Italian singer-songwriter Gino Paoli, one of the defining voices of post-war Italian music and a key figure of the Genoese School, has died at the age of 91. His family said he passed away peacefully overnight.
"Gino left us last night, in peace and surrounded by the love of his loved ones," the family said in a statement.
Born in Monfalcone in 1934 but closely identified with Genoa, Paoli became one of the most influential names in Italian music, shaping generations of artists with a style that blended literary sensitivity with emotional directness. His name was behind some of the country's most popular songs, including "Il cielo in una stanza", "Sapore di sale" and "Senza fine".
His big breakthrough came in the early 1960s when the work “Il cielo in una stanza,” performed by Mina, became a huge success and established him as one of Italy’s most prominent composers. Over the decades, his music explored love in all its complexity, often with a tone that was both intimate and melancholic.
Paoli's personal life often attracted public attention. He had a long artistic and romantic relationship with Ornella Vanoni, to whom he dedicated several songs, and later a widely discussed relationship with actress Stefania Sandrelli. In 1963, during a difficult period, he survived a suicide attempt after shooting himself in the chest.
After falling out of the spotlight for much of the late 1960s and 1970s, Paoli rose to even greater fame in the 1980s. His later career included "Una lunga storia d'amore", the album "Insieme" with Vanoni, and continued appearances on major stages, including Sanremo.
Beyond music, Paoli also entered public life, serving as a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies after being elected in 1987 with the support of the Communist Party, while he was a member of the independent left.
He remained active in music until his final years, ending a career that left a lasting mark on Italian culture.
