I Profeti
{{Short description|Italian pop group}}
I Profeti ("The Prophets") were an Italian pop group, mainly successful in the late sixties and in the seventies.
Career
The group formed in 1964 in Milan.{{cite book|last=Enrico Deregibus|title=Dizionario completo della Canzone Italiana|publisher=Giunti Editore, 2010|isbn=8809756258}}{{cite book|last=Eddy Anselmi|title=Festival di Sanremo: almanacco illustrato della canzone italiana|publisher=Panini Comics, 2009|isbn=8863462291}} They initially had a beat repertoire, and released their first single in 1966, "Bambina sola", a cover of The Grass Roots' "You're a Lonely Girl".{{cite book|last=Enrico Deregibus|title=Dizionario completo della Canzone Italiana|publisher=Giunti Editore, 2010|isbn=8809756258}} In 1967 the band released their first album, Bambina sola, which was widely influenced by American contemporary folk music.{{cite book|last=Enrico Deregibus|title=Dizionario completo della Canzone Italiana|publisher=Giunti Editore, 2010|isbn=8809756258}} In 1968 the band got their first domestic hit with "Gli occhi verdi dell'amore", a cover of Chip Taylor's "Angel of the Morning". The song signalled a progressive distancing from the Beat genre.{{cite book|last=Enrico Deregibus|title=Dizionario completo della Canzone Italiana|publisher=Giunti Editore, 2010|isbn=8809756258}}
In 1970 lead singer Renato Brioschi recorded, with the name "Renato dei Profeti", the song ″Lady Barbara,″ which peaked at first place on the Italian hit parade. Following the success of the song, Brioschi left the group to pursue a solo career.{{cite book|last=Enrico Deregibus|title=Dizionario completo della Canzone Italiana|publisher=Giunti Editore, 2010|isbn=8809756258}}{{cite book|last=Dario Salvatori|title=Storia dell'Hit Parade|publisher=Gramese, 1989|isbn=8876054391}} From then Profeti gradually switched to a more melodic, pop-oriented sound.{{cite book|last=Enrico Deregibus|title=Dizionario completo della Canzone Italiana|publisher=Giunti Editore, 2010|isbn=8809756258}}{{cite book|last=Eddy Anselmi|title=Festival di Sanremo: almanacco illustrato della canzone italiana|publisher=Panini Comics, 2009|isbn=8863462291}} Their singles "Era bella", "Prima notte senza lei" and "Io perché, io per chi", released between 1971 and 1973, all charted on the Italian hit parade, respectively peaking at sixth, eighteenth and tenth place.{{cite book|last=Dario Salvatori|title=Storia dell'Hit Parade|publisher=Gramese, 1989|isbn=8876054391}}
In 1976 Profeti entered the main competition at the Sanremo Music Festival, ranking fifteenth with the song "Cercati un'anima".{{cite book|last=Eddy Anselmi|title=Festival di Sanremo: almanacco illustrato della canzone italiana|publisher=Panini Comics, 2009|isbn=8863462291}} The group disbanded shortly after, before briefly reuniting in the late 1980s for a series of live performances and television appearances.{{cite book|last=Enrico Deregibus|title=Dizionario completo della Canzone Italiana|publisher=Giunti Editore, 2010|isbn=8809756258}}
== Personnel ==
- Renato Brioschi – voice, electric guitar (1964–1970)
- Nazareno La Rovere – guitar (1964–1968; 1970–1977)
- Donato Ciletti – bass guitar(1964–1966; 1969–1977)
- Osvaldo Bernasconi – drums (1964–1967; 1968–1972; 1974–1977)
- Danny Besquet – bass guitar (1966–1967)
- Roberto Margaria – bass guitar, guitar (1967–1969; 1969–1970)
- Franco D'Onofrio – drums (1967–1968)
- Raffaele Favero – drums, flute (1967–1968)
- Maurizio Bellini – organ (1969–1973)
- Claudio Belloli – drums (1972–1974)
- Beppe Tiranzoni – organ, keyboards (1974–1977)
== Discography ==
; Albums
- 1967: Bambina sola (CBS, S 52436)
- 1971: Era bella (CBS, S 64758)
- 1974: L'amore è... (CBS, S 69033)
- 1976: Cercati un'anima (CBS, S 69144)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{discogs artist|I Profeti}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Profeti}}
Category:1964 establishments in Italy
Category:Italian pop music groups
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1977