Toto Cutugno: “My wives prefer not to know about the existence of each other. Toto Cutugno: a real Italian, proud Italian Toto cutugno with his wife

On the eve of the concert in Russia, the Italian singer, idol of the 80s, gave an exclusive interview to Telesem.

Dossier

real name Story by: Salvatore Cutugno
was born: July 7, 1943 in Fosdinovo in Italy
education: Specialized secondary accountant
career: since 1975, Cutugno has performed with the Albatros group, in 1990 he won the Eurovision Song Contest, hosted 2 programs on Italian television, released about 20 albums
PREFERENCES
composers People: Paul McCartney, John Lennon
kind of sport: football
vehicle: own yacht
I bet you didn't know that... at one of his concerts in Yalta, Toto Cutugno kissed 48 fans.

Telephone bridge "Moscow - Milan"

Hello, Toto!
- Good evening! – the voice responds with a hoarseness, familiar from childhood. Toto Cutugno is the man who sang about "solo mio" and much more. Wrote songs for Joe Dassin, Adriano Celentano, Dalida. Yes, even the winner of Eurovision, by the way.
Nevertheless, the man, born in 1943 and named Salvatore, even now perceives exclusively this diminutive version of the adult name - Toto.
Once upon a time, that was the name of his mother and relatives, but now everyone just calls him that.
- Tell me, does it happen that you still use the name Salvatore instead of Toto?
- Never! Cutugno replies rashly. Although then he thinks: - Except when I sign bank documents. Bureaucracy, what can you do.
– Toto, you were born in Tuscany. We in Russia, when we imagine Tuscany, think about the sun, wine and pasta. What can you add to this list?
“For me, it’s also about culture and beautiful women.
- Toto, who has been with you since childhood? And what do your close relatives do?
“Unfortunately, mom and dad are long gone. I have a brother and a sister. Brother Roberto has a security agency. Sister Rosana is a housewife with two children. And I also have a son - Niko, he is 21 years old. This is my light.
Here Cutugno's voice warms up. And the story of Niko's appearance in Cutugno's life deserves a separate story.

Story one, melodramatic

Toto got married very early - to the beautiful Carla. He was 24 at the time. They say that in order to get Carla, Cutugno accompanied her home for a month. And the parents were frightened: what kind of husband is this with such a hairstyle? Parents managed to persuade: Karla explained to them how much she loves Toto. But, unfortunately, there were no children in this marriage.
Cutugno never wanted to lose this woman, he believed that marriage was forever. Carla was reliable, understanding, gentle. However, Toto wanted a child ... And then one day a crazy passion came into his life. He met the stewardess Christina.
They met on a plane in the late 80s. Toto already had fame, a lot of fans. But it was Christina who turned out to be the woman from whom Cutugno lost his head.
They dated for two years. Hiding from Carla. And then Toto asked his companion to become a mother. Cristina agreed, although Cutugno never promised to marry her and spend the rest of his life together. He wanted to stay with Carla and said in an interview: "After spending many years together, you put down roots that are absurd to cut."
Then Cutugno told his wife about everything. They say that the two women of the unfaithful Italian never met, but Carla nevertheless survived this shock and stayed with Toto. She communicates with Niko - a guy who was named so because Cutugno liked the Greek word "nike" - victory. Victory over the verdict of doctors.

Again telephone bridge "Moscow - Milan"

– Toto, at first you became famous as a composer. You have written songs for many great artists, but there are two inimitable ones among them. If you compare Joe Dassin and Adriano Celentano, who did you work with better?
- Joe Dassin, alas, is no more. He was an extraordinary person. I'm happy to have worked with him. And Celentano is my friend. It's just hard to work with him.
- And why?
We have similar voices. And I write songs that can suit both me and Celentano. So there are moments of jealousy.

Second story, career

In fact, almost all the songs from some collection of the best Joe Dassin were written by Toto Cutugno. And “If it wasn’t for you”, and “Hi, it’s me again”, and “Luxembourg Gardens” - this is all Cutugno. It began with "Africa" ​​(as the song was called in Italian), which the authors of Dassin turned into "Indian Summer". Then Toto often came to Joe Dassin at his house near Paris, and fourteen songs were published.
Composer Toto Cutugno often overshadowed the singer Toto. Sometimes in Sanremo Cutugno competed with two or three of his own songs! His melodies sounded, but Cutugno himself (who sang, by the way, in different groups) did not arouse much interest.
Italian legend says that one day Cutugno was supposed to write a screensaver for a TV show. But, since he was not sure that the option would be approved, he sang the song himself, without referring to other singers. The team filming the program, led by the presenter, was fascinated and said: there is no need for another performer. It was Donna, donna mia. Very quickly, "Donna" became the leader of the charts in Italy and France, and Toto began to be treated as a good singer.

