Biography of Paolo Belli

Energy Funkastica

March 21, 1962 Paolo Belli was born in Carpi (Modena) on 21 March of 1962 and already at the age of six he takes piano lessons. He enrolled at the Conservatory of Reggio Emilia and begins at thirteen to compose his first songs inspired by Rhythm & Blues. His passion for music led him to play at night in clubs and by day, for gain, does a thousand trades. In the early ' 80 meets your local boys and they founded a group: a passion for neo-realism together with that for the cinema of Totò, Sordi and De Sica led him to call the group "the bicycle thief". With the band Badal fortifies its live performances and songwriting creativity. In 1988 he finally gets the first recording contract and in February 1989, with the song "bicycle thief", participated in the Festival di Sanremo that doesn't end well from the point of view of the singing competition, as the band is deleted. Despite the jury's verdict against critics and sales by the bicycle thief is a real triumph both on the charts than sales. In the summer of 1989 open all concerts in the tour by Vasco Rossi and also have the new single, "Dr. Jazz & Mr. Funk" that becomes a real smash. Vittorio Salvetti wants them Festivalbar: arrive, participate and win by moving to Rhythm & Blues and unleashing all Italian squares. In autumn they receive the award Telegatto as newcomer of the year. In September comes the eponymous first album "the bicycle thief", selling over 150,000 copies. In 1990 Paolo Belli is invited to attend the first concert organized by unions for labor day on May 1 day in Piazza San Giovanni in Rome, where she performed in front of 500,000 people; his presence will be repeated later in the following years. The soundtrack of the summer of 1990 is marked by collaboration with Francesco Baccini that produced the song "Under the Sun" song won the Festivalbar, which topped the charts for more than seven months. In 1991 the second participation in the Festival di Sanremo with "Whisk Well Bebop", followed On from "sons of a C minor", second album of bicycle thieves. At the end of the year Paolo Belli chose to pursue his solo career and left the band. His first solo album was released in 1993 and is titled "Badal & Rhythm Machine". The desire and thirst for new experiences in the music industry pushes Belli to collaborate with many artists, including Sam Moore, Billy Preston, Jon Hendricks, Jimmy Witherspoon, Ligabue, Piero Chiambretti, Enzo Jannacci, Fabio Fazio, Litfiba, Red Ronnie, Paolo Rossi, Gialappa's Band. Writes songs with Vasco Rossi, Avion Travel and P.F.M. and clicks by Mogol and Mario Lavezzi to interpret one of the songs included in the album "2 Voices". In 1994 leaves "only" produced by Alberto Pirelli. The music video of the song that launched the album "I have left" is rewarded by Videomusic as best of the year. The vigorous recording activity is combined with a tour that leads the artist to perform in more than 90 concerts each year, so that the public knows his highly charged, his energy, his music so that Crown him King of Funky. On May 22, 1996 represents a historic day for Paul and unforgettable because two of his greatest passions are a mix: is called by his favorite team, Juventus, to present his new album "Cry Now" before the European Cup final at the stadio Olimpico in Rome. On 27 September of the same year he participated with great success at Clio RDS Live2/"held in Palermo in front of 400,000 people. On 28 May 1997, he released his new single "Men or Corporals" in confirming the love neorealism and cinema of Totò, echoing a phrase of Prince De Curtis. The track is immediately transmitted by the Italian network and in June released "Negro", his new album which is presented with a tour involving Paul and his five musicians throughout the summer. On May 3, 1998 is fulfilled another dream of Paolo Belli: Dan Aykroyd (the last Blues Brothers) is in Italy promoting her new film "Blues Brother 2000", and in the afternoon go to the "Big Mama" in Rome to play with Paul. The event is taken over by RaiTre and aired live in the transmission "Quelli che il calcio". A few days later Juventus asks Paul to perform before the match Juventus-Real Madrid, Champions League final, the Stadium Amsterdam Arena in front of 80000 people. During the summer he played with the whole band as a guest at the eleventh edition of "Porretta Soul Festival in Porretta Terme as representative of funk-blues made in Italy. Other great commitment Besides music are those less fortunate, that help through the activities promoted by the Association "Rock no War" and the Italian national singers. In April 1999 the album "A me mi piace ... the swing" under the production of Farey, who besides being a great success, it gives a Nice opportunity and satisfaction of playing with a Big Band of well 18 elements. The album contains 18 tracks, half new and half recorded live by collecting the best of its production. The individual selected for the summer promotion is "Angel Angelino." In January 2000 was a success that goes far beyond his expectations by joining with all his big band of the artistic staff of the tv show "Torno sabato" where duets with artists like Wilson Pickett's, Giorgia, Al Jarreau, Kid Creole and the host, Giorgio Panariello. Large screen also revealed to the public as a television personality, in June 2000 Paolo Belli, always accompanied by his Big Band, stands as a permanent guest at San Remo summer 2000, program hosted by Carlo Conti and broadcast in prime time on Rai 1, consecrating and elevating his television image. On June 15, 2000 he released his single "Hey, signorina mambo" that anticipates the release of the album "beautiful inside", which contains the song "stay with me" that Paul sings paired with Giorgio Panariello, in October 2000, realizes the soundtrack for the movie "at the right time" (where Pa follows the Director) and that contains the previously unreleased track "But when you're not here". In 2009 participated in the Festival of Sanremo with the Italian Pupo and senegalese Youssou N'Dour. After the competition, he released his new album "a world of ... Belli ".
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.