Gianni Morandi


Gianni Morandi is an Italian pop singer, actor and entertainer.

Early life

Gian Luigi Morandi was born in a little village called Monghidoro on the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. His father Renato was active within the Italian Communist Party and Gianni used to help him sell the party newspapers. At an early age Morandi worked as a shoe-shiner, cobbler and as a candy vendor in the village's only cinema. His vocal abilities led him to a number of small gigs, some of which were during the Communist Party’s activities.

Career

He made his debut in 1962 and quickly placed high at or won a number of Italian popular song festivals, including the Canzonissima festival in 1969. In 1962 he was signed by RCA Italiana and achieved national stardom with the song "Fatti mandare dalla mamma", and remained Italy’s darling throughout that decade.
In 1970, he represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest with "Occhi di ragazza". His career went into a decline in the 1970s but underwent a revival in the 1980s. He won the Festival of Sanremo in 1987 with "Si può dare di più" together with Enrico Ruggeri and Umberto Tozzi, placed second in 1995 and third in 2000.
It is estimated that Morandi has sold 50 million recordings.
He has written a number of autobiographical books and appeared in 18 films. In TV he played Claude Jade's husband Davide in the 1984 TV series Voglia di volare. He also played as actor in several TV series, as well as the host in popular Italian television shows.
In 1966 he married actress Laura Efrikian, with whom he played in several Musicarelli films together. The couple divorced in 1979.
Morandi was chosen to be the presenter of Sanremo Music Festival 2011, together with Belén Rodriguez and Elisabetta Canalis. They were joined by comedians Luca Bizzarri and Paolo Kessisoglu from Italia 1's satire show Le Iene. In October 2011, he was confirmed as the presenter of the Sanremo Music Festival 2012.
At the beginning of 2016, Gianni Morandi started a tour called "Capitani Coraggiosi Tour" with Claudio Baglioni. A double album will be published on February 5. In 2017 he sings with Fabio Rovazzi the song "Volare", a big hit.

Discography

Studio albums

YearTitleRoleNotes
1967TuttoTotòHimselfItalian TV Series; episode: "Totò Ciak"
1967Dietro le quinte - Gianni Morandi & Patti PravoHimselfCo-host, alongside Patti Pravo
1969Stasera Gianni MorandiHimselfHost
1970CanzonissimaHimselfMusical performer & winner
1975Alle nove della seraHimselfHost
1978–197910 HertzHimselfCo-host alongside Carla Carbone
1982Tutti insiemeHimselfHost
1982Movie MovieHimselfHost
1984Voglia di VolareDavideItalian TV Miniseries; 4 episodes
1985Voglia di CantarePaolo FontanaItalian TV Miniseries; 4 episodes
1987La voglia di vincereMarcoItalian TV Miniseries: 3 episodes
1990Gianni Morandi: Questa è la storiaHimselfHost
1992SvalutationHimselfRegular guest
1993In fuga per la vitaMicheleItalian TV Miniseries; 3 episodes
1995La voce del cuoreDaniele MonteroItalian TV Miniseries; 4 episodes
1998La forza dell'amoreFabrizioItalian TV Miniseries; 3 episodes
1999C'era un ragazzoHimself/ VariousMusical show, host
2000–2003Un disco per l'estateHimselfRegular guest
2004Stasera Gianni MorandiHimselfHost
2006Non facciamoci prendere dal panicoHimselfVariety show
2011Sanremo Music FestivalHimselfAnnual music festival
2012Sanremo Music FestivalHimselfAnnual music festival
2013Gianni Morandi - Live in ArenaHimselfLive concert
2014ZeligHimselfVariety show; 4th episode
2015Capitani coraggiosiHimselfCo-host alongside Claudio Baglioni
2016UntraditionalHimselfItalian TV Series; episode: "Un ricco spuntino"
2017–2019L'isola di PietroDr. Pietro SereniItalian TV Series; 18 episodes, Lead actor
2018Io e LucioHimselfTV Special; co-host

Awards and honors