Zucchero
Born: 1955-09-25 in Roncocesi, Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Known For: Acting
Biography
Adelmo Fornaciari (born 25 September 1955), known professionally as Zucchero Fornaciari or simply Zucchero, is an Italian singer, musician and songwriter. His stage name is the Italian word for "sugar", as his primary school teacher used to call him. His music is largely inspired by gospel, soul, blues and rock music, and alternates between Italian ballads and more rhythmic R&B-boogie-like pieces. He is credited as the "father of Italian blues", introducing blues to the big stage in Italy. He is one of the few European blues artists who still enjoys great international success. In his career, spanning four decades, Fornaciari has sold over 60 million records around the world, and internationally his most successful singles are "Diamante", "Il Volo/My Love", "Baila (Sexy Thing)/Baila morena", and the duet "Senza una donna (Without a Woman)" with Paul Young. He has won numerous awards, including four Festivalbar, nine Wind Music Awards, two World Music Awards (1993, 1996), six IFPI Europe Platinum Awards, and a Grammy Award nomination. He has collaborated and performed with many famous artists, including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Brian May, Miles Davis, Ray Charles, Billy Preston, John Lee Hooker, Scorpions, Sheryl Crow, 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. Adelmo Fornaciari was born 25 September 1955 in Roncocesi, a frazione (small village) near 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 the seaside town of Forte dei Marmi (Province of Lucca, Tuscany). There, he sang in the choir and played an organ in the local church. At the age of 12 or 13, he discovered American soul and blues music thanks to an African-American friend who was studying in Bologna and lived near his home. The first song he played to Fornaciari was "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding, and this immediately inspired his interest in soul music. The friend taught Fornaciari how to play on the guitar songs by Redding, Marvin Gaye, and Sam & Dave. Fornaciari then got together with friends to play rhythm and blues, finding his own way to fuse black music and Mediterranean music. He started writing his own songs when he was 13 or 14 years old, and after learning basic instruments, from 16 he moved on to learning the tenor saxophone. In Forte dei Marmi, he finished his technical high school studies, and moved again, this time to the city of Carrara. ... Source: Article "Zucchero Fornaciari" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.
Filmography
2025
- Pino as Self
- Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe as Self
- Francesco de Gregori - Nevergreen as Self
2024
2023
- Zucchero | Sugar Fornaciari as Self
- Italia Loves Romagna - Vari artisti as Self - Cantante
2022
- Ennio as Self
2021
- Felicissima Sera as Self
- Note di viaggio: Il film as Self
2020
- One World: Together at Home as Self
- TV Story Superstar as Self (archive footage)
- Celebrity Hunted Italy as Self
2013
- Zucchero - La Sesion Cubana as Self
2008
2007
- Zucchero - Live in Italy as Self - Voce, chitarra acustica, chitarra elettrica, pianoforte
2004
- Willkommen bei Carmen Nebel as Self
- La chanson de l'année as Self
- Zucchero | Zu and co.: Live at Royal Albert Hall as Self
2003
- Die ultimative Chartshow as Self
- Alan Simon – Gaia as Self
2001
- Star Academy as Self
2000
1999
1998
- Vivement dimanche as Self
- Andrea Bocelli - Une nuit en Toscane as Self
- Pavarotti & Friends - For the Children of Liberia as Self
1996
- De pé a pá as Self
- Pavarotti & Friends 4 - For War Child as Self
1993
- Taratata as Self
1992
- The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert as Self
- Pavarotti & Friends as Self
1988
- Snack Bar Budapest ... (Music)
1987
- Sacrée Soirée as Self
- Le monde est à vous as Self
1982
- Champs-Elysées as Self
1981
- De TV Show as Self
1976
- Domenica In as Self
1974
- 3 nach 9 as Self
1971
- Great Performances as Self
1964
- Top of the Pops as Self
1951
- Sanremo Music Festival as Self - Special Guest