Five concerts around Italy were sold out in no time. Others across Europe got as much interest and love from local audiences. Finally, on July 27th, he opened for the Rolling Stones in Germany, for the second time in his career. This is what any artist dreams of. Simply put, summer 2022 became sort of a perfect one for Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari, right before his North America tour officially kicked off in early September.
Adelmo Fornaciari was born in a small village near Reggio Emilia and spent most of his childhood in Tuscany. It was at a very early age that he discovered American soul and blues music, through an African-American friend studying in Bologna. He learned how to play guitar and started writing his own songs when he was 13 or 14 years old. Zucchero is a child of the 70s and played with several small bands before visiting San Francisco, where he met Corrado Rustici, who ultimately became his record producer. It wasn’t until the mid-1980s that Zucchero delivered successful hits. Blue became the then-highest-selling album in Italian history, with 1.5 million copies in 1987 alone. The album, produced by Rustici and featuring musical performances by Clarence Clemons, The Memphis Horns and David Sancious, included the Italian hit singles Con Le Mani, lyrics by Gino Paoli, and the original version of Senza una Donna (“Without a Woman”), which later became an international hit in a duet version with Paul Young. During the following Blue Tour, Fornaciari shared the stage with Joe Cocker (for a cover of “With a Little Help from my Friends”), Ray Charles and Dee Dee Bridgewater.
In 1989, Zucchero and his band recorded the album Oro Incenso & Birra in Memphis. The album, influenced by American soul music, included guest appearances by Ennio Morricone, Eric Clapton, and blues singer Rufus Thomas. That was the beginning of a fantastic career: known today as the “father of Italian blues,” Zucchero has sold more than 60 million records worldwide, winning more than twenty music awards and getting a Grammy Award nomination. His music has a wide range of influences including BB King, Joe Cocker, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, yet it stays unique in many ways. One of them is surely what he gives to the audience during the show. Each concert has a different setlist, thus famous songs alternate with recent releases, Discover and D.O.C. Meanwhile, the stage for the World Wild Tour becomes home to a giant sun whose color changes throughout the performance and well matches the vibe of each song.
In addition to his work as a music artist, Zucchero has been contributing to fundraisings and projects to bring awareness to many issues, organizing and attending concerts in collaboration with other artists, both in Italy and around the world. Just to mention, in 1992 Zucchero and Luciano Pavarotti brought the concept of the Pavarotti & Friends charity gala to life. The first edition, broadcast live worldwide, was the first in a series of benefit concerts that are now held annually. He was a special guest of the Rolling Stones when they played in front of 200,000 people at the IMST Festival in Austria, and he appeared with Michael Jackson at the Red Cross charity concert in Munich. Zucchero was also invited by Bono of U2 to play at the New York Net Aid charity.
Zucchero wrapped up his North America tour in early October in Tucson, Arizona, after some stops on the East Coast, in Canada, and on the West Coast, in Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
The show in San Francisco, held at the magnificent venue of the Palace of Fine Arts, opened with a video of his solo performance in an empty Piazza San Marco, in Venice. After that, fans got a full hour of blues before a short break. “I just need a coffee, don’t go anywhere,” Zucchero kindly asked when he left the stage to his band for a few minutes. He then returned for more music, a tribute to Pavarotti with Miserere, and the grand finale of Senza una Donna. L’Italo-Americano talked to Zucchero for an interview about his latest work and the international tour.
Let’s start by taking a step back: this concert was scheduled for April 2021, then it was postponed to the end of September. How was your experience of the pandemic, both from a professional and personal standpoint?
The pandemic was as difficult for me as it was for everyone else. However, I spent time working on many projects. I filmed a home version of Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime for Lady Gaga’s Global Citizen One World Together at Home, which aired worldwide on April 18th 2020. I collaborated with Bono to record Canta La Vita … Let your Love be Known, for which we made a video at the Colosseum in Rome, and I worked with Michael Stipe to record and film, in an empty Venice, Amore Adesso … No Time for Love. Also, I recorded the new Discover album. Lastly, I was also able to spend some good time with my family, which I normally can’t do because I’m away on tour.
You’re an artist with years of experience in front of an audience. What feelings did you have when you returned on stage and met your audience live again after so many months?
I love playing music for my fans and it was great to start the tour this year in April. I’ve done over 80 concerts and it was a fantastic feeling to go back to performing live after all this time.
You are one of the few Italian artists who can capture the interest of foreign audiences, thanks also to songs in English. What kind of advantage does it give you on and off stage? Do you consider it a plus for an Italian artist?
I love playing for all people, everywhere and anywhere in the world. It is always a challenge for me to perform in new places. I play some songs in English however most of my setlist is in Italian because that’s what the audience wants.
Your tour of the United States began in early September and saw several stops between the East and West Coast. What kind of atmosphere did you find? What do you expect for the final dates?
My North American tour was great. The audience has been incredible everywhere, on the East Coast, in Canada, and on the West Coast of course. I am really enjoying this tour.
With World Wild Tour you did some stops in Europe, before returning to Italy in the summer. It ends with some cities in North America. How did it go in Europe and Italy?
I started with two shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London, then I went to Verona for 14 concerts at the Arena, my favorite place. Then, I performed in Germany, France, Switzerland, and the rest of Europe. It went really well and I ended up as a special guest of the Rolling Stones in Gelsenkirchen in Germany. It was a great moment for me, as I met Mick Jagger at his birthday party last year.
The list of songs you play changes for each concert. Is there a particular goal behind this choice?
I’ve always loved changing the setlist on each show and playing different songs. So every concert is different and that’s good for me and my band.
Let’s talk about Discover, a collection with other artists’ songs. What prompted you to record an album of this kind?
There have always been songs, written by other people, that I loved and wanted to sing, so I thought it was a good chance to make an album with some of those songs.
You’ve collaborated with plenty of other artists in your career. What makes a collaboration unique and successful? And which are your favorite collaborations to date?
To work well, a collaboration requires a great relationship between artists. Additionally, you need to come up with songs that bring excitement to those who listen. I loved all my collaborations and it’s difficult to say which my favorite are. Miserere with Pavarotti was wonderful and the outcome was that we became great friends. I could say the same for Senza una Donna with Paul Young.
You embody today’s Italian blues. Is there an heir of Zucchero Fornaciari in Italy or do we have to wait to see one?
It is hard for me to name who my heir may be. I believe that Italy has some great new artists to watch and listen to.
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