Franco Gatti was born on 4th October 1942, in Genoa, Italy. His musical career began when he was performing with his friend colleague Angelo Sotgiu.In 1963 he formed ”Jet duo”.
Later Franco met Angela and Marina, and all four decided to join a group. Discovered them was Franco Califano in Milan who gave the band the name Riccho e Poveri. Roman songwriter Franco Califano once joked that they were ”spiritually rich and financially poor”.
The quartet earned its own unique vocal styles based on four different voices bass, tenor, alto, and soprano.
The first public appearance was in Cantagiro in 1968 with “L’ultimo amore.”
Ricchi e Poveri has participated in the Sanremo Music Festival several times since 1970 and 1971 with the song “Che sarà”.
In 1978 Ricchi e Poveri represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song ”Questo amore” finishing 12th place with 53 points.
Between 1980‘s and 1990‘s Ricchi e Poveri recorded and produced worldwide hits like “Mamma Maria“, “Made in Italy“, “M’innamoro di te” and “Se m’innamoro“.
In 1981 the band recorded Spanish version of their single ”Sarà perché ti amo” with new title ”Sarà perché ti amo”.Where it became a hit in Mexico,the Carbbean and in United States of Ameica and South America.
After massive success several groups covered the song adapting to diffrent genres like tropical,dance and various forms of Mexican folk music known as Grupera.
Latino boy bands projects like Los Chicos and Los Chamos and Italo-Dance bands ”Eu4ya” also covered song but heavily altered the lyrics just to appeal teenagers.
In 2007 song still being covered in all genres and it has achieved in somewhat of cult/nostalgia status in several Spanish-speaking counties as symbol of generation.
The song was remade in 2008 by Diana Sorbello ” “Das ist, weil ich dich liebe” and in 2011 in Duch by Monique Smit and Tim Douwsma as “Eén zomeravond met jou”.
Ricchi e Poveri held 2 massive concerts in Malta on 12th and 13th June 2009.The band popularity in Malta they held another massive concert on 6th November 2010.
Ricchi e Poveri completed a tour of Italy and Slovenia in 2012, fallowed at beginning on 2013 with 3 song set in the ”Discoteka 80’s” concert in Moscow.
In 2016 group’s founder Franco Gatti retired from the group at the age of 74.In 2020 group reunited to celebraite their band’s 50th anniversary at the Sanremo Music Festival.
Franco was married to Stefania and together they had daughter named Federica who graduated in Law degree.
Their lifes was affected by their son’s Alessio death who died prematurely at the age of 22.
Franco’s reaction when Alessio was found dead:
After my son Alessio passed away – revealed the artist – my life changed. I am different, on stage I used to make fun of myself, I joked about my mustache, my big nose, I was silly. Now I don’t feel like it anymore ”.
Franco Gatti suffred Crohn’s disase in 2020 but he later got treatment.
Franco Gatti passed away on 18th October 2022 at age of 80.
ESCBEAT Team wants to send our condolences to his family, friends, and everyone who knew his personally or was a fan of his work.
