Biography

At the beginning of his career, Italian guitarist and singer Gianmaria Testa had much more success in France than in his native country. The self-taught musician, who wrote his first song at 14, was discovered by producer Nicole Courtois in 1994 after Testa had won consecutive top prizes at the Recanti Festival. In 1995, his debut album, "Montgolfières", followed the next year by "Extra-Muros". In 1997, Testa began to receive recognition in his homeland, and by 1999, the year he had a European tour and released his third record, "Lampo", he was fully respected and appreciated in Italy and played at its top venues. In 2000 he started the collaboration with the italian producer Paola Farinetti with "Il Valzer di un Giorno", a collection of songs and poetry, and in 2003 Testa issued "Altre Latitudini". In 2006 "Da questa parte del mare", a monographic album dedicated to the modern migrations was released and he received the Tenco Award. In 2008 it was the turn of "SOLO - Dal vivo", recording at the Auditorium in Rome and in 2011 of "VITAMIA". In 2013 Testa fired a double album, "Men at work", the result of a tour in Germany with his quartet. This is his last work in life. After his death two box appear that enclose all his work :"En Studio" and "Live & Other", and in 2019 an album of unpublished "Prezioso".In addition we must not forget his theatrical career alongside Erri De Luca, Giuseppe Battiston, Giuseppe Cederna and many other artists on the Italian cultural scene.