I Camaleonti

I Camaleonti in 1968

I Camaleonti ("The Chameleons") are an Italian pop group from Milan, mostly active between the late 1960s and the early 1970s.

Background

I Camaleonti were formed in 1962 in Milan. They initially adopted a beat repertoire, and had their first success with a cover of the Small Faces' "Sha-La-La-La-Lee".[1][2] The turning point took place in 1966, when vocalist and guitarist Riki Maiocchi left the group to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Mario Lavezzi.[1] With Lavezzi on board, the group gradually began to switch to a more melodic sound, soon achieving popular success with a modern rendition of a popular 1930s tune penned by Cesare Andrea Bixio, "Portami tante rose".[1] Between 1968 and 1973 Camaleonti had four singles topping the Italian charts, including "Applausi", "Io per lei" and "L'ora dell'amore", and two others peaking on second place.[2] Between 1970 and 1993 they entered the Sanremo Music Festival five times, (the last time along with Dik Dik and Equipe 84's lead singer Maurizio Vandelli), finishing third in 1979 with "Quell'attimo in più".[1] Despite numerous line-up changes, the band is still active to these days.

Personnel

  • Livio Macchia: vocals, guitar (1963–present)
  • Antonio "Tonino" Cripezzi: vocals, keyboards (1963–present)
  • Valerio Veronese: guitar, vocals (1985–present)
  • Massimo Brunetti: keyboards, flute (1990–present)
  • Massimo di Rocco: drums (2004–present)
  • Matteo Arosio: tibetan bell (2006-present)

Past members

  • Paolo de Ceglie: drums (1963-2004, died in 2004)
  • Gerardo "Gerry" Manzoli: bass (1963-1982)
  • Riki Maiocchi: vocals, guitar (1965-1966)
  • Mario Lavezzi: vocals, guitar (1966-1968)
  • Gabriele Lorenzi: keyboards (1967-1968)
  • Dave Sumner: guitar (1973-1980)
  • Vincenzo Mancuso: guitar, flute (1981-1984)

Discography

Studio Albums

  • 1966 - The best records in the world
  • 1967 - Portami tante rose
  • 1968 - Io per lei
  • 1969 - Vita d'uomo (EP)
  • 1973 - I magnifici Camaleonti
  • 1974 - Amicizia e amore
  • 1975 - Piccola Venere ed altri successi
  • 1976 - Che aereo stupendo… la speranza
  • 1977 - In vendita
  • 1979 - ...e camminiamo
  • 1993 - Come passa il tempo e i più grandi successi
  • 1996 - Libero
  • 1997 - Applausi ed altri successi
  • 2001 - 2001 ed oltre
  • 2004 - 40 anni di musica e applausi
  • 2006 - Storia
  • 2010 - Camaleonti Live

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Eddy Anselmi. Festival di Sanremo: almanacco illustrato della canzone italiana. Panini Comics, 2009. ISBN 8863462291.
  2. 1 2 Dario Salvatori. Storia dell'Hit Parade. Gramese, 1989. ISBN 8876054391.
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