.” Even though the song at first was not really appreciated by the public, sales gradually improved, and in the end it turned out to be a great success. This marked the beginning of Paoli's finest and most prolific period. In just five years, he recorded masterpieces such as “Il cielo in una stanza,” “Senza fine,” “Sassi,” “Anche se,” “Sapore di sale,” “Che cosa c'è” and “Vivere ancora.”

All the above mentioned later became classics and were translated into several different languages (particularly “Senza fine,” dedicated to his then girlfriend Ornella Vanoni, has been recorded worldwide in about 300 different versions.) These recordings definitely entitled Gino Paoli to the superstar status; therefore, he started devoting himself to producing other young artists, among which there was a young Lucio Dalla. After falling into depression for several years, due to the death of Luigi Tenco, he returned to the music world in 1971 with the album “Le due facce dell'amore.” But, Gino Paoli’s most significant album in the ‘70s was “I semafori rossi non sono Dio” (Red Lights aren‘t Gods), recorded in 1974. This record was a tribute to the Spanish singer-songwriter Manuel Serrat. In fact, Gino in this album recorded some of Serrat’s finest songs.

In 1980 G.Paoli paid tribute to his friend Piero Ciampi, who had died a few months earlier, with an album entirely made of his own compositions entitled: “Ha tutte le carte in regola.” Five years later, he released the live double album “Insieme” followed by a very successful tour all over Europe with his former companion, singer Ornella Vanoni.

Some of his most memorable albums of the past fifteen years are “Cosa farò da grande” (1986), “L'ufficio delle cose perdute” (1988) and “Matto come un gatto” (1991), after which he toured around Europe with a jazz quintet lead by great Italian jazz trumpeter Enrico Rava. Also from 1987 thru 1992 Gino got involved into a political journey since he was elected congressman.

In 2004 Gino Paoli found himself again recording and touring with Ornella Vanoni. The album “Ti ricordi? No,non mi ricordo” (Do you remember? No I don‘t remember) was a great success, and fans once again raised the question: “Are Gino and Ornella ever going to end up getting married?” The love story has been on and off for over 40 years by now! Let’s all wish them the best from life.

Buone vacanze a tutti, ci vediamo a Settembre!