Piacere rai uno toto cutugno biography

1. Early Life and Musical Beginnings
2. Early Career and "Toto e Tati"
3. Collaboration with Gli "Albatros"
4. Breakthrough and Sanremo Success
5. Eurovision Victory and Continued Success

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Salvatore Cutugno was born on July 7, , in the Tuscan town of Fosdinovo. His family moved to La Spezia when he was a few months old, where his father worked as a military sailor. From a young age, Cutugno showed a talent for music, taking up the trumpet like his father and later mastering the drums and accordion. At the age of 13, he won third place in a regional music competition.

Early Career and "Toto e Tati"

Until the age of 19, Cutugno played drums in local music groups before embarking on a six-month tour of Finland with Maestro Manusardi's ensemble. Upon his return to Italy, Salvatore formed his own band, "Toto e Tati," with whom he toured extensively throughout the country. During this time, he also began composing his own music.

Collaboration with Gli "Albatros"

In early , Cutugno joined the group Gli "Albatros" and began writing songs with poet Vito Pallavicini, including "Oasis," "Uomo dove vai," and "Africa." Their work caught the attention of Jacques Ple, the artistic director of French singer Joe Dassin. French lyricists Claude Lemesle and Pierre Delanöe wrote French lyrics to Cutugno's melodies, resulting in hits such as "Et si tu n'existais pas," "Salut," and the summer French pop hit "L'été Indien." Over the next three years, Cutugno wrote six more songs for Joe Dassin, including the record-breaking minute composition "Le jardin du Luxembourg."

Breakthrough and Sanremo Success

In , Cutugno made his debut at the Sanremo Festival as part of Gli "Albatros" with the song "Volo AZ ," placing third overall. That same year, he achieved considerable success at the Festivalbar with the song "Nel cuore, nei sensi." The French version of this song, "Voici les clés," performed by Gérard Lenorman, topped the charts in France. In , Gli "Albatros" returned to the Sanremo stage with "Gran Premio," finishing fifth. Shortly after the festival, the group disbanded.

In , Cutugno won the Sanremo competition with the song "Solo noi."

Eurovision Victory and Continued Success

In , Cutugno triumphed at the Eurovision Song Contest in Zagreb with the song "Insieme: " Italy subsequently hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in Rome, where Cutugno and Gigliola Cinquetti, the winner, served as presenters.