Born on January 6: Paolo Conte, the Italian jazz lawyer
Paolo Conte is born in the heart of Piedmont's vineyards, in Asti in northern Italy. He was three years old when the Second World War broke out.
He spent part of his childhood sheltered on his grandparents' farm, lulled by the rhythms of jazz and blues, whose records his father smuggled in. “My parents, who were still very young, and therefore curious, passionate about music and eager to discover new things, managed to get their hands on American music records and sheet music, which they deciphered so they could play them at home,” he would later confide.
Once the war was over, the young boy went back to school and dreamed of becoming a doctor. However, it was to law that he later turned, encouraged by his family of notaries. At the same time, he joined a jazz orchestra and quenched his thirst for learning, among other things, by discovering the trombone and then the vibraphone. He also founded several bands, with his brother Giorgio on drums.
He first made a name for himself as a composer, notably by writing a love song for Adriano Celentano: “La coppia più bella del mondo”, before writing a second, also sung by Celentano, which became a worldwide hit: “Azzurro”.
In 1974, he released his first album, “Paolo Conte”, and took the opportunity to put his lawyer's robe back in the closet. In 1979, “Un gelato al limon” (featuring the famous “Via con me/It's Wonderful”) brought him success.
Subsequent albums followed the same pattern, and the hoarse-voiced Italian dared to experiment, as on “Parole d'amore scritte a macchina”, which blends classical backing vocals with electronic sororities. The somewhat old-fashioned-looking singer travels the world, offering his music and talent to an increasingly captivated public. The little boy who listened to jazz on the sly has become an artist with an international career.
The 90s were just as prolific, with a succession of live albums, tributes to Italian traditions and to cycling, with “Velocitá silenciosa”, which was used as the theme song for the Giro, the Tour of Italy.
Today, the artist with the moustache still lives in northern Italy and continues to perform live, much to the delight of his fans. With his husky voice and timeless melodies, he continues to remind us that, as he likes to say, “Music is the journey of the soul”.
(MH with CMa - Photo: © Etienne Tordoir)
Photo: Paolo Conte on stage at the Olympia in Paris (France) on January 20, 2020