I Camaleonti

[[File:I Camaleonti.jpg|235px|thumbnail|I Camaleonti, c. 1964. (l-r) Gerry Manzoli, Paolo de Ceglie, Antonio "Tonino" Cripezzi, Livio Macchia]]

'''I Camaleonti''' ("The Chameleons") are an Italian pop group from [[Milan]], mostly successful between the late 1960s and the early 1970s.

== Background == I Camaleonti were formed in 1963 in [[Milan]]. The original line-up included Livio Macchia (guitar), Antonino Cripezzi (keyboards), Paolo de Ceglie (drums) and Gerardo Manzoli (bass). In 1965 the band's line-up was augmented with the arrival of Riki Maiocchi on vocals and guitar. The band's first hit was called "Sha-La-La-La (La-La-La-La-La)", and coincided with the popularity of the [[Beat music|beat]] genre.<ref name=music>{{cite book|last=Eddy Anselmi|title=Festival di Sanremo: almanacco illustrato della canzone italiana|year=2009 |publisher=Panini Comics, 2009|isbn=978-8863462296}}</ref><ref name=hitparade>{{cite book|last=Dario Salvatori|title=Storia dell'Hit Parade|year=1989 |publisher=Gramese, 1989|isbn=8876054391}}</ref>

In 1966, vocalist and guitarist [[Riki Maiocchi]] left the group to pursue a solo career and was replaced by [[Mario Lavezzi]].<ref name="music"/> With Lavezzi on board, the group gradually began to switch to a more melodic pop sound, soon achieving success with a modern rendition of a popular 1935 tune penned by [[Cesare Andrea Bixio]] and Michele Galdieri, "Portami tante rose".<ref name="music"/>

Between 1968 and 1973 I Camaleonti had four singles topping the Italian charts, including "[[Applausi]]", "Io per lei" and "[[L'ora dell'amore]]".<ref name=hitparade/> Between [[Sanremo Music Festival 1970|1970]] and [[Sanremo Music Festival 1993|1993]] they entered the [[Sanremo Music Festival]] five times, (the last time along with [[Dik Dik]] and [[Equipe 84]]'s lead singer Maurizio Vandelli), finishing third in [[Sanremo Music Festival 1979|1979]] with "Quell'attimo in più".<ref name="music"/> Despite numerous line-up changes. The band performed its final concert on 30 June 2025, with Livio Macchia and Dave Sumner, to celebrate the end of their career and the group's 60 years of activity.

== Members == * Livio Macchia: vocals, guitar (1963–2025; died 2025) * Antonio "Tonino" Cripezzi: vocals, keyboards (1963–2022; died 2022) * Paolo de Ceglie: drums (1963–2004; died 2004) * Gerardo "Gerry" Manzoli: bass (1963–1982) * Dave Sumner: guitar (1969–2025) * Riki Maiocchi: vocals, guitar (1965–1966; died 2004) * Mario Lavezzi: vocals, guitar (1966–1968) * Gabriele Lorenzi: keyboards (1967–1968) * Vincenzo Mancuso: guitar, flute (1981–1984) * Massimo Brunetti: keyboards, flute (1990–2024; died 2024)

==Discography==

===Studio albums=== * 1966 – ''The Best Records in The World '' * 1967 – ''Portami tante rose'' * 1968 – ''Io per lei'' * 1969 – ''Vita d'uomo'' (EP) * 1973 – ''I magnifici Camaleonti'' * 1974 – ''Amicizia e amore'' * 1975 – ''Piccola Venere ed altri successi'' * 1976 – ''Che aereo stupendo… la speranza'' * 1977 – ''In vendita'' * 1979 – ''...e camminiamo '' * 1993 – ''Come passa il tempo e i più grandi successi '' * 1996 – ''Libero '' * 1997 – ''Applausi ed altri successi'' * 2001 – ''2001 ed oltre'' * 2004 – ''40 anni di musica e applausi '' * 2006 – ''Storia '' * 2010 – ''Camaleonti Live''

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.camaleonti.it/}} *{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=mn0000213327|label=I Camaleonti}} * {{discogs artist|I Camaleonti}} * {{imdb name|2320055}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Camaleonti}} [[Category:Musical groups established in 1962]] [[Category:Italian pop music groups]] [[Category:1962 establishments in Italy]] [[Category:Musical groups from Milan]]