Zucchero

Zucchero, the stage name of Adelmo Fornaciari, is an Italian singer from Roncocesi in Italy, born in 1955. His name means “sugar” in Italian. He begins his musical career in 1970, releases his first single in 1976 and his first album in 1983.

Style and language

He performs in Italian, Spanish and English, and his music draws on gospel, blues and rock. His work combines slower ballads with more rhythmic, boogie-influenced songs. He is associated with pop rock and soul as well as rock, blues, pop and soft rock.

Notable songs and collaborations

Zucchero is best known internationally for Senza Una Donna, a duet with Paul Young that reaches number 4 in the UK singles chart in 1991. Other European hit singles include Il Volo (with the English version My Love), Cosi Celeste, Baila (Sexy Thing), Diamante, featuring Randy Crawford, and Wonderful World, recorded with Eric Clapton.

He also records or performs duets with Joe Cocker, Miles Davis, Andrea Bocelli, Sting, Luciano Pavarotti, Tom Jones and Johnny Hallyday. His 2004 album ZU & Co includes collaborations with Miles Davis, Paul Young, Sheryl Crow, Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries, B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Maná, Brian May and Sting, and it sells millions of copies across Europe and internationally. It also enters the Billboard 200 in the United States.

Live work and wider profile

He takes part in the Live 8 concerts in Rome and Paris in 2005. He becomes one of the best-known Italian singers, although he makes little commercial impact in the United Kingdom outside Senza Una Donna.