Eros Ramazzotti

Biography

Eros Walter Luciano Ramazzotti (Italian: [ˈɛːroz ˈvalter luˈtʃaːno ramatˈtsɔtti]; born 28 October 1963) is an Italian pop and rock singer, songwriter and record producer. He is popular in Italy and most European countries, and throughout the Spanish-speaking world, as he has released most of his albums in both Italian and Spanish.
Since 1984, Ramazzotti has released 13 studio albums, one EP, three compilation albums, three live albums, and 37 singles. He has sold over 70 million records in his 40-year career.
Ramazzotti recorded songs with international artists such as Cher, Tina Turner, Anastacia, Joe Cocker, Julio Iglesias, Ricky Martin, Alejandro Sanz, Carlos Santana, Alicia Keys, and Italian artists from different music genres, Andrea Bocelli, Ornella Vanoni, Luciano Pavarotti, Laura Pausini, Raf, Giorgia and Elisa.
Throughout his career, Ramazzotti has been recognized with four Italian, Wind & Music Awards, four World Music Awards, three BMI Latin Awards, a Lo Nuestro Awards and a Premios Ondas Career Award.

Childhood and early beginnings (1963–1981)

Ramazzotti was born in Cinecittà Est, a suburb of Rome. He is the son of Rodolfo Ramazzotti, a construction worker and Raffaela Molina, a housewife. His father originated from the province of Viterbo in Lazio and his mother from the province of Vibo Valentia in Calabria. He was named after Eros, the Greek god of love. He began playing the guitar at age seven. As a teenager, he wrote songs with the help of his father who was a music lover and played piano. He wanted to attend a musical conservatory but failed the admission examination, and started training in bookkeeping, but dropped out. He occasionally appeared as an extra in films while dreaming of having a career as a pop-star.
In 1981, Ramazzotti took part in a music contest, Voci Nuove di Castrocaro (New Voices of Castrocaro Terme) with the song "Rock 80", which he wrote, performing in front of various record label representatives. Although the contest was won by Zucchero and Fiordaliso, Ramazzotti reached the final and received two votes from Roberto Galanti and Baron Lando Lanni, who represented the recently launched Italian Label DDD (Drogueria di Drugolo). DDD gave Eros his first contract. He moved to Milan with his brother Marco and his mother Raffaella, and they initially lived in the same building as the record label company.

Career breakthrough (1982–1986)

Ramazzotti's first single, "Ad un amico×Ad un amico1982 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAAd un amico3:58BSole che viene3:22" (lit. 'To a Friend'), was released in 1982, and was not particularly well received. Soon after, Eros met Renato Brioschi, who mentored the young artist toward his first success in 1984 at the highly regarded Sanremo Festival. His song, "Terra promessa×Terra promessa1984 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Terra promessa (versione originale dall'album Eros)4:422Nuovi eroi4:143Terra promessa (Peter Ries 7" vocal edit)4:17" (lit. 'Promised Land') won the Newcomers' category, and was subsequently released widely throughout Europe.
In 1985, Ramazzotti took part in the Sanremo Festival again with the song "Una storia importante×Una storia importante21 November 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 26 tracks1Il mio giorno preferito3:262L’aurora5:093Un’emozione per sempre3:564Come nei film3:025Festa3:256La mia strada3:097Buona stella3:298Se bastasse una canzone5:239Otra como tú4:2110Domani3:0011Quanto amore sei4:1612Solo insieme a te3:4313Stupide parole romantiche3:4014Fuego en el fuego4:05155 secondi3:1216Mi día preferido3:2717La aurora5:0918Una emoción para siempre3:4819Si bastasen un par de canciones5:2320Mañana3:0021Fiesta3:2522La aventura3:1023Cuánto amor me das4:1624Solo junto a ti3:4325Estúpidas palabras románticas3:40265 segundos3:13" (lit. 'An Important Story'), taken from his debut album Cuori agitati×Cuori agitati1985 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Cuori agitati3:472Respiro nel blu3:403Buongiorno bambina4:154Ora3:495Volare navigare camminare3:506Una storia importante4:117Quando l'amore4:028Dritto per quell'unica via3:579Libertà libertà3:5310Terra promessa3:44 (lit. 'Troubled Hearts'). While only placing sixth at the festival, "Una storia importante" was released as a single and became a huge hit in many European countries, including France where it sold a million units. His second album Nuovi eroi×Nuovi eroi1986 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Un cuore con le ali3:552Un nuovo amore4:143E mi ribello4:244Fuggo dal nulla3:505Con gli occhi di un bambino4:226Lacrime di gioventù4:547Emozione dopo emozione4:378Adesso tu5:069Nuovi eroi4:1410Una storia importante4:1211Cuori agitati3:4712Buongiorno bambina4:1813Terra promessa3:44 (lit. 'New Heroes'), released in 1986, earned two Platinum-awards in Switzerland with over 100,000 sales, and Gold status in Germany with over 250,000 sales. At his third Sanremo Festival appearance in 1986 his memorable single, "Adesso tu×Adesso tu1996 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Terra promessa3:452Buongiorno bambina4:153Adesso tu4:014Una storia importante4:115E mi ribello4:216Respiro nel blu3:397Volare navigare camminare3:518Libertà libertà3:539L’importante è esagerare4:2210Il volatore d’aquiloni4:1211Parlare con i limoni4:3712Due gelati4:5213Senza parole4:0414La fine della storia3:3815Il futuro3:3016Poveri cantautori4:06" (lit. 'Now You') from Nuovi eroi won the overall competition.

