"Ricky and Believe" (Ricchi e Poveri) - a musical group known in the eighties, its translation sounds like “Rich and poor” (the second version is “Rich poor”). Playing disco and pop tunes. She began performing on stage with a composition of 4 participants, continued with the three, in 2016 she remains alone.
Soloists
The group was formed in Genoa in 1967. The participants were already soloists of other groups: Jets and Prehistoric, in which there was a split. Participants Angelo Sotzhiu and Frank Gati, together with like-minded children, were part of the Jets group since childhood. Angela Brambiati performed as part of the Prehistoric and sang in cheap establishments, but knew Sojiu and Gati, went to their concerts. After the breakup, the Jets left her band to sing with Angelo and Frank. Then the girl introduced Marina Okkienu to the young people. She also sang, so the trio became a many-voiced quartet with the name "Glory to the middle."
The group started with concerts on the beaches, they sang popular compositions of other groups, accompanying themselves on the guitar.
Once in an audition in Milan, they got such a producer as Franco Califiano. He gave them a new name - "Ricky e Believe" and came up with a new image for all members of the group. Marinin hair was made white, Angelo was lightened even more, Angela had a short haircut, Franco hair was regrown. At the same time, Franco and Angela received rich outfits, and Angelo and Marina received the clothes of the poor. The idea of reincarnation was that the guys might not have money, but be rich in talents.
The creation of the group was designed to give an answer to such musical groups as “Mom and Dad” in America and “ABBA” in Sweden.
First songs and success
- 1st song by Ricky Believe - “Last Love” - Sounded in 1968 in Genoa at the Cantagiro competition. This is an arrangement in Italian of the composition “Eternal Last Love”.
- In the contest "San Remo Song Festival" the guys participate in 1970 with the song "The first wonderful thing" written by Nicola Bari, taking the second prize. After a while, they try their hand at Festivalbar with the song “In the City”.
- In 1971, the guys repeated their success in San Remo with the composition “What will happen”. She was performed with Jose Montserrat Garcia. The listeners liked the text and the melody so much that for a long time they became significant for young people leaving their country. This is a clear example of an Italian song standard. In the same year, the group starred in the comedy "Un trapezio per Lisistrata" on the 5th music channel.
- In 1972, the song Ricky e Believe The Cherry Diadem sounds again in San Remo. Already gaining momentum, young people make money from advertising. They become the advertising face of the Ferrero chocolate bar until 1977.
- In 1973, guests of San Remo heard a new song, “Sweet Fruit,” which was subsequently presented on the air for the “Disc for Summer” contest. Another composition took part there - “My Little Love”. Then they sang “Music” in a different arrangement on the TV show “Rischiatutto”. In 1973, it was marked by participation in the "Canzonissima" with the composition "I dream about you." This year also marked the beginning of the theatrical tour of Ricky and Powers together with Walter Chiari.
- The group visited the “Disc for Summer” again in 1974, performing the song “Poor thing”. After that, they were invited to the television program “Again, I Apologize” with R. Vianello and S. Mondani. They sang their songs, joked and quickly raised the rating of the program. The program was repeated the next year, but the guys changed the final song of the first season “I don’t dream about you” to the novelty “Our Confetti”.
- "San Remo Song Festival" heard the band again in 1976 with the novelty "Two Stories" from the collection "Musicians".
- The Eurovision Song Contest in 1978 with the song “This is Love” brought them twelfth place. Representation of one’s country at the international test is an important and responsible mission, participation in the competition was important for both children and their homeland.
- In 1979, Ricky Believe's song “Mom” was recorded., it was written by Angelo, Marina and Franco, the song began to sound in the finale of the program “Quiz”.
- In 1980, the quartet’s last album, “Season of Love”, was recorded, after which they went on summer tour with Monte Carlo radio throughout their native country.
From quartet to trio
The group returned from touring in full force and arrived in San Remo in 1981. They all rehearsed the performance together, and the rehearsal record was kept on television. But on the 1st evening of the competition, before the 1st performance of the group, there was a serious conflict - Marina refused to sing as part of the group and left for personal reasons. She decided to speak alone.
Since 4 participants were declared in the group, the organizers of the contest wanted to completely ban their release, but the feuds were settled, a team of three people sang the song “It will be because I love”. Quick and easy, it became another hit in the homeland and beyond its borders. After the group’s performance, proposals on touring abroad poured out to its participants. And the song was so successful that it was recorded in music books in the homeland. Acquaintance with the group and Soviet listeners began with this song.
In the album recorded at that time, which received the name of the legendary song, the composition “I would like” was included, it took third place in the charts of Italy and became the intro to the TV show “Portobello”.
The group achieved worldwide fame and recognition, received many awards, the love of the audience and gained fans. In 1981, she was recognized as the best band of the year and was awarded the Golden Disc prize. In 1982, victory in the Premiatissima television show and a gold plate from Channel 5 for 2 consecutive wins on their program.
Most famous single
1982 was the year the single "Mamma Maria" was born. The incredible popularity of the song brought it to the first positions in the top hits for several weeks. Today there is not a single person who does not know this melody. The song of Ricky and Believe “Mama Maria” also gave a name to the new album, which reached the highest sales in 1982 (more than 6 million copies).
The following year, Europe received the right to publish the album of the group Ricky and Believe the dance ("Do you want to dance?"), And the group went to Chile to become an honored guest in the "Vina del Mar" competition.
1985 brought victory to San Remo with the song “If I Fall in Love”, for which the audience voted and raised it to 6th place in the hits. The group leaves for a tour of Australia.
The first concerts in the Soviet Union were organized in 1986. The group gave more than 40 concerts, attracting about 800 thousand spectators. Concerts are broadcast on television.
In 1988, the band performed in San Remo with the song “Jesus Will Be Born,” which will be completely collapsed. But in 1989, this incident was corrected by the introduction of the new composition "Who I Need Is You."
From 1994 to 2008, the team successfully toured the world, collecting huge halls everywhere and leaving behind the most favorable impressions.
In 2016, in May, Franco left the group, expressing a desire to be more with his family. The duo is not going to give up their positions, continues to tour the world and participates in television projects.
Interesting Facts
Two of the members of the group (Angelo and Angela) were in love with each other, the relationship began, as soon as the girl was 16 years old, but before the wedding, it never came to that.
During a tour of Russia, they asked how to respectfully address a woman in Russian. They were answered: "Grandmother." At one of the concerts, the participants greeted the guests from the stage: “Hello, grandmothers!”
