Calogero

Calogero Joseph Salvatore Maurici, known as Calogero, was born on July 30, 1971, in Grenoble, France. His parents were Italian immigrants from Sicily. Early in his life, Calogero showed an aptitude for music, learning to play multiple instruments including the flute, piano, and bass. In 1986, he co-founded the band Les Charts with his brother Gioacchino and a childhood friend, Francis Maggiulli. Calogero served as the lead singer and songwriter for the group. Les Charts released five albums between 1989 and 1997, with “Notre Monde à Nous” (1991) achieving significant chart success. During his time with Les Charts, Calogero was affectionately known as “Charlie” by his fans.

Following the dissolution of Les Charts in 1997, Calogero transitioned to a career as a composer and songwriter for other artists, including Florent Pagny, Ismaël Lô, Hélène Ségara, and Patrick Fiori. He also contributed songs to the stage musical “Les Dix Commandements.” Calogero launched his solo career in 2000 with the album “Au Milieu des Autres.” His second solo album, released in 2002 and self-titled “Calogero,” achieved commercial success with singles such as “En apesanteur,” “Aussi Libre Que Moi,” and “Prendre racine.” His 2003 album “3” continued this success, featuring hits like “Face à la Mer” and “Si Seulement Je Pouvais Lui Manquer,” and earned him a Victoire de la Musique award for Best Male Artist. Calogero released subsequent successful albums, including “Pomme C” (2007), which reached number two on the French charts, and “L’Embellie” (2009), which peaked at number one. In 2012, he co-founded the supergroup Circus, further expanding his musical endeavors. He also composed and directed all the music for Florent Pagny’s 2013 album “Vieillir Avec Toi,” which topped the charts. His own album “Les Feux d’Artifice” (2014) also reached number one in France and Belgium, making it his biggest-selling album since 2003.