Sad news out of Italy today, the family of Franco Gatti has announced the singer’s death at the age of 80. Franco was a member of Ricchi e Poveri. The group represented Italy at Eurovision in 1978 with the song “Questo amore (This love)”, finishing in 12th place with 53 points in Paris.
According to the Italian news outlet Il Messaggero, sources close to the family said that Gatti’s health condition had become worse over the previous few weeks. His funeral will take place on Thursday in Genoa.
So huge were Ricchi e Poveri that many Italians are reacting to the news today, including Italy’s new Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. In a Tweet she wrote,
“There goes a piece of Italian music history, a man who faced the painful challenges of life with great dignity. Bye, Franco.”
Se ne va un pezzo di storia della musica italiana, un uomo che ha affrontato con grande dignità le dolorose sfide della vita. Ciao, Franco. #ricchiepoveri pic.twitter.com/Aeu9FvK198
— Giorgia Meloni 🇮🇹 ن (@GiorgiaMeloni) October 18, 2022
Franco never truly recovered from the death of his son in 2013. He was found lifeless just before Ricchi e Poveri were due to take the stage at Sanremo, after he had consumed a lethal amount of alcohol and drugs. In a later interview, Gatti commented,
My colleagues and friends continue to work. I stopped because I no longer went on stage with joy.
His final performance on stage was in February 2020. Ricchi e Poveri reunited for the 70th edition of the Sanremo Festival, and sung a medley of their hits, including “Sarà perché ti amo”.
The group was formed in 1968, and competed at Sanremo many times. Notably, they finished second in 1970 and 1971, and won the Festival in 1985 with “Se m’innamoro”.
Our team sends condolences to the family and friends of Franco Gatti in these difficult times.
