Fabrizio De André

Fabrizio De André (1940–1999) was an Italian singer-songwriter and a leading figure in the cantautore tradition and Genoese school of song. His friend Paolo Villaggio gave him the nickname Faber, recalling both his name and his fondness for Faber-Castell pencils and pastels. He was also known as the songwriter of the marginalised and the poet of the defeated.

Across a career spanning four decades, his work explored concept albums, literature, poetry, political protest and French song. He sang in Italian as well as Neapolitan, Genoese, Sardinian and Occitan. His music became deeply embedded in Italy’s cultural memory, and numerous streets, squares and schools have been named in his honour.