Zucchero Fornaciari
Italian blues pioneer and international recording artist.
Adelmo Fornaciari, born on 25 September 1955 in Roncocesi, a hamlet of Reggio Emilia, is an Italian singer, musician, and songwriter. He performs under the stage name Zucchero Fornaciari, or simply Zucchero—Italian for "sugar," a nickname given by his primary school teacher. His music draws heavily from gospel, soul, blues, and rock, shifting between Italian ballads and more rhythmic R&B-boogie styles. He is widely recognized as the "father of Italian blues," having brought blues to major Italian stages, and remains one of the few European blues artists with lasting international success.
Over a career spanning four decades, Fornaciari has sold more than 60 million records worldwide. His most successful international singles include "Diamante," "Il Volo/My Love," "Baila (Sexy Thing)/Baila morena," and the duet "Senza una donna (Without a Woman)" with Paul Young. He has earned numerous awards: four Festivalbar, nine Wind Music Awards, two World Music Awards (1993 and 1996), six IFPI Europe Platinum Awards, and a Grammy Award nomination. He has collaborated and performed with a wide range of artists, such as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Brian May, Miles Davis, Ray Charles, Billy Preston, John Lee Hooker, Scorpions, Sheryl Crow, the Blues Brothers Band, Elvis Costello, Roland Orzabal, Joe Cocker, Sharon Corr, B. B. King, Sting, Buddy Guy, Bono, Bryan Adams, Mark Knopfler, Iggy Pop, Coldplay, Dolores O'Riordan, Paul Young, Peter Gabriel, Alejandro Sanz, Luciano Pavarotti, and Andrea Bocelli.
Fornaciari grew up in a rural family; his father was Giuseppe Fornaciari and his mother Rina Bondavalli. As a young boy, he played goalkeeper for A.C. Reggiana 1919 and spent much of his childhood in the Tuscan seaside town of Forte dei Marmi, where he sang in the church choir and played the organ. Around age twelve or thirteen, an African-American friend studying in Bologna introduced him to American soul and blues by playing Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay." This sparked his interest in soul music, and the friend taught him guitar songs by Redding, Marvin Gaye, and Sam & Dave. Fornaciari began playing rhythm and blues with friends, blending black music with Mediterranean influences. He started writing his own songs at thirteen or fourteen, learned basic instruments, and took up the tenor saxophone at sixteen.
Quick Facts
- Birth Name
- Adelmo Fornaciari
- Birth Date
- 1955-09-25
- Birth Place
- Roncocesi, Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
- Instrument
- Vocals / guitar / keyboards / bass / drums
- Genre
- Blues / rock / R&B / soul / gospel / funk / pop rock / pop
- Occupation
- Musician / singer-songwriter / record producer
- Years Active
- 1970–present
- Label
- Polydor · Universal
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Adelmo Fornaciari was born 25 September 1955 in Roncocesi, a frazione of Reggio Emilia. His father, Giuseppe Fornaciari, and mother, Rina Bondavalli, came from rural families. At a young age, he was the goalkeeper of A.C. Reggiana 1919. He spent much of his childhood in Forte dei Marmi, where he sang in the choir and played an organ in the local church. At age 12 or 13, he discovered American soul and blues music through an African-American friend who taught him guitar songs by Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, and Sam & Dave. He started writing his own songs at 13 or 14, and from age 16 learned the tenor saxophone. He finished technical high school in Forte dei Marmi and moved to Carrara.
His musical career began in 1970 with several small bands. He studied veterinary medicine but withdrew to pursue music. In 1975 he went to San Francisco and met future producer Corrado Rustici. After early success as a songwriter, his solo career initially disappointed. In 1984 he moved temporarily to San Francisco, collaborating with Rustici and bassist Randy Jackson, resulting in the 1985 album 'Zucchero & The Randy Jackson Band' and the hit 'Donne.' The 1987 album 'Blue's' sold 1.5 million copies in 1987 alone, making him a household name in Italy. The 1989 album 'Oro Incenso & Birra,' recorded in Memphis, included guest appearances by Ennio Morricone, Eric Clapton, and Rufus Thomas, and sold over 8 million copies as of 2015.
Reader's Guide
Zucchero Fornaciari's significance lies in his role as the 'father of Italian blues,' bringing blues to the Italian mainstream and achieving rare international success for a European blues artist. Over four decades, he sold over 60 million records worldwide. His music, inspired by gospel, soul, blues, and rock, alternates between Italian ballads and rhythmic R&B-boogie pieces. His most successful international singles include 'Diamante,' 'Il Volo/My Love,' 'Baila (Sexy Thing)/Baila morena,' and the duet 'Senza una donna (Without a Woman)' with Paul Young, which topped the European Hot 100 and charts in Italy, Belgium, Norway, and Sweden. He has won numerous awards, including four Festivalbar, nine Wind Music Awards, two World Music Awards, six IFPI Europe Platinum Awards, and a Grammy Award nomination. He collaborated with many famous artists, including Eric Clapton, Miles Davis, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Sting, Bono, and Luciano Pavarotti. His album 'Oro Incenso & Birra' was included by Rolling Stone Italia among the most beautiful Italian music albums of all time.
Did You Know?
- His stage name 'Zucchero' is Italian for 'sugar,' given by his primary school teacher.
- He discovered soul and blues at age 12 or 13 through an African-American friend who played him '(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay' by Otis Redding.
- He studied veterinary medicine, taking 39 of 51 exams, before withdrawing to pursue music.
- Miles Davis insisted on re-recording 'Dune Mosse' with Zucchero, describing it as 'interesting Mediterranean type of blues.'
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