Again the telephone bridge "Moscow - Milan"

- Toto, when you came to San Remo with the song "Italian", we in Russia simply fell in love with this hit. But, they say, was the song a challenge for the Italians themselves?
- Yes, of course, it was an experiment, and a difficult experiment - to sing to Italians about the Italians themselves. But I liked this song so much that I decided to try it. And he was right - the song spread all over the world.
– Is it still relevant today?
– I wrote about traditions in Italy 28 years ago. Of course, if I were writing about Italians now, I would write a different song.
– I know, Toto, you have a collection of vinyl records. And after the advent of the CD, there was no desire to throw out all the outdated format?
- No problem. I have excellent equipment that allows you to listen to both vinyl and CD. I'm not that retrograde.

Story three, about health

In 2007, Cutugno suffered a terrible blow: cancer. Concerts were canceled, Toto went for surgery and chemotherapy sessions. And suddenly - a miracle! Cutugno goes to the festival in San Remo, releases CDs, travels with concerts.
Actually, about this - the last inclusion of the telephone bridge "Moscow - Milan".
- I understand that this is a difficult question ... You were diagnosed with cancer, you underwent surgery. Are you talking about it?
“I haven’t been asked this in a long time, but since you brought it up…”
I, as a person who has suffered a similar illness, believe that everyone needs to be tested. Do preventive research. I encourage both women and men to do this. Women need to be tested for breast cancer, cervical cancer. Men for prostate cancer. Keeping everything under control is very important.
- Immediately after the operation, you took the risk of once again participating in the festival in San Remo ...
“It was a challenge to myself. I returned to work, which I love very much, which brings me wonderful emotions. I got through it, got a wonderful experience. Now I feel good.
– Thank you, and good health to you, Toto!
Yes, health is God's greatest gift.
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Photo by Legion-Media, Photas, from personal archive

Toto Cutugno is one of those performers whose work is clearly associated with a certain era. He was loved, he was imitated, they went crazy over him. Today, it seems, he has already retired and practically does not appear on the big stage. However, his name is still the same as many years ago, excites the hearts of former listeners. You want to sing along to his songs, his lyrics (even those sung in a foreign language) are remembered in an instant. It all seems like magic. Although, perhaps, another explanation can be found for the phenomenon of Toto Cutugno. After all, this Italian singer has always been distinguished by his great talent, which, for sure, has not faded even after so many years.

Childhood and early years of Toto Cutugno

Salvatore (abbreviated as Toto) Cutugno was born in the small Italian town of Fosdinovo. His father played the trumpet, and therefore music from an early age has always occupied a central place in the life of the future singer. When Toto was still a child, his family moved to La Spezia. It was here that the future musician began to comprehend the basics of musical literacy. Together with his father, he learned to play the trumpet. However, the boy easily mastered the accordion and percussion instruments himself. At the age of thirteen, Toto Cutugno first appeared on the big stage: at the local show of young talents, the future famous singer took a modest third place.

But this did not bother the young performer at all. Improving his skills as a musician, Toto began to play in various musical groups, in which he mainly acted as a drummer. It is noteworthy that Cutugno did not have any “own” team at that time. Taking with him only drumsticks, Toto constantly dangled from one rehearsal to another, helping in writing songs for a variety of groups.

At the age of 18, the musician begins to seriously get involved in jazz. Forgetting about the drum kit for a while, he improves his piano playing skills and soon achieves serious success in this field. A year later, he begins performing with the famous Italian jazzman Guido Manusardi. It is with this group that Toto goes on his first foreign tour. The distant and mysterious Finland became the country of following. It is here that the future maestro will first understand what real success is. The audience greeted the jazz band with a standing ovation. A whole choir of human voices sang along with each new composition ...

It was during this period that the young performer decides to devote his entire future life to music. Returning to his homeland, Toto Cutugno creates his own team - "Toto and Tati". The musicians learn several songs that were popular at that time and begin touring Italy.

Toto Cutugno's career as a composer

In the next couple of years, the Toto and Tati group traveled all over Italy. The guys performed at discos, bars and clubs. The audience accepted them quite warmly, but the performances of the group did not have much success. To some extent, this fact was explained by the fact that the young group performed hits by already established performers, and therefore could not develop their own special style.

However, it was the performances of "Toto and Tati" that gave a big impetus to the further work of Toto Cutugno.

At one of the performances, the young performer was noticed by the famous Italian songwriter Vito Pallavicini. Inviting Toto to his studio, he asked him to perform several compositions of his own composition. The famous master liked the melodies of the young pianist, and soon the two musicians begin to work together. In 1974, the creative tandem recorded their first composition. Soon the song gets into Joe Dassin's repertoire and after being translated into French it gets the name L`été Indien (Indian Summer).

Toto Cutugno - Indian Summer

The composition becomes a European hit and one of the most popular songs of the French artist. In the next couple of years, Joe Dassin and Toto Cutugno collaborate closely with each other. As a result of this, his best songs appear in the repertoire of the French singer - Et si tu n`éxistais pas, Salut and many other compositions. In the same period, Toto Cutugno began to collaborate with other popular performers. The songs of the young composer are performed by such stars as Adriano Celentano, Mireille Mathieu, Michel Sardou and many others.

Variety career of Toto Cutugno

In 1976, Toto Cutugno began performing with the Albatross group. In the same year, their composition Volo AZ 504 takes third place in the competition in San Remo. A year later, the group again storms the stage of the legendary Ariston Theater, but the song Gran Premio only brings it fifth place.

