La Biondawere an Italiandiscoduo consisting of siblings Carmelo (1949–2022) and Michelangelo La Bionda (born 1952). They are considered among the pioneers of theItalo discomusic genre.[1]
La Bionda | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Also known as | D. D. Sound (1977–1981) |
| Origin | Italy |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1970–2022 |
| Labels | |
| Past members |
|
The siblings were born inRamacca,Sicilyand moved toMilan,Lombardyin 1954.
History
editBeginnings
editCarmelo was born on 2 February 1949, and Michelangelo on 25 August 1952 inRamacca,Sicily.Their family moved toMilanin 1954.
Music career
editThey debuted as songwriters with "Primo sole, primo fiore", a piece the pop bandRicchi e Poveripresented at the Song Festival in Venice in 1970. They also wrote "Neve bianca, Amica, Gentile se vuoi" for the Italian female singerMia Martini,and "Piccolo uomo"withBruno Lauzi(lyrics). Michelangelo La Bionda also did some session work. In 1975, he played acoustic guitar on the albumVolume VIIIbyFabrizio De André.
Between 1972 and 1977, La Bionda recorded two albums of acoustic ballads,Fratelli La Bionda s.r.l.(1972) andTutto Va Bene(1977). "Tutto va bene" was recorded at the Apple Studios in London, and featuresNicky Hopkinson piano.
La Bionda became popular when they turned to disco music. They moved to Munich, when they started recording under the pseudonym D. D. Sound (short for Disco Delivery Sound), a moniker that would accompany them for their entire recording career. Their first two disco singles, "Disco Bass" and "Burning Love", became international hits. They were followed by "Cafè" (1977) and "1, 2, 3, 4 Gimme Some More".
In 1978, they released their album,La Bionda.It included "Sandstorm" (produced byDieter Bohlen) and "There for Me",as well as the worldwide hit" One for You, One for Me ". From 1978 to 1981, La Bionda continued to record more dance music, either under their name (as with the albumsBandido,High EnergyandI Wanna Be Your Lover) or as D. D. Sound (as with the singlesCafe,The Hootchie Cootchie,andWake Up in the Night). Following the 1980s, La Bionda focused on writing, producing and publishing music.
Songwriting and production
editIn the 1980s, La Bionda scored thesoundtracksfor many films directed bySergioandBruno Corbucci,includingSuper Fuzz(1980),Who Finds a Friend Finds a Treasure(1981), starring Bud Spencer and Terence Hill,My Darling, My Dearest(1981),Cat and Dog(1983),A tu per tu(1984),Miami Supercops(1985) andRoba da ricchi(1987), as well asVirtual Weapon(1997), directed byAntonio Margheriti.They also composed the theme from the television seriesInspector GiustiwithEnrico Montesano,and produced various commercial jingles, such as "Sorrisi is Magic for Smiles and Songs" (for the Italian magazineSorrisi & Canzoni), "Heart of Cream" (for Walls' Cornetto), "I'm Coming Home" (for Bayer Aspirin) andCoca-Cola.In 2009, they re-recorded "1, 2, 3, 4... Gimme Some More" for aVodafonecommercial and "One For You, One For Me" for the digital television channel Mediaset Premium.
In parallel, in 1983, they began their collaboration with the dance duoRigheira,writing their early hits "Vamos a la playa"and"No Tengo Dinero".In 1984, Carmelo La Bionda recorded a single as a solo artist." I Love You "/" You're So Fine "have been sampled by American BandNeon Indian.
Logic Studios
editIn 1985, La Bionda founded and started operating Logic Studios, arecording studioin Milan. Musicians who have recorded at Logic Studios over the years includeRay Charles,Robert Palmer,Paul Young,Depeche Modeas well as pop stars likeLaura Pausini,Nek,RihannaandPooh.
Personal lives
editCarmelo La Bionda died of cancer on 5 November 2022, at the age of 73.[2]
Discography
editLa Bionda
D. D. Sound
- 1-2-3-4 Gimme Some More!(1977)
- Disco Delivery(1977)
- Café(1978)
- The Hootchie Cootchie(1979)
References
editCitations
edit- ^"La Bionda".Sonyatv.Retrieved3 May2012.
- ^"Morto Carmelo La Bionda, con fratello inventò la disco italiana".Ansa. 5 November 2022.Retrieved6 November2022.
- ^"La Bionda".Discogs.Retrieved1 March2021.
Sources
edit- Roberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums.London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 58.ISBN1-904994-10-5.
External links
edit
Mediafrom Commons
Quotationsfrom Wikiquote
Datafrom Wikidata
