Biography of Sergio Endrigo

June 15, 1933
September 7, 2005
Sergio Endrigo was born on 15 June 1933 in Pola, son of Claudia and Romeo, a sculptor and painter. Raised in Istria after World War II is forced to leave the town, and together with his mother he moved to Toast as a refugee (his father had died when Sergio was only six years old). Moving to Venice, he enrolled at the gymnasium but soon he interrupted his studies to work to help his mother financially: Clerk, among other things, such as lift-boy at the Hotel Excelsior and as a handyman at the Venice Film Festival, is meanwhile studying the guitar, and manages to find a gig as a double bass and singing in various orchestras , including that of Roger Oppi. Subsequently he joined the Raucous complex of Richard, and shortly thereafter has to know Riccardo Del Turco; in 1959 is his debut recording, with a 45 rpm extended play in which there are "hot ice" and "not occupatemi the phone". In the same year, Sergio Endrigo participates, always with a group of Raucous, the first "Burlamacco gold", where has the song written by Henry Parker and Franco Migliacci "Night, night", later recorded by Domenico Modugno. Winner of the event tied with Arturo head, affect a disc with music publishing Ariston but by his stage name Notarnicola: the disc includes "cloud" and "Goodbye", set to music by Umberto Bindi.

Gli anni ' 60

In 1960 Sergio participates in an audition with Steven Balla and surpasses him: has the opportunity to sign a contract with Dischi Ricordi. Meanwhile he devoted himself to writing some songs, including "soap bubbles" and "the good people". In 1961 participated in the Festival di Diano Marina with the song written by Gino Paoli "lovers are always alone," and the following year leaves Memories to embrace the RCA, accompanying Nanni Memories: in this period was the release of "Io che amo solo te", as well as his first solo Lp, entitled "Sergio Endrigo," which includes among other songs "air of snow" , "Your twenties" and "the soldier of Napoleon" (the latter with Pier Paolo Pasolini). He married Lula (Tumpa Bartolocci), becomes brother-in-law of Riccardo Del Turco (combined with Donella, Lula's sister), and in 1963 he released the Lp "grim reaper" which contains "war" and "the White Rose". In 1965 becomes father and recites in the film "Rhythm" and "Operation 008 these crazy pazzi italiani"; Meanwhile leaves the RCA and signed for Fonit Cetra. After writing "Te lo leggo negli occhi", destined to become one of his most famous pieces, the artist to publish to 45 laps "Pola Shopaholic" and "Teresa", a song that was censored by the Rai since the text refers to a girl who is not a Virgin.

Sergio Endrigo and invitations to the Festival of Sanremo

In 1966 salt for the first time on stage at the Teatro Ariston al "Festival di Sanremo" where race has "now", and recorded their third Lp, again titled "grim reaper", which includes "The Ballad of the former". The following year returns to San Remo with Memo Remigi with "where are you going"; in 1968 still occurs at the Ligurian Festival for the third time in a row, but this time won thanks to "song for you", with Roberto Carlos. After taking part in the "Eurovision Song Contest with the song" Marianne "in 1969 back in Sanremo with" Lontano dagli occhi "(the song also ranks second), performed together with the uk's Mary Hopkin; in 1970, however, is teamed with Iva Zanicchi, and presents "Noah's Ark" (this time the song is third).

Gli anni ' 70 and above

The following year his sixth participation, but the combination with New Trolls for the song "a history" not achieved great success. In the following years Endrigo back on the stage of the Ariston on three occasions: in 1973, with "Ray Eagle" with "When there was the sea" in 1976 and "Italian song" in 1986. In 1995, wrote a novel called "What will you give me if I shot?", published by alternative press. Afterwards, disputes to Luis Bacalov, author of the musical theme of the film "Il postino", released in 1994, the authorship of the plea, which is very similar to "in my nights", a song written by Sergio Endrigo twenty years earlier together with Riccardo Del Turco: a matter of no small importance, whereas Bacalov for that work won the Academy Award for best original score. Sergio Endrigo died on 7 September 2005 in Rome because of a lung cancer just a few months before: his body is buried in the family plot in Terni. Throughout his career he has worked with writers and poets such as Gianni Rodari and Giuseppe Ungaretti.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.