Ferdinando Ghidelli
Biography
Born in Caserta in 1953. he counts rock, jazz, blues and popular music experiences on his resume. After militating in groups from Caserta,from the 1970s onward, (Antonio Malerbe Operaio, Teatro Popolare Casertano, Campania Felix, Quartetto Jazz Caserta, and later with Warm Gun, Nafta), with whom he carried out an intense concert activity, he devoted himself to composition and musical production. In the 1980s and 1990s he collaborated with various musicians, including Alessandro Canino and Ida Rendano. During this period, one of his compositions, entitled "Dint ò vient," was chosen by singer Mina for her CD "Olio." He also ran his own recording studio with which he carried out activities on his own and on behalf of others. In this sense, the collaboration with La Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare is significant. From 2008 he began a new musical path by devoting himself to the study of Pedal Steel Guitar with which he gained further musical experience. He participates as sound engineer and musician in the soundtrack of the film "Mozzarella stories" by Edoardo De Angelis, collaborates with guitarist Fausto Mesolella in his live concerts. He is a guest in his film "Suonerò fino a farti fiorire" and on the 2013 CD "live in Alcatraz." In this year he plays at the Steel Guitar Convention held in Charlieu, He also appears in a track of the recording work of Raiz and Fausto Mesolella, entitled "Dago Red" (2014). In March 2014 he participated in the TSGA show held in Dallas (USA), the first Italian steeler invited in the history of this important event. In the same year he performed at the Italian Steel Guitar Convention held in Friuli. In 2015 he collaborates again, with pedal steel guitar, with Fausto Mesolella in his record work "CantoStefano" (lyrics by Stefano Benni). In 2015 he devoted himself to a new project with the ethno-world group Nantiscia, and in 2016 the first record work named after the group was released, produced by Black Tarantella. In this year he also plays at the May Day Workers' Party in Rome with Fausto Mesolella. At the same time he devoted himself to writing and in March 2020 published his first literary work entitled "Knights and Corsairs" . A historical novel published by Aletti that , between reality and fantasy, tells the personal stories of two characters of the 16th century: Don John of Austria and the corsair Uluch-Alì.In 2023 he also published ( Graus publisher, NA) a historical essay, entitled "The Unification of Italy in Caserta and its Surroundings," which analyzes the problems caused by the events related to the Battle of Volturno and Brigantaggio, relating to the Caserta district. He currently collaborates permanently with actor Tony Laudadio in the musical reading "Pasqualino ed Alessiuccia, la città che incanta." A delicate love story between a blind boy and a young girl, under the sky of Naples with a musical background of songs by Pino Daniele. He also performs live concerts with the trio Oxum, together with singer Cinzia Carlà and guitarist Adriano Guarino, with a musical proposal that ranges from jazz to bossanova.Over the years he has shared the stage with many artists, including: Alessandro Haber, Pippo del Bono, Massimo Lopez and Raiz at Settembre al Borgo (CE). Paolo Rossi at Festa del Primo Maggio in Rome, Enzo Avitabile at Leuciane (CE). Enzo Gragnaniello at the Maschio Angioino, (NA). Stefano Benni at the Free University of Alcatraz Gubbio (PG). David Hartley at the Macchia Blues Festival (IS). Gary Allegretto (USA), Italian Tour .