Ricchi e Poveri (Italian for "The Rich and the Poor") is an Italian pop group formed in Genoa in 1967. The founding line-up was Angela Brambati, Angelo Sotgiu, Franco Gatti and Marina Occhiena. The group has sold more than 20 million records. Its best-known songs include Sarà perché ti amo, Mamma Maria, Voulez-vous danser, Made in Italy and Come vorrei.
History
1967–1980: formation and early years
The group began in Genoa as a polyphonic quartet. It made its Sanremo Music Festival debut in 1970 and returned in 1971 with Che sarà, written by Jimmy Fontana and Franco Migliacci. In 1978 it represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest in Paris with Questo amore, which finished 12th with 53 points.
1981–2009: trio years and international success
In 1981 Marina Occhiena left to pursue a solo career, and the group continued as a trio. That year it placed fifth at Sanremo with Sarà perché ti amo (written by Enzo Ghinazzi and Daniele Pace, with music by Dario Farina). The song stayed at the top of the Italian charts for months and was the year's best-selling single. The album E penso a te (1981) also included M'innamoro di te and Come vorrei. Mamma Maria followed, as did Voulez-vous danser.
In 1985 the trio won the Sanremo Festival with Se m'innamoro. The group also recorded many of its hits in Spanish.
2010s–present
Franco Gatti retired from the group in 2016. In February 2020 the original four members reunited at the 70th Sanremo Festival, where they received a career award, and they released the double album ReuniON (2021). Gatti died in Genoa on 18 October 2022, aged 80. Brambati and Sotgiu competed at Sanremo 2024.
Members
- Angela Brambati – vocals (1967–present)
- Angelo Sotgiu – vocals (1967–present)
- Franco Gatti (1942–2022) – vocals (1967–2016, with the 2020–2021 reunion)
- Marina Occhiena (born 1950) – vocals (1967–1981, with the 2020–2021 reunion)
Selected discography
- Ricchi e Poveri (1970)
- E penso a te (1981)
- Mamma Maria (1982)
- Made in Italy (1983)
- Nascerà Gesù – Ricchi e Poveri '88 (1988)
- ReuniON (2021)