Il Giardino dei Semplici

Il Giardino dei Semplici (also spelled just as Giardino dei Semplici and often referred as GDS) are an Italian pop-rock music group, mainly successful in the 1970s and 1980s. Formed in late 1974 and officially launched in early 1975, throughout four decades they have released 11 studio records, 3 live albums, 3 collections of re-recorded tracks, 18 singles and many Greatest Hits albums.

Il Giardino dei Semplici, 2013.

The group is well-known for its lead vocalists and singing in its signature choral falsetto; their music is a cohesive blend of genres.

Career

The group was formed in Naples by Gianni Averardi and Gianfranco Caliendo, in June 1974; it was officially launched in 1975 under the production of Giancarlo Bigazzi and Totò Savio. They got an almost immediate huge success, with several singles charting on the Italian hit parade.[1][2] 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.[1][2] In 1977 the group entered the main competition at the Sanremo Music Festival with the song Miele, which sold 1 million copies.[1] 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 title Helsingin helle, becoming a hit in Finland. In 1982, the group decided to self-produce their work.[1] Their bestseller in the Eighties was the album Ed è subito Napoli, which revisited classic Neapolitan songs through acoustic, electric and electronica music arrangements. In 2001, lead singer and guitarist Gianfranco Caliendo co-wrote and co-produced the Italian hit Turuturu (often spelled as Turu Turu) - 3rd 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.

In 2012, co-founder, frontman, lead singer, guitarist and composer Gianfranco Caliendo left the band to pursue a solo career, releasing three albums so far.

Il Giardino dei Semplici celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2015 with the releases of an autobiographical book and a new live album. They have performed an estimate of 2,000 concerts all across Italy, as well as tours in the States and Canada in 1978 and Romania in 1992.

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
  • Andrea Arcella (keyboards, piano, synths, programming, backing and guest vocals)
  • Luciano Liguori (bass guitar, lead vocals, backing vocals)
  • Savio Arato (electric and acoustic guitar, backing and guest vocals)
  • Tommy Esposito (drums, percussions, drum programming, backing and guest vocals)
Former members
  • Gianfranco Caliendo (1974-2012; electric and acoustic guitar, lead vocals)
  • Gianni Averardi (1974-1980; drums, percussions, backing and guest vocals)

Discography
Albums
  • 1976: Il Giardino dei Semplici (also known as Le Foglie, CBS, 81170)
  • 1977: Le Favole del Giardino (CBS, 82092)
  • 1979: B/N (also known as Bianco e nero, Wea, T 58089)
  • 1982: ...E amiamoci (F1 Team, LP 3354)
  • 1983: Giallo (F1 Team, LP 33304)
  • 1985: Ed è subito Napoli (Interfonia, 352)
  • 1989: Zingari (Vedette, 9336)
  • 1992: Voglia Di Tenerezza (Dischi Ricordi, ORK 79315)
  • 1993: Otto Quarantotto & Ventisette (Interbeat/WEA, 4509 92269-4)
  • 1997: Settelune (RTI/Nemo, NR 20792)
  • 2000: Canta e cammina (Celluloide, CD 307)
  • 2005: Napoli unplugged (Masar, MS 3000-2)
  • 2005: Trenta (Suonidelsud/Rai Trade, SS 003 ABC)
  • 2010: Live Trenta (Halidon, DVD + digital live album)
  • 2012: Semplicemente live (ADM, 0016)
  • 2013: Argento vivo (Halidon, H6774)
  • 2015: "Quella sera che inventai il tuo nome..." (Guida Editori/Mondadori - live album)

References
  1. Eddy Anselmi (2009). Festival di Sanremo: almanacco illustrato della canzone italiana. Panini Comics, 2009. ISBN 978-8863462296.
  2. Dario Salvatori (1989). Storia dell'Hit Parade. Gramese, 1989. ISBN 8876054391.
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