Andrea Parodi

Andrea Parodi was born in Porto Torres, Sardinia in 1955. He grew up surrounded by the island's folk traditions, but his musical interests stretched beyond that to include blues, jazz, and rock. In the early 1980s, he helped start the band Banda Street with other musicians who wanted to mix those Sardinian roots with more contemporary sounds.

Banda Street's first album came out in 1985, titled 'A Est Della Notte'. The title track, a ballad about emigration and longing, became one of his most recognizable songs. That record helped establish him as a significant figure in Sardinian music, though his approach sometimes drew criticism from traditionalists who felt he was straying too far from the source material.

He kept recording through the late 80s and 90s, putting out albums like 'Le Penne Nere' and 'Salude e Fraternidade'. His work included songs like 'Gracias a La Vida' and 'Ruzaju', and he occasionally collaborated with other artists, including Joan Baez and Dulce Pontes.