Il Giardino dei Semplici

Career

The group formed in Naples in September 1974, but it was officially launched in early 1975 under the production of Giancarlo Bigazzi and Totò Savio. They got an almost immediate success, with several singles charting on the Italian hit parade. Characterized by a style which mixes Neapolitan tradition and melodic pop-rock, they got their biggest hit in 1976, peaking at the third place on the Italian hit parade with Tu, ca nun chiagne, a cover version of a 1915 Canzone Napoletana classic. In 1977 the group entered the main competition at the Sanremo Music Festival with the song Miele, which sold 1 million copies. They attended at the popular music competition Festivalbar three times, scoring three smash-hits: M'innamorai (1975); Vai (1976); Concerto in La Minore (dedicato a lei) (1978). Their 1979 song Silvie was a success in the Scandinavian countries. Later, the song was covered by artist Katri Helena with the name Helsingin helle, turining into a hit in Finland. In 1982, the group decided to self-produce their later works. In 2013, their album Argento vivo mixed pop with rock and spawned five videoclips. Il Giardino dei Semplici celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2015 with the releases of an autobiographical book and a new live CD. Their celebrative gig at the RAI Auditorium in Naples has been filmed by the nationwide TV.

They have performed an estimate of 1.800 concerts all across Italy, as well as tours in the States and Canada in 1978 and Romania in 1992.

In 2001, two members of GDS co-wrote and co-produced the Italian hit Turuturu (often spelled as Turu Turu) - 3d place at the Sanremo Festival in the "Young Section" - which eventually sold 1 million and 200.000 copies in the world once being rearranged and performed by various artists as Sandy & Junior and Gisela.

Tommy Esposito, drummer of the band since 1980, is one of the lyricists and composers of the smash-hit song Grande amore, performed by Il Volo in 2015.

Personnel

Discography