I Camaleonti

I Camaleonti ("The Chameleons") are an Italian pop group from Milan, mostly successful between the late 1960s and the early 1970s.

Background

I Camaleonti were formed in 1963 in Milan. The original line-up included Livio Macchia (guitar), Antonino Cripezzi (keyboards), Paolo de Ceglie (drums) and Gerardo Manzoli (bass). In 1965 the band's line-up was augmented with the arrival of Riki Maiocchi on vocals and guitar. The band's first hit was a cover of the Small Faces' "Sha-La-La-La-Lee", and coincided with the popularity of the beat genre.^[1]^[2]

In 1966, vocalist and guitarist Riki Maiocchi left the group to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Mario Lavezzi.^[1] With Lavezzi on board, the group gradually began to switch to a more melodic pop sound, soon achieving success with a modern rendition of a popular 1935 tune penned by Cesare Andrea Bixio and Michele Galdieri, "Portami tante rose".^[1]

Between 1968 and 1973 I Camaleonti had four singles topping the Italian charts, including "Applausi", "Io per lei" and "L'ora dell'amore".^[2] Between 1970 and 1993 they entered the Sanremo Music Festival five times, (the last time along with Dik Dik and Equipe 84's lead singer Maurizio Vandelli), finishing third in 1979 with "Quell'attimo in più".^[1] Despite numerous line-up changes, the band is still active to these days.

Members

Current members

Livio Macchia: vocals, guitar (1963–present)
Valerio Veronese: guitar, vocals (1985–present)
Massimo di Rocco: drums (2004–present)
Matteo Arosio: Tibetan bell (2006–present)

Past members

Paolo de Ceglie: drums (1963–2004, d. in 2004)
Gerardo "Gerry" Manzoli: bass (1963–1982)
Riki Maiocchi: vocals, guitar (1965–1966, d. in 2004)
Mario Lavezzi: vocals, guitar (1966–1968)
Gabriele Lorenzi: keyboards (1967–1968)
Dave Sumner: guitar (1973–1980)
Vincenzo Mancuso: guitar, flute (1981–1984)
Antonio "Tonino" Cripezzi: vocals, keyboards (1963–2022, d. in 2022)
Massimo Brunetti: keyboards, flute (1990–2024, d. in 2024)

Discography

Studio albums

1966 – The Best Records in The World
1967 – Portami tante rose
1968 – Io per lei
1969 – Vita d'uomo (EP)
1973 – I magnifici Camaleonti
1974 – Amicizia e amore
1975 – Piccola Venere ed altri successi
1976 – Che aereo stupendo… la speranza
1977 – In vendita
1979 – ...e camminiamo
1993 – Come passa il tempo e i più grandi successi
1996 – Libero
1997 – Applausi ed altri successi
2001 – 2001 ed oltre
2004 – 40 anni di musica e applausi
2006 – Storia
2010 – Camaleonti Live

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Eddy Anselmi (2009). Festival di Sanremo: almanacco illustrato della canzone italiana. Panini Comics, 2009. ISBN 978-8863462296.
^ ^a ^b Dario Salvatori (1989). Storia dell'Hit Parade. Gramese, 1989. ISBN 8876054391.

External links

[music-1] Eddy Anselmi (2009). Festival di Sanremo: almanacco illustrato della canzone italiana. Panini Comics, 2009. ISBN 978-8863462296.

[hitparade-2] Dario Salvatori (1989). Storia dell'Hit Parade. Gramese, 1989. ISBN 8876054391.

[1]

[2]