The singer of ethno-rock and jazz, Italian-Sardinian Andrea Parodi, died quite young, having lived only 51 years. His work was dedicated to his small homeland - the island of Sardinia. The folk music singer did not get tired of introducing the melodies of his native land to the international pop crowd.
And Sardinia, after the death of the singer, director and producer, perpetuated the memory of him. The museum exhibition dedicated to Andrea was created in 2010. In 2015, a new park named after him was opened in the Sardinian city of Nulvi. His legacy is also preserved in the Andrea Parodi Foundation and the annual world music award.
Childhood and youth of Andrea Parodi
The unremarkable childhood of a boy on the sunny island of Sardinia. Ross, went to school, played wind instruments in the municipal orchestra. He graduated from the Institute of Navigation, was interested in underwater fishing, taught at his own university. But music was his only passion.
Musical career. Start
At the age of 22, Parodi finally comes close to fulfilling his dream. The Sardinian musical group Il Coro Degli Angeli has added another member. They became Andrea Parodi. The guys playing light folk and pop music were noticed at one of the performances by the already famous Italian performer Gianni Morandi.
The perky young musicians were to the taste of many, but Morandi saw more than the rest. Gianni began to actively promote the group, attracting them to his performances. Often the musicians played as an opening act, and became more and more recognizable. Joint tours with Morandi bring them recognition, but fame comes a little later.
Renaming the group to Sole Nero, the musicians win the prestigious Italian competition RCA Cento Cittyu. Get all-Italian fame and love of the hot Italian public. And Andrea Parodi declares himself as the leader and main protagonist of the team.
Tazenda - the first pop group in Sardinia
After a decade of concert activity in Sole Nero, Andrea, together with Gino Marielli and Gigi Camedo, create the first pop group in Sardinia. Ethno-pop-rock-jazz band Tazenda performs songs in Sardinian and Italian. Several times they take part in the mega popular international festival "San Remo".
In 1992, with the composition "Preghiera Semplice" they won the largest Festivalbar, a competition in Cantajiro. And this song, "A Simple Prayer" brings them the long-awaited recognition and world fame. The prestigious national award "Telegatto" is awarded to them in the nomination "Best Group of the Year".
This period of time (1988-97) is the most fruitful: 5 records and the collection "Il sole di Tazenda" are released, and Parodi records several compositions with world celebrities. The group is known far beyond Sardinia and Italy, but Andrea decides to leave the band and pursue a solo career.
Solo career
The next decade is a time of experimentation for Parodi. He performs songs in the style of folk-jazz, ethno-pop. He tries his hand at directing and producing, participates in art projects, shoots a documentary film. And all this is about her, her native Sardinia, her customs and culture. It is important to note that despite the great popularity, Parodi's first solo albums went unnoticed and did not bring much success to the singer.
But Andrea was not used to giving up and after a short period of time his work was appreciated: in the period from 2005 to 2007 he was awarded the Lunezia (2005), Maria Carta (2006), Otoka (2006), and, posthumously, the Tenko Prize for disc "Rosa Resolza", recorded together with Elena Ledda (2007).
Throughout his creative career, Andrea has recorded 13 full-length albums, and his compositions, recorded in collaboration with other pop stars, were included in the large collection of world hits "World Music - Il giro del mondo in musica".
His partners at different times were El di Meola, Noah, Silvio Rodriguez and many other famous performers.
2005-2006 year. End
In 2005, Andrea returned to old friends in Tazenda, recording a joint album "Revival". They make plans for the future and return the group to its former popularity.
But the news comes like a bolt from the blue: Parodi has been diagnosed with cancer. The heroic struggle with the disease did not bring results. Three weeks before his death, fans still saw their idol on stage. But on October 17, 2006, Andrea Parodi passed away. The insidious disease turned out to be stronger this time.
Immortality Andrea Parodi
They say that a person is alive as long as the memory of him is alive. Andrea Parodi is still remembered today. Hundreds of songs, thousands of fans, family and children keep the memory of the singer of his native land. After the death of the musician, the family established the Foundation named after him, the main task of which remains Andrea's life's work.
The culture, language, customs and music of Sardinia must be known to the whole world. The Foundation promotes this idea, provides social support to the population, and annually, in November, the artists and artists of the Mediterranean are awarded the Parodi Prize.