In the same year, the group breaks up and Toto Cutugno begins to perform as a solo artist. In 1980, the performer won the competition in San Remo with the composition Solo noi. The song becomes a national hit and very quickly brings popularity to the young singer. Toto Cutugno begins to tour a lot. Several more awards appear in his personal collection. The singer lives the life of a pop star.

However, international fame will come to him only three years later, when at the same festival in Sanremo the performer will present the composition L'italiano, which will later become a real hallmark of the singer. Subsequently, Toto Cutugno will participate in the competition program of the festival in Sanremo several times. And each of his new compositions will be a great success.

Toto Cutugno - L "italiano (Sanremo 1983)

In 1990, Toto Cutugno won the Eurovision Song Contest, and the next year he became the host of the competition in Rome. At this point, his fame reaches its zenith. The famous Italian becomes a real national hero, and his songs become the calling card of Italy. During his life, the singer has released 17 albums, as well as countless memorable songs.

It is worth noting that today Toto Cutugno quite often gives concerts in the post-Soviet countries. In 2009, the singer came to Moscow. In 2010 and 2011 he gave concerts in Kyiv. In the same years, the artist came to Belarus twice, noting himself with concerts in Minsk and Vitebsk.

On July 7, the famous Italian singer and composer Toto Cutugno, which still enjoys no less popularity in our country than in its homeland. In the 1980-1990s. his songs "Solo noi" and "L'italiano" were known by heart by millions of listeners. He is still actively touring, never tired of complimenting Slavic women, although he warns them against the danger in his face.

The first music lessons for the future singer were given by his father, a sailor who was fond of playing the trumpet. From the age of 7, the boy began to play the trumpet and drums, then mastered the guitar and accordion. Toto (Salvatore) Cutugno never received a professional musical education; he was a self-taught nugget.

He initially did not dream of the stage and appeared on it as a solo artist quite late. He first toured with bands, playing various musical instruments. Cutugno wrote his first songs at the age of 13, and became famous only after 30, when Joe Dassin began to perform his compositions, and then Celentano, Mireille Mathieu and Dalida.

His first song contest was held in San Remo in 1976. Then he and his group "Albatross" got 3rd place. And since 1980, Cutugno took up a solo career, and in the same year the song "Solo noi" brought him victory at the competition in San Remo. 3 years later, at the same festival, he performed another hit - "L'italiano", which brought him worldwide popularity and became a hallmark for many years. And in 1990, Toto Cutugno became the winner of Eurovision.

Throughout his creative life, the singer has released 17 albums and a huge number of hits. He became a real national hero of Italy, who was loved abroad no less than at home. And with women, he enjoyed simply phenomenal success - fans followed him everywhere. Cutugno did not hide the fact that he was married and would never leave Carla, but he had affairs. “I love women, I like everything in them, even flaws,” says the singer.

Now Carla is already calmly reacting to the fact that her husband spends a lot of time with his illegitimate son, but once the news of his appearance became a real drama for her. But she had to put up with the singer's infidelity. In an interview, Cutugno admitted: “I’m actually dangerous and very smart! There can be only one problem in marriage - infidelity. It is dangerous that at some point someone does not stand up and changes. But I'm an artist and I need inspiration. Yes, I changed. But I have only one woman of heart - this is my wife. Many women would like to be close to the famous artist Toto Cutugno. And with Salvatore, who at that time had neither a big name nor money, there was only Carl's wife. She was from a rich family and loved me as a simple guy. For this I am very grateful to her. And today our love has grown into something more.”

He first came to the USSR in 1986, and since then the number of his fans in the post-Soviet countries has only been growing. He said about his first visit: “Then I did not even suspect how popular he was in the Soviet Union. I had 15 concerts at Luzhniki, and then 14 in St. Petersburg. I remember that for every performance at Luzhniki I was accompanied by an escort of cars with special guards. Fans literally fell at my feet. To be honest, I was so shocked by the reception in the Soviet Union that I could not recover from this tour for a long time.

The singer does not get tired of complimenting the Slavs and admits that they are more romantic than the Italians. But he warns fans against excessive fanaticism and exaltation. He says that he would never have agreed to a long-term relationship with a Russian woman - he would not have endured the stress due to "an explosive mixture of temperament and melancholy."

In 2007, the singer was diagnosed with a malignant tumor. He underwent a complex operation, several sessions of chemotherapy and stopped performing for some time. But he managed to steadfastly endure all the difficulties, recover and, to the delight of the fans, return to the stage.

The actor still does not stop active touring and hosts several television and radio shows. Over the past 10 years, he has repeatedly visited Moscow, Kyiv, Odessa, Minsk and Vitebsk. Despite the unrelenting success and love of the audience, he speaks of his abilities as follows: “I am a singing composer with more than modest vocal abilities and some ability to turn on the hall. It's not vocals - so, a conversation in a pleasant company.

Until now, at concerts, he is asked to perform the song "L'italiano", because this one has become music for all time.