Toto Cutugno passed away around 16.00 yesterday, at the San Raffaele hospital in Milano where he was hospitalized due to the worsening of his health. Cutugno, who had turned 80 on July 7, had been battling an oncological disease for some time. The news of his death was communicated to Ansa by his manager Danilo Mancuso. The funeral will take place tomorrow, Thursday 24 August, at 11.00, in the Parish Basilica of Saints Nereus and Achilles, in viale Argonne 56, in Milan. Numerous tributes arrived via social media from the world of politics (from Giorgia Meloni to the Minister of Culture Sangiuliano) and music (from Laura Pausini to Pupo).
Sanremo and "L'italiano", which has become a national anthem in the world
Toto Cutugno (baptism name Salvatore), was born on 7 July 1943 in Fosdinovo (Massa-Carrara). In 1980 he won the Sanremo Festival with the song "Solo noi". 15 his overall participations in the most famous singing festival in Italy. Here he made his debut in 1976 together with the Albatros; 6 times he finished second; one fly third. His greatest success, which made him famous all over the world, is the song "L'italiano", which in 1983 at the festival is placed only in fifth place, but sells millions of records. The song, which has become a sort of national anthem, in reality Cutugno had written it for Adriano Celentano but he did not want to sing it. In 1990 he won the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Together: 1992".
Author of numerous hits
Toto Cutugno was not only a great singer-songwriter, but also a showman and on TV he conducted a series of programs. One of all "Domenica In", in 1987. he wrote songs for many singers, including Domenico Modugno, Ornella Vanoni, Gigliola Cinquetti, Adriano Celentano, Fausto Leali, the Rich and the Poor, Tiziana Rivale, Dalida, Mireille Mathieu, Louis Miguel. He returns to the Ariston many other times, as an interpreter, author and super-host and never in a predictable way. In 2021, at Eurovision, he passes the baton to the Maneskin. Very popular in both Moscow and Kiev, after the war began in 2022 he declared: "I dream of Russian and Ukrainian children together".
Safe travels, great Toto!
Loved by the people and misunderstood by journalists, with whom he didn't have an idyllic relationship, Toto Cutugno probably wasn't appreciated to the right extent. Unquestionably he leaves us some of the most beautiful songs of Italian music (Serenata, 1985; Le mamma 1989; La mia musica, 1981; Emozioni, 1990; Gli amori, 1990, to name a few) and the memory of an artist who, with great passion and love for his work, has helped to spread the Italian song in the world. Have a good trip!
(Photo: Toto Cutugno Official Facebook Page)
