A recording of 150 million albums sold worldwide positions Adriano Celentano as one of the most successful musical artists in Italian history. Emerging from a background as a watchmaker in Milan, he transformed into a cultural powerhouse, blending music, television, and cinema while introducing rock and roll to the Italian public across a career spanning over five decades.
Early Career and Music
Born on 6 January 1938 at 14 Via Cristoforo Gluck, Celentano grew up near the Central Station in Milan, a location he later immortalized in his song Il ragazzo della via Gluck. Before his rise to fame, he worked as a watchmaker. He entered the music scene in 1959, heavily influenced by Elvis Presley and Jerry Lewis. His early hits, co-authored with Ezio Leoni, included 24.000 baci and Il tuo bacio è come un rock. In 1962, he founded the record label Clan Celentano, which remains active today.
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Celentano appeared in 39 films throughout his career, often specializing in comedies. He made his screen debut in the 1959 musical Ragazzi del Juke-Box and was cast by Federico Fellini in the 1960 film La dolce vita. Critics frequently highlight his performance in the 1968 film Serafino, directed by Pietro Germi, as his strongest work. During the 1970s and 1980s, his low-budget productions dominated Italian box office rankings, utilizing a unique comic style defined by specific physical movements and facial expressions.
Public Persona and Influence
Known as Il Molleggiato, or the springy one, due to his energetic dancing, Celentano has remained a fixture of Italian media. His 1972 song Prisencolinensinainciusol gained attention for using gibberish that mimicked the sound of English. Beyond music, he has hosted multiple television programs and returned to live performance in 2012 with a concert on Canale 5 that drew over 9 million viewers. He is an Inter Milan supporter and has been a vegetarian since 2005.
Fast facts
- Born: 6 January 1938, Milan, Italy
- Occupations: Actor, singer-songwriter, composer, comedian
- Notable Recognition: Dubbed Il Molleggiato
- Major Awards: Grolla d'oro (1969), David di Donatello (1976)
- Record Sales: Approximately 150 million units
- Musical Legacy: Credited with introducing rock and roll to Italy
- Personal: Became a vegetarian in 2005
- Trivia: Barilla named their corkscrew pasta cellentani after him
Questions readers ask
What is the origin of the song Il ragazzo della via Gluck?
The song is based on the address where Celentano was born and raised in Milan.
How many albums has he released?
He has released 40 albums in total, comprising 29 studio albums, three live albums, and eight compilations.
Achievements
- Worked as singer-songwriter, actor and comedian