Popularity established (1987–1994)

In 1987, Ramazzotti went on a nine-month-long tour after releasing his third album In certi momenti×In certi momenti28 October 1987 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Questo mio vivere un po’ fuori4:202Ok ci sto3:583La luce buona delle stelle4:154Il gioco della verità4:385Ma che bello questo amore4:116Ciao pa’5:027Cose che ho visto4:108Libero dialogo4:359Occhi di speranza3:1710Senza perderci di vista4:14 (Sometimes), performing in front of more than a million people. In certi momenti went Gold in Germany with over 250,000 sales and Platinum in Switzerland with over 50,000 sales, and reached more than 3 million copies worldwide. As his career developed, he performed "La Luce Buona Delle Stelle" (The Good Light of the Stars) with Patsy Kensit on 22 November 1987, and released a seven-track mini-album Musica è×Musica è15 December 1988 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Musica è11:012La luce buona delle stelle (remix)4:503Ti sposerò perché4:044In segno d'amicizia3:555Solo con te5:036Uno di noi3:537Voglio volare4:028Occhi di speranza (remix)3:18 (Music Is) in May 1988.
His fifth album, In ogni senso×In ogni senso1990 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Se bastasse una canzone5:082C’è una strada in cielo4:233Amore contro4:254Dammi la luna3:535Taxi Story4:026Dolce Barbara (dedicata alla mamma di Barbara di Caserta)4:097Amarti è l’immenso per me4:268Canzoni lontane4:519Cara prof4:0010Cantico5:5111Oggi che giorno è4:3712Andare… in ogni senso2:21 (In Every Sense), released in April 1990, attracted more than two hundred journalists from around the world to the album's press conference launch in Venice. An American record producer, Clive Davis, advised Ramazzotti to hold a concert at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City, and he became the first Italian artist to perform at the renowned concert hall, performing before a sell-out crowd. However, he was later disappointed to learn that most of his audience was of Italian descent, having hoped for a more widespread breakthrough. During that visit to the US, Ramazzotti also performed on TV shows like The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Good Morning America. In ogni senso earned multiple Gold and Platinum album awards around the world, including a Platinum in Germany for over 500,000 sales, a triple Platinum in Switzerland for over 150,000 sales, and Platinum in the Netherlands for sales of over 100,000 units.

