Peppino Gagliardi(1940-2023)

Italian cantautore, a smooth, romantic balladeer, primarily in his native 'nnapuletano' dialect. Gagliardi was born in the Vasto district of Naples and became immensely popular throughout Italy in the 1960s and 70s. A gifted musician from childhood, influenced by both French and American songwriters, he first played the traditional accordion before switching to guitar and piano to accompany his singing. Most of his lyrics were written by Gaetano Amendola, including those of his first major hit, "T'amo e t'amerò" in 1963. Gagliardi achieved the height of his success in the early and mid-70s with songs like "Settembre", "Gocce di Mare", "Sempre", "Ti amo così", Che vuole questa musica stasera " (featured in, among other films, Guy Ritchie's The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)), "Povero Core", "Innamorarmi di te" and "Taggio perduta". Two of his songs ranked second at the San Remo Festival in 1972: "Come le viole" and ""Come un ragazzino". He was also featured in the Italian pop musical Highest Pressure (1965), alongside other popular vocalists of the era, such as Françoise Hardy, Nicola Di Bari and Gianni Morandi.