Eros Ramazzotti

Eros Luciano Walter Ramazzotti (born on October 28, 1963), known simply as Eros Ramazzotti, is an Italian ^Italy singer and songwriter. Ramazzotti, who is one of the most popular artists in Italy is well known not only in most non English ^{English language} -speaking European countries but also in most of the Spanish ^{Spanish language} -speaking world as he has released most of his albums in both Italian ^{Italian language} and Spanish ^{Spanish language} .

Since 1984, he has released 11 studio albums, one EP ^{Extended play} , two compilation albums, two live albums as well as 35 singles, all of which have charted noticeably high in many European countries as well as in South and Central America. Ramazzotti has sold over 40 million records in his 25-year career. The Italian star has done duets with several prestigious artists such as Cher, Tina Turner, Andrea Bocelli, Patsy Kensit, Anastacia, Joe Cocker, Luciano Pavarotti, Laura Pausini, and Ricky Martin.

 
Childhood and early beginnings


Eros Ramazzotti was born on October 28, 1963 in Cinecittà, suburb of Rome, Italy. Ramazzotti, the son of a pianist, who was named after the Greek god of love, started to play the guitar at age of seven. At an early age he would occasionally appear as an extra in films while spending most of his time dreaming of having a career as a pop-star. While still a teenager, he would write songs with help from his father Rodolfo. Later he decided to attend a musical conservatory but instead ended up taking a training program for a book-keeper, after failing the admission examination. Soon after Eros met his mentor Renato Brioschi, The song was then released Europe-wide.

In 1985 ^{1985 in music} , once again Ramazzotti took part at the Sanremo Festival with his "Una storia importante" (An Important Story), a song from his debut album Cuori agitati (Troubled Hearts), which reached the number six place at the festival. The single "Una storia importante" became a huge hit in many European countries including France where it sold a million units alone. . The album eventually sold 6 million copies worldwide which played a significant role in helping Ramazzotti get his contract with BMG International.
The album went on selling well over five million units in Europe alone as well as over 2 million in USA. Also in that the same year, the Italian singer was awarded at Germany's Echo ^{ECHO (music award)} Music Awards in the category of "Best International Male Artist of the Year".

In 1998 he released the live CD Eros Live, which included the two duets recorded during the world tour "Cose della vita-Can’t Stop Thinking of You" featuring Tina Turner and "That's All I Need to Know-Difenderò" with Joe Cocker performed in Munich. In 1999, Ramazzotti collaborated again with Italian superstar Andrea Bocelli, this time for Bocelli's album Sogno (Dream), singing "Nel Cuore Lei" (In Your Heart). The album went on to sell over 10 million albums worldwide, giving more recognition to Ramazzotti. In 1999, he was once again awarded at Germany's Echo ^{ECHO (music award)} Music Awards, again for being "The Best International Male Artist of the Year". Throughout his career, Ramazzotti has done duets with some very well-known artists such as Cher, Andrea Bocelli, Joe Cocker, Carlos Santana, Tina Turner, Anastacia, Luciano Pavarotti, and Laura Pausini. In the course of the international tour for Stilelibero, Ramazzotti also appeared in eastern European countries including Moscow, Russia where he gave three-day sold out concerts at Kremlin Palace. contains the duet hit single "I Belong to You ^{I Belong to You (Anastacia song)} " with American singer Anastacia, the single went number one in many countries. Eros is especially popular in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Venezuela, and most Spanish-speaking ^{Spanish language} countries.

Ramazzotti's new 11 track material called Ali e radici (Wings and Roots), which was released on May 22, 2009, is produced by Eros himeself as well as his long time musical partner Claudio Guidetti; in addition, six tracks on the album are co-produced by Michele Canova who has previously worked with artists such as Laura Pausini, Tiziano Ferro and Jovanotti. The first single "Parla Con Me" (Talk to Me), released on May 17, 2009, off his 11th studio album, is a catchy pop song which has already peaked at number 1 in Italy and number 11 in Switzerland. His new album which is available in a standard edition as well as in a deluxe edition (the latter includes 64-page booklet of photographs) has already entered the Top-5 in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, France, Sweden, whereas it peaked at number one in Italy and Switzerland.In his personal life Ramazzotti remains with only few good friends, mostly due to his suspicious personality. Ramazzotti had a poor childhood, he also recalls having a limited source of information at home about everything:

{{bquote|As a child growing up, there were no books in my parents' home, no suggestions were ever made how to even have a decent conversation, no guidance was provided in search of oneself. The only source of information that I would get from my father was the inappropriate photos of women. The first thing as a support that I received from my father was a guitar after he recognized my passion for music. Nowadays, I try to self educate myself by purchasing good books which I almost never read because I become lazy after glancing at a football game on TV
Studio albums

*Cuori agitati (Troubled Hearts) (1985)
*Nuovi eroi (New Heroes) (1986)
*In certi momenti (Sometimes) (1987)
*In ogni senso (In Every Sense) (1990)
*Tutte storie (All Stories), (1993)
*Dove c'è musica (Where There is Music) (1996)
*Stilelibero (Freestyle) (2000)
*9 ^{9 (Eros Ramazzotti album)} (2003)
*Calma apparente (Apparent Calm) (2005)
*Ali e radici (Wings and Roots) (2009)


Live albums

*Eros in Concert (1991)
*Eros Live (1998)


Compilation albums

*Eros ^{Eros (Eros Ramazzotti album)} (1997)
*e² ^{E² (album)} (2007)


Extended plays

*Musica è (Music Is) (1988)