Calogero | |
|---|---|
 Calogero performing live inBrussels in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Calogero |
| Born | Calogero Joseph Salvatore Maurici (1971-07-30)30 July 1971 (age 54) Échirolles,Isère, France |
| Origin | Échirolles, France |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instrument | Bass guitar |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | Mercury Records |
| Website | [1] |
Calogero Joseph Salvatore Maurici (born 30 July 1971), knownmononymously asCalogero (French:[kalɔʒɛʁo];Italian:[kaˈlɔːdʒero]), is aFrench singer.
Calogero was born inÉchirolles,Isère, to Sicilian-born Italian parents fromSommatino,Caltanissetta,Sicily.
By the age of six, Calogero had already taken an interest in music. He quickly learned to play several instruments, including the flute, piano, and bass
In 1986 he became the lead singer and songwriter for a band calledLes Charts he started with his brother, Gioacchino Maurici, and a childhood friend, Francis Maggiulli. Between 1989 and 1997, Les Charts released five albums,L'Océan sans fond (1989),Notre monde à nous (1991),Hannibal (1994),Acte 1 (1995), their most successful charting album, andChanger (1997).
As the band began to lose its momentum, Calogero decided to launch himself as a solo artist and gathered important connections by writing songs and collaborating with already popular artists such asZazie andPascal Obispo. The latter helped produce Calogero's first solo albumAu milieu des Autres (2000). His second album,Calogero (2002), was a huge success, with the hit singles "En apesanteur" (In Weightlessness), "Aussi libre que moi" (As Free as Me), "Tien an men" and "Prendre racine" (To Take Root). Finally, in 2004, Calogero released3, featuring "Face à la mer", a duet with French rapperPassi, and several other top singles, such as "Yalla" and "Si seulement je pouvais lui manquer" (If Only He Could Miss Me).
Calogero's moving lyrics and frail, tender voice have made him one of France's top pop/rock singers.
Calogero released his fourth studio albumPomme C on 12 March 2007.
Since the late 1990s, Calogero composed songs for many artists, often in collaboration with his brother Gioacchino. For example, he composed songs forFlorent Pagny ("Châtelet-les-Halles"),Hélène Ségara ("Au Nom d'une Femme" and "Regarde"),Ismael Lo ("L'Amour a tous les droits" and "Faut qu'on s'aime"),Pascal Obispo ("Millésime"),Jenifer ("C'est de l'or"),Julie Zenatti ("La Vérité m'attire" et "Toutes les douleurs"),Patrick Fiori ("Que tu reviennes", "Être là", "Encore", "Tout le monde", "Tera umana" et "Il n'y a pas grand chose à dire"),Fred Blondin ("Je manque de toi" and "Perso et les Aimants"), Mario Barravecchia ("On se ressemble"). He also composed three songs for the musicalThe Ten Commandments: "Je n'avais jamais prié", "Une Raison d'espérer" and "Y'a tant d'amour".
Calogero also participates in numerous charities. He is currently member ofLes Enfoirés; he also participated in the single "Noël ensemble", recorded by many artists in 2002; he sang for theSidaction with Jenifer; and recently, he participated in the single "Douce France", led byMarc Lavoine, to fight discrimination and help young people to find work.
In 2008,Stanislas Renoult recorded a duet with Calogero entitled "La Débâcle des sentiments".
Calogero describes his own musical style as "pop rock". He also said that he listens to the musical work of various artists, such asBarbara,William Sheller,The Cure andThe Who, and that "words and melodies are very important to [him]".
He has a great admiration forthe Beatles, especially forPaul McCartney, whose song "Live and Let Die" is covered onLive 1.0. Calogero said about McCartney, "Paul McCartney? A myth [legend]! For all bassists he is Uncle Paul". Between his first solo album and his last tour, the musical style evolved significantly to a more percussive rock, and he also said that his fourth album,Pomme C, had the closest sound to him.
Calogero is a bass player but he also plays keyboards and guitar. His initial musical training was on the organ. On his first solo album, he plays the guitar, while on the next two he plays bass. He is left handed and sings about this in the song "Conduire en Angleterre".
Starting 2012, the French bandCircus was established that included Calogero as well as Stanislas, Philippe Uminski, Elsa Fourlon and Karen Brunon, all already established artists. Their debut self-titled albumCircus was released in 2012.
| Preceded by | Victoires de la Musique Male group or artist of the year 2004 | Succeeded by |
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