Zucchero

Zucchero, the stage name of Adelmo Fornaciari (born in Roncocesi, a hamlet of Reggio Emilia, on September 25, 1955), is one of the most significant Italian singer-songwriters to emerge in the Eighties, known for bringing blues and soul into the national mainstream, with a recognizable style that fuses African-American roots, Italian singer-songwriter tradition and international pop-rock influences. His career, marked by unusual longevity and a significant international profile, has gone through several evolving phases while retaining a underlying consistency tied to the emotional and physical core of his singing.

Fornaciari first got close to music between the late Seventies and the early Eighties, after youthful experiences that included listening to rhythm and blues, gospel and British rock. After a few short-lived projects (including Sugar & Daniel and Taxi), in 1983 he released his debut solo album, "Un po' di Zucchero", still raw and lacking a clear identity, but already driven by a pull toward transatlantic sounds. The real turning point came with "Zucchero & The Randy Jackson Band" (1985), on which he worked with a lineup of American musicians, beginning to shape a formula blending soul, funk and Italian melody.

Recognition arrived in 1987 with "Blue's", a watershed album that sealed the meeting between the authenticity of Black music and pop accessibility. Tracks such as "Senza una donna", "Con le mani" and "Hey Man" built a sound identity marked by groove, rich arrangements and lyrics halfway between pathos, irony and instinct. The record sold over a million copies, a rare milestone for Italian music at the time.

In 1989, with "Oro Incenso & Birra", Zucchero reached the peak of commercial success. The album, recorded between Italy and the United States with contributions from artists such as Eric Clapton and Rufus Thomas, confirmed his ability to combine international ambition with national roots. Tracks like "Diavolo in me", "Il mare impetuoso al tramonto salì sulla luna e dietro una tendina di stelle…" and a new version of "Senza una donna" cemented Fornaciari's eclecticism. The record became one of the best-selling in the history of Italian music.

In the Nineties Zucchero deepened his ties with the Anglo-American music world. In 1992 came "Miserere", the result of a collaboration with Luciano Pavarotti and Bono of U2, who co-wrote the lyrics of the title track. The album, among the most introspective in his catalogue, revealed a more reflective and less hedonistic dimension, while still keeping its underlying soul-rock framework.

Next came "Spirito DiVino" (1995), which included hits such as "Il volo" and "X colpa di chi?", revealing an increasingly confident attitude toward the international market, reinforced by English-language versions of the songs and world tours. In 1998 he released "Bluesugar", a work seeking a balance between light electronics, classic songwriting and world-music influences, though it met with a less enthusiastic critical and commercial response than its predecessors.

The new millennium saw Zucchero focus on consolidating his sound and returning to his roots. With "Shake" (2001) he returned to a more direct, groove-oriented sound, buoyed by tracks like "Baila (Sexy Thing)", which achieved considerable success abroad as well. "Fly" (2006) and "Chocabeck" (2010) followed, the latter produced with the collaboration of Don Was and Brendan O'Brien, earning praise for its cohesion and depth, with lyrics drawing on the singer's childhood and a more intimate, rural imagery.

In 2004 he also released "Zu & Co.", a collection of duets with international artists (including Sting, Miles Davis, Sheryl Crow, Maná), a project designed to bolster his global reputation. The album achieved solid success in Europe and the United States.

In recent years Zucchero has alternated new releases with large-scale tours. "Black Cat" (2016) marked a return to darker, more gospel-oriented tones, while "D.O.C." (2019) leaned toward more modern sounds, still filtered through a strong authorial stamp. Live performance remains the favored dimension for his artistic expression, as shown by his numerous concerts in stadiums and at international festivals, including the prestigious stage of the Royal Albert Hall and that of Glastonbury Festival.

In 2021 he released "Discover", his first album made entirely of covers, followed in 2024 by "Discover II", which further expanded the project with Italian-language versions of songs by Killers, Bleachers, U2 and Dylan, as well as tributes to Ivan Graziani and new collaborations with Jack Savoretti, Salmo and Russell Crowe. Alongside this, he carried out an extensive live schedule with the "World Wild Tour" (2022–2023), covering more than 30 countries, and with the 2025 "Overdose d'Amore Tour", which brought him back to Italian stadiums. Though he has largely stepped back from writing new original material, he has kept up a strong stage and media presence, cementing his image as an international interpreter of Mediterranean soul, with more than sixty million records sold and a career that keeps renewing itself without losing its essence.

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