50 years of Tenco: Paolo Conte
2024 marks the fiftieth anniversary of Club Tenco, the largest Italian initiative dedicated to songwriting, of which Rockol is the official partner. As we approach this year's edition, we celebrate its history in ten episodes, drawing from its historic archive.
1983 was the tenth edition of the Tenco Prize, born from an idea by Amilcare Rambaldi. That year the Tenco prizes were awarded to Giovanna Marini, Alan Stivell, Roberto Vecchioni and Paolo Conte, and the prize for the cultural operator to Sergio Bardotti, as can be explored in depth in the original 1983 issue of “Il Cantautore”, the annual monograph edited and published by Club Tenco.
Paolo Conte was born in Asti on 6 January 1937. Graduated in law and lawyer in his hometown, he trained as a jazz musician, playing the piano and vibraphone in various orchestras.
In the 1960s he began composing songs, sometimes with the collaboration of his brother Giorgio. He signs some songs that will become staples of Italian music: “The most beautiful couple in the world” and “Azzurro”, performed by Adriano Celentano, “Together with you I'm no longer there” sung by Caterina Caselli, “Mexico and clouds” for Enzo Jannacci, “Genova per noi” and “Onda suonda” brought to success by Bruno Lauzi, and many others.
In 1974 he published his first album, entitled PAOLO CONTE, as well as the second, in 1975. In 1976 he met Amilcare Rambaldi and debuted at the “Club Tenco”: it was in this period that Conte transformed himself from an author in search of voices to whom you can entrust your creations to interpreters of your songs and performers. UN GELATO AL LIMON, 1979, is the album that made him known to a wider audience. In 1981 the Tenco Club dedicated an entire “Contian” day to him. After PARIS MILONGA (1981, with the classic “Via con me”) and APPUNTI DI VIAGGIO (1982), he was awarded the Tenco Prize.
Here is the complete biography of Paolo Conte.
The 2024 Tenco Prize will take place from 17 to 19 October. Stay updated by following the official website of the event.
Photo: Club Tenco (Roberto Coggiola)