His 1991 double-CD release Eros in Concert was followed by another long tour, including a concert in Barcelona, Spain before 20,000 fans on 4 December, the day of his live CD's release.
In 1993, he released Tutte storie (All Stories), and he toured in Europe and 15 Latin American countries, where he has released his Spanish language albums. That November, Ramazzotti performed "Cose della vita×Cose della vita1993 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Cose della vita4:052Non c’è più fantasia3:51" (Things of Life) at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Berlin. Tutte storie entered the Top-5 album list in many countries in Europe including Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway. The album earned Ramazzotti four Platinums in Switzerland for sales of over 200,000 units, a Platinum in Germany for sales of over 500,000 units, and Platinum status in many other counties including the Netherlands, Sweden, Argentina and Austria. Tutte storie eventually sold five million copies worldwide which played a significant role in helping Ramazzotti get his contract with BMG International.

Worldwide commercial success (1995–2002)

In the summer of 1995, Ramazzotti participated in the European summer festival along with Rod Stewart, Elton John and Joe Cocker. His six-million-seller album, Dove c'è musica (Where There Is Music) was released on 13 May 1996, his first completely self-produced album. On 5 December of the same year, his companion of several years and future wife Michelle Hunziker (Swiss model and television host) gave birth to their daughter, Aurora Sophie.
In October 1997, he released Eros – Greatest Hits, which contained two new songs, "Quanto Amore Sei×Quanto Amore Sei1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Quanto Amore Sei4:102Questo Immenso Show (Live Version)5:50" (How Much Love Are You) and "Ancora un minuto di sole" (Just One More Minute of Sunshine), as well as reworked versions of previous hits including "Musica è×Musica è15 December 1988 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Musica è11:012La luce buona delle stelle (remix)4:503Ti sposerò perché4:044In segno d'amicizia3:555Solo con te5:036Uno di noi3:537Voglio volare4:028Occhi di speranza (remix)3:18" (duet with Andrea Bocelli) and "Cose Delle Vita-Can't Stop Thinking of You" as a duet with Tina Turner. This collection entered the Top-5 in France, Belgium, Sweden and Finland, and reached No. 1 in several countries including Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands and Norway, selling 1.2 million units in its first week of release according to BMG International.
The album was certified five times Platinum by IFPI (Europe) for selling well over five million units in Europe alone. The album also attained two Latin-type Platinum certifications by RIAA for sales of over 400,000 units in USA. That year, Ramazzotti was awarded "Best International Male Artist of the Year" at Germany's Echo Music Awards.
In 1998, he released the live CD Eros Live, which included 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 again collaborated with Italian superstar Andrea Bocelli, singing "Nel Cuore Lei" (In Your Heart) for Bocelli's album, Sogno (Dream). The album sold over 10 million albums worldwide, gaining more recognition for Ramazzotti. In 1999, he was again awarded as "Best International Male Artist of the Year" at Germany's Echo Music Awards. 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.
Ramazzotti gained a reputation as a seasoned producer with the album Come fa bene l'amore (Feels good to love) by Gianni Morandi in the beginning of 2000. That October, he delivered his eighth studio album Stilelibero×Stilelibero2000 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1L'ombra del gigante4:422Fuoco nel fuoco4:023Lo spirito degli alberi4:134Un angelo non è4:395L'aquila e il condor4:296Più che puoi4:147Il mio amore per te4:178E ancor mi chiedo4:229Improvvisa luce ad Est4:4210Nell'azzurrità4:1711Amica donna mia4:0812Per me per sempre3:55 (Freestyle), which contained a duet with the American diva, Cher, in the song "Più che puoi" (As Much As You Can). The album, the result of a collaboration of several producers including Celso Valli, Claudio Guidetti, Trevor Horn and Rick Nowels, reached the Top-5 album charts throughout Europe and was certified two times Platinum by IFPI (Europe) for sales of over two million units in Europe alone. In the course of the international tour for Stilelibero, Ramazzotti also appeared in eastern European countries including Moscow, Russia where he gave a three-day sold-out concerts at Kremlin Palace.

