BHappy birthday Caterina Caselli! One of the symbolic artists of Italian song, who taught many generations of women not to be judged and everyone else to live their own lives, Today he turns 80. Singer, actress and talent scout which he discovered so many talented musicians, he navigated with grace and intensity the stage of the Sanremo Festival and the golden age of the music industry Italian always with an eye towards the future.
Caterina caselli turns 80: «Music, the greatest passion of my life»
Birthday celebrations I am already started last Februarywhen Caselli received in Sanremo 2026, where he debuted 60 years ago with Nobody can judge me, the Lifetime Achievement Award. The producer who discovered many of the most talented artists of Italian music such as Andrea Bocelli, the Negramaros, Elisa, Madame, Lucio Corsi, he lived two lives and all in the name of music.
The first as a very young singer, overwhelmed in 1966 by the success of a song that became one of the symbols of the LGBTQIA+ movement which has made its flag of the freedom to be. Finally, the choice truly against the grain, to abandon the stage to always live on music but behind the scenes.
Accomplice to this decision the happy marriage with Piero Sugar and the birth, in 1978, of Filippo. «The best day of my life was when my son was born. I hugged him and felt something unique, so much happiness that I cried.” «I didn’t feel like going around anymore after I became a mother. I wanted to stay at home, get carried away.”
His second, very important career as a talent scout, discovering new trends and future successful singersit’s more satisfying than a concert. «I realized that when I listened to a song, I spontaneously thought about who, among my artists, could cover it». «When I made the program Let’s be on first terms with Giorgio Gaber, I proposed inviting a young, not popular guy. Giorgio told me: «I have one too». They were Francesco Guccini and Franco Battiato. We brought them on television.”
Caterina Caselli in 1966. (Getty Images)
Caterina Caselli turns 80: Nobody can judge me, Pardon, there Sugar
Born in Modena in 1946 From a butcher’s father and a knitter’s mother, he took his first musical steps in the clubs of the Riviera. In 1966, Adriano Celentano chooses for his performance at the Sanremo Festival The boy from Gluck street, discarding Nobody can judge me. Caterina Caselli jumps at the opportunity: accompanied by Gene Pitney, takes the stage and conquers everyone with one of his greatest hits. He described his musical exploits thus: «after Sanremo with Nobody can judge methe first evening is at the Rotonde di Garlasco. We arrive and I see a lot of cars parked on both sides of the road, never seen so many. Everything changed suddenly.”
A modern fairytale start like her blonde bob invention of the hairdresser Vergottini, which becomes a strong aesthetic symbol of contemporary femininity. The hit remains at the top of the charts for weeks but the singer doesn’t stop and shows off at the Festivalbar and in the same year Pardonanother cult song.
Consecrated as one of the icons of Pop music, give to fans I’m no longer with youa song signed by Paolo Conte of a poignant beauty. The meeting with Piero Sugar, belonging to the family of the record company of the same name, and their marriage celebrated in 1970allows her to come into contact with a new reality.
In 1989 he founded the independent label Sugar, become over the years one of the giants of music publishingnow led by his son Filippo. A welcome return to Sanremo 1990 with We should think only of you paired with Miriam Makeba and then the talent available to new artists.
Caterina Caselli in 2022. (Getty Images)
Private life: her husband Piero Sugar, illness, 100 minutes for you
In the 2021 documentary Caterina Caselli – One life, 100 lives, directed by Renato De Maria, he said not only all the joys and successes of a wonderful career but also the difficulties and painful memories. Since the death of her father, who committed suicide due to a depressive syndrome when she was 14 years old to breast cancer diagnosed in 2019.
«The illness taught me a lot, it made me reflect on the time that is missing. Today I give more value to some things, disappointments for example are less burning.” Her husband Pieropartner in life and work, passed away in 2022. «We were together for 52 years. I miss him very much. I miss the comparison. His absence keeps me company. I think about it almost always, I have so many photographs.” His world continues to be made of music.
A fleeting appearance in 2012 on the stage of Concert for Emilia, charity event for the victims of the earthquake, where she returned to sing after 42 years I’m no longer with you. THEpublished in 2021 100 minutes for you, there complete collection of his hits, a precious gift to his fans. In the end, self-sacrifice for the artists of today and tomorrow“That they have to be talents with something to sayconsistent with themselves, and try to accompany them without altering them. Success can come, but the greatest satisfaction is seeing that a singer remains faithful to his vision».
