Salvatore Cutugno was born on July, 7, 1943, in small town Fosdinovo of a province Massa (Italy). Some months later his father was removed to La Spezia, as a captain of boundary troops. Since early childhood Toto shows predisposition to music. His father was the excellent trumpeter and trained the son in a musical notation. So Toto starts to study independently to play on percussion instruments, a saxophone and a bass - guitar.
Still as a child he was included into native musical groups. Simultaneously Toto become proficient in accordion. In 13 years he takes part in regional competition of accordionists, and took the third place. Toto continues to play in native groups up to 19 years. Then the life in a province starts to seem to him too cramped, and he took part in a musical group of maestro Manusardi where he was offered to six-monthly tour across Finland. Having returned to Italy, Toto creates the group "Toto and brothers", but they has no great success and broke up. But it has not affected to decision Toto to become the composer.
Once Joe Dassin has heard a song Africa at the performance of group "Albatros". It was liked him, and he has wanted to sing this one. Then agent of Dassin has called the author of this song to Milan and has invited him to arrive to Paris, to agree upon cooperation. The song "L'ete indien" instantly becoming a world hit and was included in the Gold collection of Europe. Then, due to cooperation with Joe Dassin, were born "Et si tu n'existais pas", "Salut" and other known hits. In Paris Dassin has acquainted Toto with such world stars, as Dalida, Mireille Mathieu, Michel Sardu. So hits "Ciao bambino sorry ", "En chantant" and others have appeared.
Such success of the composer in France was promoted by work with Vito Palavicini which has helped him to get on in the world.
In 1976 Toto the first time participated at festival in San Remo. As the composer and as the executor with group "Albatros". With songs "Volo AZ 504" (has executed himself, has taken the third place) and "Nel cuore, nei sensi" was executed by Gerard Lenorman (this song in a consequence has won first place in charts in France) In 1977 Toto again participated in San Remo with "Albatros" with a song "Gran premio" and took the fifth place.
In 1978 artistic activity Toto accepts the important turn: he wrote down a song Donna donna mia - prompt of the TV program We Argue by Mike Bondzhorno on "RAI I" channel. This song reaches tops of charts. At the same time Toto wrote the first song for Adriano Chelentato "Soli", in months the first on sales.
In 1979 Toto wrote down the first disk "Voglio l'anima" with songs which became popular in performance of the Italian and foreign actors.
In 1980 Toto reached the big successes. Took 1-st place in San Remo with a song Solo noi (has executed by himself). Won festival at Tokyo Yamaha Song International with a song Francesca non sa (has executed by himself). And also the first as the composer with a song Voy a ganar, executed by Miguel Bose. He became 4-th as the composer - executor at festival in Bari with a song "Innamorati".
In the same year Toto wrote for album Celentano - "Il tempo se ne va", - the disk had the great success. And in the same year Toto wrote down 2-nd disk "Solo noi".
In 1981 Toto released 3-rd disk "La mia musica" with songs executed by foreign singers.
In 1983 Toto participates at festival of San Remo with a song "L'italiano" (executes by himself) and borrows 1st place in a national tote. This song subsequently translated on other languages, and is executed by many singers, bringing Toto popularity in such inconceivable countries as Israel, Iran and Korea.
In 1984 name Toto again among participants of San Remo. And again success. It{he} with a song "Serenata" borrows{occupies} 2 place at the main variety competition of the country.
But we shall come off successes Toto on musical Olympus and a little tell about his private life. He is married. With wife Charles Toto has got acquainted on a beach in 1967 and at once has understood, that it is his destiny. After 4th years of friendship they have got married. When Charles became pregnant there was no limit of pleasure in Totos house. Once it became bad to his wife, doctors set the diagnosis: extrauterine pregnancy. After that she could not have children any more. For a long time nobody knew about it. Toto and Charles wanted to adopt the child, but could not be solved on it. When about all it became known to journalists, Toto has taken all fault on itself, having told, that his wife cannot have children because of him.
At the end of 80 composer has got acquainted with Christina, is twice younger than him. A year after, again having met, they have found common language. In 1989 son Toto named in honour of father Totino was born. Wife Cutugno has forgiven change to the husband and a birth of the son. Toto frequently visits the son in Rome.
In 1985 he participates in San Remo again with two songs: "C'est Venice" (in performance by Jose Lois Rodriguez) and "Noi ragazzi di oggi" in performance of the Mexican 15th years young man Lois Miguel, took 2-nd place. Lois Miguel is the true opening Cutugno.
1986 - Toto began greatly, receiving the premium for a disk "L'italiano", as the most sold in the world for 5 years. Also he acted in San Remo with a song "Azzurra malinconia".
In 1987 Toto kept program on "RAI I" "Sunday in...". So his television career began.
In 1988 he participated in San Remo again with songs: "Emozioni" (executes by himself and took 2-nd place) and with the updated song "Per noi" (in performance by Fiordalizo). And also Io (per le strade di quartiere) in F.Kalifano's performance.
In 1989 between performances and a teleether him acted again at festival in San Remo, with songs: " Le mamme ", executes by himself and takes the second place. " Se non avessi te " (in performance by ) and " La fine del mondo " in performance Gingi Sabani. In the autumn of the same year he started to keep a telecast " Piacere RAI I " and receives the big success again, and published a disk - the collection of television singles and songs performanced in San Remo " Toto Cutugno ".
In 1990 success smiled Toto again: he took the second place in San Remo with a song "Gli amori" (performanced himself). It was magnificently dubbed Ray Charles, having brought Toto the unforgettable emotional moments given and public of theatre Ariston. Same year Toto took 1st place in Zagreb on "Eurovision - 90" with a song "Insieme: 1992".
In 1991 Toto conducts together with Gigi Sabani a telecast Piacere RAI I". In the spring of this year Toto kept together with Gigliola Cinquetti 36-th festival Eurovision", it was kept in the most beautiful studio "Cinecitta" in Rome. This festival and its leaders have been marked by the public as the smartest for all years. Same year Toto kept with R.Karra and F.Fritstsi a telecast the Gold sail".
In the summer of 1992 Toto releases a disk - "Non e facile essere uomini" and I conduct transfer on RAI I "Tonight in impact". He kept with A.Parjetti a telecast "Sunday in in the autumn...". And during same time wrote a song " Se mi ami " for festival to San Remo, it was performanced by Claudia Exhaust in 1994.
In 1995 Toto participated in San Remo with a song "Voglio andare a vivere in campagna" and releases 7-th disk with the same name.
In 1996 Toto with the big friend Ex Nisi, director of Italian of radio, kept in Monte Carlo the teleprogram "Youre strong one".
In 1997 Toto participated in San Remo with a song "Faccia pulita" (the song has come in 8-th disk "Canzoni nascoste").
In 1998 in February Toto participated in translation of festival in San Remo. And in September came back to a musical telecast " yours facts ".
In 1999-2002 Toto continued messages "yours facts" and gave concerts in Italy, in the USA, Belarus and in Russia.
In 2002 Toto has released an album "Il treno va" in which one old and new songs have come, and also are submitted in new arrangement "L'italiano" and "L'ete indien".
In 2005 the new album "Cantando", and also a disk Come noi nessuno al mondo which as a matter of fact was an album "Il treno va" in which were included new tracks has left "Come noi nessuno al mondo" (feat. Annalisa Minetti).
from russian to the english text has translated Gavrilov Andrey