International success and collaborations (2003–2010)

On 30 May 2003, Ramazzotti released his ninth studio album, entitled 9. The first single, "Un'emozione per sempre×Un'emozione per sempreSingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Un emozione per sempre3:592Una emocion para siempre3:583Un angelo non è (live)5:21" (An Emotion Forever) was released on 9 May, and was number one in Italy's official single chart for 14 consecutive weeks.
The album, produced along with Claudio Guidetti and Eros's longtime musical friend Celso Valli, stayed at the No. 1 position for nine weeks in Italy's official album chart. 9 went on selling 3 million copies, 1.1 million of which were sold in Italy alone. He began his world tour in Ancona, Italy which was set to have 100 dates in front of audiences of up to one million people (56 dates of which were done in Europe in front of 550,000 people).
On 28 October 2005, Ramazzotti's 10th album Calma apparente×Calma apparente17 October 2005 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1La nostra vita4:402L’equilibrista3:533Bambino nel tempo4:414Tu sei4:015Solarità3:546Sta passando novembre4:117Una nuova età3:488Nomadi d’amore4:029Non è amore4:0210L’ultimo metrò4:3311I Belong to You (Il ritmo della passione)4:2612Beata solitudine4:0913Calma apparente4:39 (Apparent Calm) was released on the day of his birthday, which he produced together with Claudio Guidetti. The album Calma apparente, which was certified Platinum within a period of just one month after its release for selling over one million copies in Europe, contains the duet hit single "I Belong to You" with American singer Anastacia, the single went No. 1 in several countries including Italy, Germany and Switzerland. Throughout the years, Eros has gained popularity especially in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Venezuela, and most Spanish-speaking countries.
More than ten years after Ramazzotti's first compilation album Eros, which has sold a total of 7.5 million copies worldwide and has reached No. 1 in many countries including Germany, Ramazzotti released a new double-CD compilation-album e² on 26 October 2007; the first CD contained four new tracks and 14 original songs in a remastered format, and the second CD had 17 redone tracks, and feature artists such as Carlos Santana, Wyclef Jean, Steve Vai, Jon Spencer. The four unreleased pieces on the e² album include a new international duet "Non siamo soli" (We're Not Alone) which Eros sings along with Latin pop star Ricky Martin. This became the first single taken off the album, and was available for sale on 5 October 2007, reaching the top spot in Italy and entering the top-5 in Switzerland and Spain. In Spain, the Spanish-language version "No estamos solos" was certified four times Platinum for having been downloaded over 80,000 times in Digital format, whereas it was certified six times Platinum for having been downloaded 120,000 in Original Tone format (equivalent to US Master Ringtone). The single was written, both in Italian and Spanish, by Ramazzotti and his longtime songwriting partner Claudio Guidetti.
Ramazzotti's 11-track album, Ali e radici×Ali e radici21 May 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Appunti e note3:562Il cammino3:483Parla con me4:014L'orizzonte3:465Affetti personali3:306Controvento3:467Ali e radici4:188Bucaneve4:119Nessuno escluso3:4510Non possiamo chiudere gli occhi3:5111Come gioielli3:55 (Wings and Roots), was released on 22 May 2009, produced by Eros himself as well as his longtime 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×Parla con me23 April 2009 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Parla con me3:59" ("Talk to Me"), released on 17 May 2009, off his 11th studio album, is a catchy pop song which has peaked at No. 1 in Italy and No. 8 in Switzerland. The album was available both in a standard-edition as well as in a deluxe-edition, which includes 64-page booklet of photographs, and it entered the Top-5 in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, France, Sweden, and was number-one in Italy and Switzerland.

Continued success (2012–present)

