Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
🎨

Mango (singer)

arts Maturity 7-9 death dying Next article →

This article covers sensitive topics: death_dying. Parents can manage visibility in Parental Controls.

Giuseppe "Pino" Mango was a highly influential Italian singer-songwriter and musician. He was celebrated for a unique musical style that fused several genres together. He combined elements of pop, rock, folk, and world music. This fusion made him a distinct voice in the Italian music scene. Experts described him as an authentic innovator of Italian pop music. He was also recognized as an Italian rock fusion innovator. His ability to navigate these different styles was supported by his extensive vocal range.

Mango Nell'Acchiappanuvole Tour ad Udine
Mango Nell'Acchiappanuvole Tour ad Udine

Mango's musical journey began in Lagonegro, located in the province of Potenza. As a teenager, he performed in a cover band alongside his older brother, Michele. During his youth, he listened to soul and hard rock music. His favorite artists included Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and Peter Gabriel. He initially began studying sociology at the University of Salerno. However, he eventually left his studies to move to Rome. He wanted to enter the professional music business. In 1976, he recorded his debut album, titled "La mia ragazza è un gran caldo."

His early career saw significant recognition from other established artists. Two songs from his first album attracted the attention of the singer Patty Pravo. These songs were "Per te che mi apri l'universo" and "Tu pioggia io mattino." Patty Pravo included them on her 1976 album, "Tanto." She changed the title of the second song to "Per amarti d'amore." Another singer, Mia Martini, also appreciated his work. She covered his song "Se mi sfiori" on her 1976 album, "Che vuoi che sia... se t'ho aspettato tanto." Despite this, his first three records did not receive much media attention. This led him to briefly consider abandoning his music career. A meeting with the lyricist Mogol eventually changed his mind.

Mango achieved a major breakthrough in 1985 with the release of his album "Australia." During that year, he performed the single "Il viaggio" at the Sanremo Music Festival. His career reached a major turning point in 1986 with the album "Odissea." This record contained some of his most enduring hits, such as "Lei verrà" and "Oro." For this album, he collaborated with the keyboardist Brian Auger. In 1987, he released the album "Adesso." This release featured the successful single "Bella d'estate," which he co-wrote with Lucio Dalla. His success continued through the 1990s with albums like "Sirtaki" and "Come l'acqua."

Mango was a prolific songwriter who composed for many different artists. He wrote songs for Italian singers such as Patty Pravo, Loredana Bertè, and Mia Martini. He also wrote for the famous tenor Andrea Bocelli and the artist Mietta. His work reached beyond Italy through various international connections. He recorded three albums in Spanish: "Ahora," "Hierro y Fuego," and a Spanish version of "Sirtaki." In 1988, his Spanish single "Flor de Verano" reached number one on Spain's "Los 40 Principales." He also collaborated with international musicians like drummer Manu Katché and bassist Pino Palladino. Some of his tracks were even used as themes for television programs, such as the telenovela "El Privilegio de Amar."

Music was a deeply personal matter that involved his entire family. Mango was married to Laura Valente, a vocalist for the pop band Matia Bazar. They had two children, Filippo and Angelina. Both children collaborated with their father on musical projects. Filippo worked as a drummer, while Angelina performed as a singer. Mango remained a very reserved person throughout his life. He rarely appeared in the mass media despite his great fame. His later works included the 2004 album "Ti Porto in Africa," which achieved double platinum status. His final studio album was "La terra degli aquiloni," released in 2011.

In December 2014, Mango passed away following a sudden medical event. On the evening of December 7, he suffered a heart attack during a concert in Policoro. The event occurred while he was performing his song "Oro." He spoke to the crowd before collapsing on stage. He was taken off the stage, and the concert was canceled. Mango died in the early hours of the following day before reaching the hospital. He was 60 years old at the time. A few days later, on December 9, his older brother Giovanni also passed away. Giovanni died at the hospital at the age of 75. He is believed to have also died from a heart attack.

729 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (1)
File:Mango Nell'Acchiappanuvole Tour ad Udine.jpg
Mango Nell'Acchiappanuvole Tour ad Udine.jpg
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.