Lucio Battisti, one of the Italians most loved singers and authors, was born on March 5, 1943 in Poggio Bustone in the province of Rieti. By a strange combination of fate, his birthday arrives exactly the day after that of Lucio Dalla, another great artist loved by the public. Battisti died on 9 September 1998 but for his fans, for his admirers, he never left. Lucio remains one of the greatest exponents of Italian music. His songs gave a new rhythm to the second half of the twentieth century, thrilling several generations.

Lucio Battisti, a long solo career

With Lucio Battisti the Italian song has gone beyond its borders. The artist has shown a creative verve and a desire to experiment that belongs to the greats of international music. Thanks to Battisti, Italian music includes extraordinary songs in which many souls are mixed together: from rock to black music.

lucio battisti with mine

Surely the golden period for Battisti is the one characterized by the artistic partnership with the lyricist Giulio Rapetti aka MogoL. From this artistic union immortal songs were born that all of Italy sang and continues to sing. Successes that have consecrated Battisti in the Olympus of song. From the very beginning Battisti showed that he had clear ideas; he makes it clear to the record companies that he doesn't like playing in a group. In fact, his is a long solo career.

The Italy that sings Battisti

In 1964 the first single comes out For a lira. For the occasion, the producers of the record decide not to put his face on the cover because it is considered 'lackluster and unsuitable'. Thus a compromise is reached: Battisti is portrayed from behind embracing a girl. In 1968 with Dance Linda Lucio Battisti takes part in the Cantagiro; in 1969, paired with Wilson Pickett, he treads the scenes of Sanremo with the song An adventure. Also in that year he participated in the Festivalbar with Blue water, clear water, another song destined to become an ever green. Certainly the seventies were a magical moment in his career for the artist from Poggio Bustone. The successes are countless, each song meets the favor of the public and critics. At each release, Battisti remains in the charts for months with his songs. Furthermore it must be said that he also becomes an author for other artists. Battisti, as publisher and record company, launches songs for Mina, Patty Pravo, the Formula Three band and Bruno Lauzi.

Lucio Battisti, an artist who did not like the limelight

Battisti's career, which has sold 25 million records, is a journey of continuous stylistic research. Lucio is an artist who doesn't like show business, who can't stand being in the celebrity spotlight. In fact, the last years of his life will pass away from the limelight of the world of song and entertainment. At the beginning of his career, the artist himself was convinced that he was not a good performer.

black and white photo of lucio battisti with the guitar
Lucio Battisti on guitar while participating in the radio broadcast Supersonic

So much so that he was also criticized but, success after success, even his detractors had to change their minds. Certainly his voice did not have an 'academically correct' timbre, nor did it have a particular range. But Lucio was able to reshape the limits of his vocality, giving life to a singing expressiveness that drove millions of fans crazy. 

Lucio Battisti: call them if you want, emotions! last edit: 2020-03-05T09:53:26+01:00 da Maria Scaramuzzino

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