Italian Music Star Toto Cutugno's Career In Pictures In Memoriam

Toto Cutugno, the Italian singer who crafted unforgettable earworms that everyone could sing along to, passed away on August 22 at the age of 80. As we remember him, let's journey back in time through the significant stages of his life. It all started in Tuscany...

Salvatore "Toto" Cutugno was born in Tuscany in 1943 and discovered his musical talent during his childhood. After several attempts to form a band, he joined the music group Albatros in the seventies, and together they achieved their first hit, "Africa." This marked the beginning of his successful career.

After the band disbanded, he embarked on a solo career. His debut single, "Donna donna mia," released in 1978, gained fame primarily for being the theme song of the quiz show 'Scommettiamo?'. In the same year, he achieved his first number one hit with "Soli."

His song "L'Italiano" stands as one of the most renowned Italian songs ever, with its iconic chorus being recognized by almost everyone. The song whimsically revolves around themes of spaghetti, espressos, and Italian pride.

In 1990, the singer made national history. With his self-penned song "Insieme: 1992," he clinched victory at the Eurovision Song Contest in Zagreb, becoming the second artist from his country to achieve this feat. Gigliola Cinquetti had been the only one to achieve it before him.

Afterward, a period of relative quiet surrounded the singer. In 2007, he received a diagnosis of prostate cancer. In August 2023, he passed away after a prolonged battle with the illness. Throughout his career, he took part in the Sanremo Festival, the most significant pop music competition in Italy, a total of 15 times. However, he secured victory only once. The Italian artist was known for penning almost all of his songs, and his talent extended to aiding other artists with more than 300 songs.