Ramazzotti's studio album, Noi was released on 13 November 2012 in Italy and 16 November in other European territories including Germany. The album contains 14 tracks including duets×Duets17 November 2017 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Cosas de la vida - Can't Stop Thinking Of You4:492Hasta el Extasis3:443Inevitabile3:554I Belong To You - Il ritmo della passione4:255No estamos solos3:416Più che puoi4:147Musica è9:418Fuego en el fuego4:029La luce buona delle stelle4:1410Un segundo de paz3:1911Solo un volo4:0512Amarte es total4:2413Anche tu3:3414Se bastasse una canzone4:3515Una emocion para siempre3:48 with Andy Garcia, Nicole Scherzinger as well as collaborations with Club Dogo, Il Volo and Hooverphonic. The first single from the album entitled "Un angelo disteso al sole×Un angelo disteso al sole12 October 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Un angelo disteso al sole3:23" was released on 13 October 2012, which peaked at No.5 in Ramazzotti's home market, Italy. The album Noi has gone four times Platinum in Italy for shipment of over 240,000 units, while in Germany, the album has shipped over 100,000 units reaching status of Gold.
Ramazzotti's next studio album was released in Italy on 12 May 2015, entitled Perfetto×Perfetto12 May 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Alla fine del mondo3:572Il tempo non sente ragione4:053Perfetto3:534Sbandando3:585Sogno n. 33:546Rosa nata ieri3:527Vivi e vai3:548Un’altra estate4:099L’amore è un modo di vivere3:5610Il viaggio3:4511Tu gelosia3:5112Sei un pensiero speciale3:4813Buon Natale (Se vuoi)4:0614Tra vent’anni3:4015Alla Fine Del Mondo (acoustic demo version)2:27. The album contains 14 tracks, which have been recorded in Los Angeles, Milan and Rome. The songs are produced by Ramazzotti and his longtime partner Claudio Guidetti. The first single from the album is "Alla Fine Del Mondo", which was released on 27 March 2015.
Ramazzotti performed in Tel Aviv, Israel, in April 2016 and November 2019.
Ramazzotti's 14th studio album Vita ce n'è was released on 23 November 2018 in some of the European markets including Italy, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. The album contains duets with Alessia Cara on the track called "Vale per sempre" as well as a duet with Luis Fonsi on the track called "Per le strade una canzone". In its first week of release, Vita ce n'è entered the Italian album chart at No.1, in Germany at No.7.
Between 2019 and 2021 Ramazzotti took adiscographic hiatus. On 16 September 2022 through Universal he published his fifteenth studio album Battito Infinito×Battito infinito15 September 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Battito infinito8:202Ama3:243Madonna de Guadalupe3:314Ritornare a ballare3:445Figli della terra3:276Eccezionali3:247Sono3:338Gli ultimi romantici3:319Magia3:4710Nessuno a parte noi3:5011Ti dedico3:4112Ogni volta che respiro3:31, which peaked at number one in Italy and Switzland and charted on severals erupean charts, including number eight in Spain. In March 2026, Ramazzotti released the single "Come nei film×Come nei film21 November 2025 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Come nei film3:03" featuring Max Pezzali. The official music video was directed by Claudio Zagarini and Giovanni Abitante, produced by Borotalco.tv for Sony Music, and created entirely using generative AI, marking one of the first fully AI-generated music videos released by a major international record label.

Personal life

Ramazzotti is very private about his personal life, keeping a small circle of friends. Ramazzotti had a poor childhood, and recalls growing up:

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.
Ramazzotti recalls being extremely shy in the early 1980s before achieving fame:

When I went to Milan to further develop my musical skills, I remember being so shy at the time that I would simply get terrified of going to restaurants all by myself, so I would go without eating throughout my time in Milan.
Although Ramazzotti was born and raised in Rome, he is famous for his loyal support of Juventus. On 26 March 2012, he was awarded a personal star by club legend Pavel Nedvěd in recognition of his importance as a supporter of the club.
His 320-page autobiography, co-written by Luca Bianchini, was published on 13 April 2006.

Marriages

Ramazzotti was married to Swiss model and actress Michelle Hunziker from 1998 to 2002, with whom he has a daughter Aurora Sophie (born 5 December 1996). Ramazotti's 1996 hit song "Più bella cosa×Più bella cosa9 April 1996 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Più bella cosa4:292Un cuore con le ali (live version)3:44" was dedicated to then-girlfriend Michelle (who appears in the song's music video), and his follow-up release "L'Aurora" in February 1997 to his newborn.
Ramazzotti remarried at age 50 to Italian model and actress Marica Pellegrinelli (born 1988), on 6 June 2014 at the Royal Palace of Milan. They have a daughter, Raffaela Maria (born 3 August 2011) and a son, Gabrio Tullio (born 14 March 2015).