Biography
Who is Vasco Rossi?
Early life and background
Vasco Rossi was born in Zocca, Italy, in the province of Modena. His father Carlo worked as a truck driver, and his mother Novella was a housewife. When he was a young boy, his mother enrolled him in a local singing school, which was an unusual choice for a small village in the Apennines. He developed a deep passion for music and began playing with his first band at the age of 14.
His family later moved to Bologna, where Vasco Rossi studied accounting in high school. After graduating, he enrolled at university in the faculty of Economics and Business and opened a music club named Punto Club. To support himself, he worked as a disc jockey and co-founded Punto Radio, one of the first private radio stations in Italy, where he slowly began showing his own musical compositions.
Musical career and rise to fame
Encouraged by his friend Gaetano Curreri, Vasco Rossi released his first EP on June 13, 1977, featuring the tracks Jenny è pazza and Silvia. His debut full-length album followed in 1978. In 1979, he released his second album, Non siamo mica gli americani, which is considered emblematic of his poetic style. His controversial 1980 album Colpa d'Alfredo drew heavy criticism and radio censorship over its explicit lyrics, but the resulting controversy actually boosted his popularity on a national level.
He released his album Siamo solo noi in 1981, and the title track became widely recognized as a generational anthem. In 1982 and 1983, he participated in the Sanremo Music Festival with the songs Vado al massimo and Vita spericolata. His sixth album, Bollicine, was released in 1983, winning the Festivalbar and cementing his status as an icon of Italian rock music. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, his growing fan base forced him to move his performances from clubs to big stadiums and arenas.
Awards and major achievements
Vasco Rossi has published 30 albums and written over 250 songs throughout his career. With more than 35 million copies sold, he remains one of the best-selling Italian artists in history. His big Modena Park 2017 concert stands as the second highest-attended ticketed concert of all time globally.
His extensive list of honors includes the Telegatto, Targa Tenco, Premio Lunezia, Nastro d'argento for best original song, the Fernanda Pivano Award for American Literature, and the Nettuno d'oro. In May 2005, Milan's IULM conferred an honorary degree in Communication Sciences to Vasco Rossi in recognition of his cultural impact.
Birthday and age
Vasco Rossi was born on February 7, 1952, which makes Vasco 74 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Vasco shares the date with 36 other famous people.
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