Published
Wed, Nov 9, 2022, 13:55
- Carmelo was one half of brotherly duo La Bionda, best known for the Italo classic "I Wanna Be Your Lover."
Carmelo La Bionda, a pioneer of the Italo disco sound, has died aged 73.
A statement on La Bionda's Facebook page on Saturday, November 5th, confirmed the death. A piece in Italy 24 revealed he passed away at home in Milan following a spell with cancer. The funeral took place yesterday, November 8th.
Carmelo was one half of La Bionda with his brother Michelangelo, a duo widely regarded as being among the originators of Italo disco. Initially called D.D. Sound, their 1978 track "1,2,3,4, Gimme Some More" was one of the first Italian disco tracks to use synthesisers. Other tracks released under that alias—"Disco Bass" and "Burning Love"—became international hits.
As La Bionda, Carmelo and Michelangelo released seven albums, achieving success with tracks such as "Sandstorm," "There for Me" and the global hit "One for You, One for Me." Their most significant contribution to the Italo sound was 1980's "I Wanna Be Your Lover," a track now considered a classic of the genre.
Later in their career, the brothers scored numerous Italian films and TV series, and their music has since appeared in Coca-Cola and Vodafone adverts in Italy.
Listen to "I Wanna Be Your Lover."