Toto Cutugno facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Toto Cutugno
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Toto Cutugno in 2014
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Salvatore Cutugno |
| Born | 7 July 1943 Fosdinovo, Italy |
| Died | 22 August 2023 (aged 80) Milan, Italy |
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| Years active | 1966–2023 |
| Associated acts | Albatros |
Salvatore "Toto" Cutugno (born July 7, 1943 – died August 22, 2023) was a famous Italian singer, songwriter, and musician. He was best known for his huge worldwide hit song, "L'Italiano". This song came out in 1983 on an album with the same name. Toto Cutugno also won the Eurovision Song Contest 1990. This big music competition was held in Zagreb, Croatia. He won with his song "Insieme: 1992", which he wrote himself.
Contents
About Toto Cutugno
His Early Life and Music
Toto Cutugno was born in Fosdinovo, Lunigiana, which is in Tuscany, Italy. His father was from Sicily, and his mother was a homemaker. Soon after he was born, his family moved to La Spezia in Liguria.
He started his music journey as a drummer. Later, he formed a band called Albatros. They played a type of music called Italo disco. Toto also began writing songs for other famous singers. He wrote some well-known songs for the French-American singer Joe Dassin. He also helped write "Monday Tuesday... Laissez moi danser" for Dalida. This song became very popular and sold many copies.
Success at Sanremo Festival
In 1976, Toto's band Albatros took part in the Sanremo Music Festival for the first time. They finished in third place with their song Volo 504. After another hit song, Santamaria De Portugal, Albatros broke up. Toto then decided to focus on his solo music career.
In 1980, Toto Cutugno returned to the Sanremo Music Festival. He won first place with his song Solo noi. However, he is most remembered at Sanremo for his song "L'Italiano" from 1983. This song was first meant for another singer, Adriano Celentano, but he decided not to sing it. "L'Italiano" talked about many popular Italian traditions. This made the song very popular, especially with Italians living in other countries. Even though it only came in fifth at Sanremo, it became Toto's biggest international hit.
Toto Cutugno came in second place six more times at the Sanremo festival. He participated in the festival a total of 13 times. He was very popular with Italians living all over the world. He especially enjoyed visiting Australia, where he had three successful music tours.
Winning the Eurovision Song Contest
In 1990, Toto Cutugno won the Eurovision Song Contest in Zagreb. He won with his own song, "Insieme: 1992" ("Together: 1992"). This song was a ballad that celebrated European countries coming together. It also talked about the creation of the European Union.
Because he won, Italy hosted the next Eurovision contest in 1991 in Rome. Toto Cutugno helped present the show along with Gigliola Cinquetti, who was Italy's first Eurovision winner. At 46 years old, Toto became the oldest winner of the contest at that time. His record stood until the year 2000. He was also the last winner for Italy until the band Måneskin won in 2021.
Toto Cutugno passed away on August 22, 2023, when he was 80 years old.
His Personal Life
Toto Cutugno was married to Carla Cutugno.
His Music Albums
- Come ieri, come oggi, come sempre (1978)
- Voglio l'anima (1979)
- Innamorata, innamorato, innamorati (1980)
- La mia musica (1982)
- L'italiano (1983)
- Per amore o per gioco (1985)
- Azzura malinconia (1986)
- Mediterraneo (1987)
- Toto Cutugno (1990)
- Insieme: 1992 (1990)
- Non è facile essere uomini (1992)
- Voglio andare a vivere in campagna (1995)
- Canzoni nascoste (1997)
- Il treno va (2002)
- Cantando (2004)
- Come noi nessuno al mondo (2005)
- Un falco chiuso in gabbia (2008)
- I Miei Sanremo (2010)
- Ritratto: 50 anni di musica (2015)
Albums with Albatros
- Albatros (1976)
See also
In Spanish: Toto Cutugno para niños
