I
Enrico Ruggeri

About:

5 June 1957

A native of Milan, Ruggeri made his debut in 1972, at age of 15, when he founded his first group, Josafat. The band transformed in 1974, with the entry of Silvio Capecci in Champagne Molotov. In 1977 they change their name into Decibel and start playing punk resulting in the album ‘Decibel’. The album is a failure only a few hundred copies are sold. A year later they participate in San Remo with the song ‘Contessa’ with more success. In 1981 Enrico goes solo and starts a long-lasting relationship with producer Silvio Crippa and guitarist Louis Schiavone. Naming the debut album ‘Champagne Molotov’ wasn’t a wise decision since his former band mates tried to stop the release due to illegal use of the name. In this period Ruggeri also starts working as an author for artists like Diana Est, Den Harrow and Jock Hattle.

His breakthrough comes when he works together with Loredana Bertè for her album ‘Jazz’. His ‘Il mare d'inverno’ ('The sea in winter') becomes an Italian standard. It would take some years however before Enrico is also valued as a performing artist. After a failed attempt at San remo in 1984 (and a collaboration with Mimmo Locasciulli) he finally hits the charts in 1985 with ‘Tutto scorre’. This album and the follow-up ‘Enrico VIII’ are amongst critics considered to be two of his best albums. In 1987 he finally wins San remo together with Gianni Morandi e Umberto Tozzi with the song ‘Si può dare di più’ ('You can give more'). Although he has success on his own now Enrico keeps on writing for others like Fiorella Mannoia. Oddly enough for a songwriter of his calibre his 1988 album ‘Contatti’ features cover version of other songwriters like Ivano Fossati, Lucio Dalla and Lucio Battisti. At the start of the nineties Enrico takes on a more rock-style with albums like ‘Il falco e il gabbiano’ and ‘Peter Pan’. In 1993 he wins San Remo again with ‘Mistero’ and represents Italy at Eurovision with ‘Sole d'Europa’ (ending at 12th place).

During the nineties Enrico’s career comes into bas weather. He divorces from his wife, he produces Grippo and his record company, ánd he gets a dispute about his entry ‘L'amore è un attimo’ on San Remo because he actually doesn’t like the song. In 2000 Ruggeri switches to Sony/BMG and releases the album ‘L'uomo che vola’. In 2002 he participates again at San Remo with the controversial ‘Primavera a Sarajevo’ protesting against the war in former Yugoslavia. In 2003 he enters again with another protest song. This time against the death penalty, ‘Nessuno tocchi Caino’. After a special Christmas album in 2007 and a rock album ‘Rock Show’ in 2008 Ruggeri is on a roll. For 2009 a triple album is planned called ‘All In (L'ultima follia di Enrico Ruggeri)’ which will include ‘Incontri’, the song he wrote for the advertising of 'Amaro Averna’.

On the web:

- Enrico's website: http://www.enricoruggeri.net

What do we think:

DB: Enrico is such a talented songwriter that his compositions almost outclass his singing capabilities. His songs sung by artists like Berté and Mannoia are so powerfull that they overshadow his own versions. But then again, if you are capable to produce albums like he does, who cares. One of the greates male artists coming from the eighties (and still very much active).

If you like this, you probably like.. / european counterparts:

Gibonni (Croatia)

Recomended albums:

♪♪♪♪♪ - Tutto scorre - 1985

♪♪♪♪ - Enrico VIII - 1986

♪♪♪ - La parola ai testimoni - 1988

♪♪♪ - Peter Pan - 1991

♪♪ - La giostra della memoria - 1993

Further listening:

Champagne Molotov - 1981; Polvere - 1983; Presente - 1984; Contatti - 1989; Il falco e il gabbiano - 1990; Oggetti smarriti - 1994; Fango e stelle - 1996; Domani è un altro giorno - 1997; L'isola dei tesori - 1999; L'uomo che vola - 2000; Gli occhi del musicista - 2003; Amore e guerra - 2005; Il regalo di Natale - 2007; Rock show - 2008; All In (L'ultima follia di Enrico Ruggeri) - 2009

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
♪♪♪♪♪ = outstanding album, an absolute must-have
♪♪♪♪ = great album, highly recomended
♪♪♪ = nice album
♪♪ = be careful, requires listening before buying
♪ = best to be avoided