Italian singer-songwriter Salvatore "Toto" Cutugno, renowned for his 1983 hit "L'Italiano," has passed away at the age of 80, CNN reports.
Cutugno's manager, Danilo Mancuso, conveyed that he had died at Milan's San Raffaele Hospital after a prolonged illness that had intensified in recent months. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid tribute to Cutugno in a post on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), describing him as a "true Italian."
Ciao a Toto Cutugno, un Italiano vero. pic.twitter.com/8RH6hy7FmK
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) August 22, 2023
Born in Tuscany, Cutugno founded the disco band Albatros in 1974 and gained recognition not only as a performer but also as a songwriter for various European artists, including Johnny Hallyday and Dalida. Cutugno had a significant presence in Italy's Sanremo song contest, winning it in 1980 with "Solo Noi" and being a multiple-time runner-up.
However, he achieved widespread fame with his 1983 breakout hit "L'Italiano," a pop song that celebrated Italy's cultural identity. Although it didn't make a notable impact in the United States or the United Kingdom, the song propelled him to stardom across Europe.
In 1990, Cutugno secured Italy's second Eurovision Song Contest victory in Zagreb with his self-composed and written song "Insieme: 1992" ("Together: 1992"). The song conveyed a message of unity between nations, referencing the year when the European Union was anticipated to be established.
Per noi, amori senza confini
— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) August 22, 2023
Io e te, sotto gli stessi ideali
Insieme, unite, unite, Europe…
Rest in peace Toto Cutugno, winner of the 1990 Eurovision Song Contest 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/M2yIbpAL5b
"Per noi, amori senza confini (For us, loves without borders)
Io e te, sotto gli stessi ideali (you and I, under the same ideals)
Insieme (Together), unite, unite, Europe…," Eurovision quoted from his winning song on X, adding, "Rest in peace Toto Cutugno, winner of the 1990 Eurovision Song Contest."
In the subsequent year, during the Eurovision Song Contest held in Rome, Cutugno co-hosted the event alongside Italy's 1964 winner, Gigliola Cinquetti.
Salvatore "Toto" Cutugno is survived by his wife, Carla, and their son, Nicolo.
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