Gianluca Grignani

An iconic figure in Italian rock & roll, Gianluca Grignani was born in Milan, Lombardy, on April 7, 1972. He was raised on the outskirts of the city and began writing songs as a teenager, taking influence from an international group of artists that included Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Lucio Battisti, and Vasco Rossi. Mentored by the producer Massimo Luca, he signed with Polygram in 1994 and released his debut album, Destinazione Paradiso, in 1995. The record was a success, reaching Number 2 on the Italian charts, spawning the Number 15 single "La mia storia tra le dita," and winning a Telegatto award for "Revelation of the Year." Grignani also released a Spanish-language version of the album, Destino Paraíso. La Fabbrica di Plastica followed in 1996 and reached Number 3 in Italy, with 1998's Campi di Popcorn and 2000's Sdraiato su una nuvola both peaking at Number 5. Gianluca Grignani reached Number 1 in Italy for the first time with 2000's Uguali e diversi and continued releasing Top 10 albums throughout the 2000s and 2010s, with highlights including 2008's Cammina Nel Sole and 2016's Una Strada in Mezzo al Cielo. He also made multiple appearances at the San Remo Festival. Meanwhile, songs like "Mi Historia Entre Tus Dedos" became enduring classics not only in Italy, but also in Latin America.