GHIGO
the WHITE "BLACK" SOUL MAN GHIGO Agosti, (Milan-July 10, 1936 Italy), atypical personage of international music cult, pioneer of european and italian jazz, rhyth'm blues, rock'n roll, funk and soul, from 50's to 70's.He's a singer, musician (piano, organ, keyboards) and composer on various music styles. In the past was the singer more censored in the italian music story. Strange artist, totally different rispect other italian rockers, revolutionary, rebel, nonconformist, musical precursory and innovating, gifted of singular crativity, very abily in the improvisation art and great friend of black people. He know the big bands american sound thank his cousin Paolo Tosi, in Italy official director of Decca London, importer of 78rpm-records from United States.From 1946, listening numerous american records, have a lot of virtual teachers as: Louis Jordan, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Golden Gate Quartet, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker and exceptions for white artists as Hoagy Carmichael, Stan Kenton, George Shearing, George Gershwin, Eric Burdon, Procol Harum and Joe Cocker. In his life reveals a great admirer of black american singers, with tributes to Ray Charles, the "scat" vocal of Dizzy Gillespie, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Otis Redding, Cab Calloway, James Brown, Berry White, Isaac Hayes, Sly Stone, Isley Brothers, Solomon Burke, Sam & Dave and others.During 60's was called the white negro for his black timbre.In beginning (50's and first 60's) was an explosive innovation, something that in far italian age, was revolutionary and undesired for media, radio and tv. From 1965 to 1971 he succeeded to hide who was truly; an artist that frequently, was exchanged for an american singer. Very young, in 1951 his first composition, the rhyth'm blues "Stazione del blues"(the blues station), therefore a sequel of shows in music parties with the friends, and in 1953 some concerts recreative circles in Milan and Varese. First debut in 1952 at Hebrew Center of Milan with a Jazz Quintet formed by Ghigo (voice-piano), Mister Shlomo (drum), Paolo Tomelleri (saxophone), more two black american musician: Roger Hawk (double bass) and Andy Coleman (trumpet). During 1954 one radio 78rpm, a cover of "Georgia on my mind", a ballad by Hoagy Carmichael; with strong inspiration on american big band's sound, born the rhyth'm blues band GHIGO e gli Arrabbiati (Ghigo and the angries, first italian rock band having on eletric guitar the famous Giorgio Gaber), therefore new debut to the jazz festival in Milan. 1955; in recording the song "Stazione del Blues" change in "Stazione del Rock" (the rock station); it's the first european and italian rhythm and blues. 1957, in Milan, at the first italian rock'n roll festival, Ghigo sing "Caldonia" (by "Louis Jordan") and others future inedit hits, during this year, recorded the famous rock'n roll "Coccinella"; his producer Gianbattista Ansoldi denied the publication (fear of censorship by RAI Commission) for the lyrics had provocative content, dedicated to the famous Madame Coccinelle of Paris, (the first publicized french transsexual woman in 1958). The discographic-freezing, puts Ghigo in rage condition on live events, sometimes interrupted by local police; energy, vocal power, crazy movements, tearing dresses, tempt the fun-visitors beyond any limit. The song "Coccinella" is published in march 1959, and in december it's in juke boxe (on 45rpm side B "Stazione del rock") . In 1960 strongest success of "Coccinella", but Ghigo is equally condemned by censorship RAI Commission. Success too in 2° rock'n roll "Allocco tra gli angeli" (rapacious-volture with the angels), in side B the first Italian cha-cha-cha "Banana frutto di moda" (banana fruit of fashion), sexual song allusive to...organ genital male, contest that involves the 2°censorship; for Ghigo the radio and television are not more accessible. 1961, Ghigo is very lucky on juke-boxe and live events, that again recall the incursion of local police; in this year 3° rock'n roll "No! al Demonio (no! to the devil) and the first italian blues "Scalogna e carcere" (misfortune and prison); in summer win the rock'n festival in Rome, historic event one more time interrupted by local police. 1962, new 45rpm, it's the first italian twist "Baby twist me" and "Peppermit Twist"; therefore other memorable 45rpm, "Tredici vermi col filtro" (thirteen worms with the filter) and "Si titubi Tu titubi (Yes hesitates, you hesitates). During 1963 is published an Ep containing the first italian ballad "Solo con me", and others two censured songs: the swing "Bella ragazzina di Verona" (beauty little girl of Verona), censured because allusive to under-age girl, and the shake "Dai fà la brava" (come on, be good girl), censured because invites to make the sex in a bathing-cabin. New sound and new band, it's GHIGO e i Goghi (ghigo and goghi); in 1964: strong Ep containing "Ciao" (first Italian beat), adulterated version of "shout" by Isley Brothers ), "Conosco Jenny" (know jenny - rhyth'm blues) and "Non avrei mai creduto" (I would have never believed), first tango rock in the world. 1965,born MISTER ANIMA, strangest, mysterious personage that hides his identity under a particularly red-frock with cowl, thik beard-moustache; his voice was identified as unknow american black singers.In 1966 45rpm : Non voglio pietà (I do not want mercy - first european soul) and "Solitude time" (rhyth'm blues).1967, 45rpm "Attrazione" (attraction, soul-rhyth'm blues) and "La mia passeggiata" (my walk).During 1968 born PROBUS HARLEM (new pseudonym), having one cover Procol Harum: "I wither shade of pale" and "Hold on I'm coming" in soul version (by Dave Porter). Other Procol Harum's cover : "Homburg" and the theatrical "Love drug and sex" (first funk form in Italy). From Mister Anima to Probus Harlem; his vocal emission find rewiews on magazine where's defined the white-negro. Always in 1968 other pseudonym as RICO Agosti, therefore "l'Orsacchiotto nero" (beat) and "La boutique" (first Italian dixieland), too published in U.S. and U.K. as "Small black bear" and "The Boutique"; the beat was too published in France as "Ourson Noire". 1969, Ghigo return to real identity in Ghigo Agosti with an slow theatrical progressive soul "James Brown dice...io dico !!!" (James brown says...I say !!! - an adulterated version of protest by "it's a man's man's man's world" of James Brown), a version of 9 min. very different rispect the original. 1970,year that characterizes psychedelic prog-experimentation on live events, with Probus Harlem band. 1971, last pseudonyme as BLACK SUNDAY FLOWERS, a band with three elements: Ghigo lead vocal on eletric organ, the black Paul White (bass) and the black John Fitgerald Bennet. Two songs on 45rpm, "Hot Rock" (soul) and Madness (mix jazz-soul, motion picture for italian movie "Madness" or "eyes of the moon" in Uk and Usa (directed by Cesare Rau). From 1967 to 1971 Ghigo's band characterizes black musicians as: Paul White (bass), John Fitgerald bennet (drum), Henry Granfuck (drum) and Francis Plasheye (saxophone) and others artists. From 1966 to 1974, during some concerts, Ghigo was live supporter of Jimi Hendrix, Helton John, Isaac Hayes, Max Roach, Gong and others. Ghigo abandons the music in 1974 after experimentations and theatrical vanguard at the woodstock tributes and some live in London with Black Sunday Flowers trio. From 1974 to 1990 he becomes a journalist-photoreporter and discographic music rewiews with private agency that accommodates big artists from all world, and work for the more important international major labels, creating interesting photos-images for cover-records. During 80's he realized in U.S. one seminary in friendly with black musicians, and composition for various singers. In 1990 his return in the music with new interesting productions: innovative experimentation in the religion music, progressive and jazz.www.myspaceeditor.it