Sanremo Festival, heartbreaking mourning: one of the winners of the event has died

A great loss for the Italian music scene: one of the winners of the Sanremo Festival has died

The great mourning struck all Italian music, even more his incredulous traveling companions at the announcement of his death. Only two years ago they were together on the stage of the Ariston Theater in Sanremo.

(@ANSA / RICCARDO ANTIMIANI)

This morning Italy woke up to another great loss regarding the historic music scene. Franco Gatti died at the age of 80, one of the members of Ricchi e Poveri who also won the Sanremo Festival in 1985 with the song Se m’innamoro. There are 11 other participations in the most appreciated musical event of the Bel Paese, in addition to the participation in the EuroVision Song Contest in 1978.

Franco Gatti was one of the original members of the group that marked the history of Italian music with songs passed down from generation to generation. Only 9 years ago the member of Ricchi e Poveri lost his beloved son and today in Genoa he also died, leaving deep pain in the hearts of all those who loved him during of his professional career and private life.

Franco Gatti, one of the founders of Ricchi e Poveri, died at the age of 80

Rich and poor (@ANSA)

Only a year ago, Franco Gatti with his Ricchi e Poveri hid under the UFO of Il Cantante Mascherato, amusing particularly the public and the judges of Rai Uno in the show of Milly Carlucci. At 80, the singer died in his Ligurian home collecting many greetings on social networks. Roby Facchinetti – who knows very well what it means to lose a professional life partner – also joined in the grief: “He was a good man, loved and appreciated by all. At this painful moment I am close to the family and to your former traveling companions: Angela and Angelo. Bon voyage dear Franco, now you are going to join your beloved son”.

Even the president of the Liguria region, Giovanni Toti, left a last greeting on his Facebook profile: “Genoa and Italian music are losing one of the most beloved performers, Franco Gatti, the ‘mustache’ of rich and poor . The Genoese band, winners of the Sanremo Festival in 1985, found themselves two years ago after 40 years on the Ariston stage. The last performance that will remain in the hearts of the Italians”.