Enzo Gragnaniello (born 20 October 1954) is an Italian singer-songwriter and composer.

Life and career

Born in

Quartieri Spagnoli Quartieri Spagnoli (; ) is an area of the city of Naples, Italy. The area, encompassing c. 800,000 square metres, consists of a grid of around eighteen streets by twelve, including a population of some 14,000 inhabitants. The ''Quartieri'' wer ...

Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...

, Gragnaniello began playing the guitar at the age of 12 and began composing his first songs at 18 years old. In 1977 he formed the group "Banchi nuovi", named after the Committee of unemployed people to which he belonged. Gragnaniello made his solo debut in 1983, with the eponymous album ''Enzo Gragnaniello''. In 1986 he received his first

Targa Tenco The Targa Tenco ("Tenco Plaque") is a prize awarded annually by the Club Tenco. Founded in 1984, it has a large jury of 200 journalists and critics awarding the best works of the year.Cantore, Lalla (1990). "Club Tenco". Castaldo, Gino (edited by) ...

, an award he won again in 1990, 1999 and 2020. In 1991 his song "Cu'mmè", recorded by Roberto Murolo and

Mia Martini Domenica Rita Adriana Bertè (; 20 September 1947 – 12 May 1995), known professionally as Mia Martini (), was an Italian singer, songwriter and musician.James Christopher MongerMia Martini allmusic.com In 1999 he entered the competition at the

Sanremo Music Festival The Sanremo Music Festival ( ), officially the Italian Song Festival (), is the most popular Italian song contest and awards ceremony, held annually in the city of Sanremo, Liguria, organized and broadcast by (RAI). It is the longest-running ...

in a duet with

Ornella Vanoni Ornella Vanoni (; born 22 September 1934) is an Italian singer. She is one of the longest-standing Italian artists, having started performing in 1956. She has released about 112 works between LP, EPs and greatest hits albums, and is considered ...

, ranking fourth with the song "Alberi". As a vocalist his husky voice has been compared to

Tom Waits Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American musician, composer, songwriter, and actor. His lyrics often focus on society's underworld and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice. He began in the American folk music, fo ...

. Gragnaniello composed songs for

Andrea Bocelli Andrea Bocelli (; born 22 September 1958) is an Italian tenor. He rose to fame in 1994 after winning the newcomers' section of the 44th Sanremo Music Festival performing " Il mare calmo della sera". Since 1994, Bocelli has recorded 15 solo st ...

Adriano Celentano Adriano Celentano (; born 6 January 1938) is an Italian singer-songwriter, actor, showman, and filmmaker. He is dubbed ''Il Molleggiato'' ('the springy one') because of his energetic dancing. Celentano's many albums frequently enjoyed both com ...

, Gerardina Trovato among others. He is also active as a composer of musical scores for stage plays and films.

Discography

Album

* 1983 - ''Enzo Gragnaniello '' * 1985 - ''Salita Trinità degli Spagnoli '' * 1990 - ''Fujente'' * 1991 - ''Veleno mare e ammore'' * 1993 - ''Un mondo che non c'è'' * 1994 - ''Cercando il sole'' * 1996 - ''Posteggiatore abusivo'' * 1996 - ''Continuerò'' * 1998 - ''Neapolis mantra'' * 1998 - ''Canzoni di rabbia canzoni d'amore'' * 1999 - ''Oltre gli alberi'' * 1999 - ''Dai Quartieri al S.Carlo'' * 2001 - ''Balìa'' * 2003 - ''Tribù e passione'' (with James Senese) * 2003 - ''The Best of Enzo Gragnaniello'' * 2005 - ''Quanto mi costa'' * 2007 - ''L'Erba Cattiva'' * 2011 - ''Radice'' * 2013 - ''Live'' *2015 - ''Misteriosamente'' *2019 - ''Lo chiamavano vient' 'e terra'' *2021 - ''Rint’ ‘o posto sbagliato''

References

External links

*
Enzo Gragnaniello
at

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gragnaniello, Enzo 1954 births Italian male singers Living people Musicians from Naples Singers from Naples Italian male singer-songwriters 20th-century Italian singer-songwriters 21st-century Italian singer-songwriters Italian pop singers Italian folk singers Italian film score composers Italian male film score composers 20th-century Italian composers 20th-century male composers 21st-century Italian composers Italian rock singers