Jimmy Fontana

Lore & Background

Enrico Sbriccoli was born in Camerino, Marche. After graduating from high school, he moved to Rome to study Economics. In his spare time, he taught himself bass and attended local jazz venues. He eventually dedicated himself completely to music and adopted the stage name Jimmy Fontana in homage to American musician Jimmy Giuffre, with the surname Fontana arbitrarily chosen from a phone book. In the early 1950s, he started his own jazz band, Fontana and his Trio, with piano, bass and drums, and around that time he met Leda, who became his wife and with whom he had four children: Luigi, Roberto, Andrea, and Paola.

At the end of the 1950s, Fontana turned to light music and began his solo career. His first success was "Diavolo", which won third place in the Festival of Barcelona. In 1960, "Bevo" won the Burlamacco Gold in Viareggio. His first Sanremo Music Festival participation came in 1961 with "Lady luna". In 1965, he had his major success with "Il mondo", composed by Fontana and Carlo Pes, arranged by Ennio Morricone, with lyrics by Gianni Meccia, which topped charts in Italy and other countries. That same year, he debuted as an actor in two musicarelli. His hits include "La mia serenata", which won the Un disco per l'estate festival in 1967. In 1971, "Che sarà", composed by Fontana with lyrics by Franco Migliacci, was performed by José Feliciano with Ricchi e Poveri at Sanremo, winning second prize and becoming a major hit.

After "Che sarà", Fontana stopped writing songs but continued touring. In 1982, his son Luigi wrote part of a new song, prompting Jimmy to complete "Beguine" for that year's Sanremo, where it placed sixth. Luigi joined him on stage, and they performed together until Jimmy's death. In 1992, his third son Andrea joined them for family shows. Fontana continued appearing on TV until his old age. He died peacefully at his home in Rome at age 78, while still planning concert tours.

Reader's Guide

Jimmy Fontana's significance lies in his dual role as a performer and composer who helped shape Italian popular music in the 1960s and early 1970s. His song "Il mondo" became a classic, reaching charts across Europe and Latin America, and remains one of the most recognizable Italian songs of its era. His co-written "Che sarà" achieved even broader international reach through José Feliciano's performance, winning second prize at the Sanremo Music Festival and becoming a global pop hit. Fontana's career also illustrates the transition from jazz to light music in post-war Italy, as he moved from leading a jazz trio to becoming a solo star in the Sanremo-dominated pop scene. His work as an actor in musicarelli and his later family performances with his sons added a personal dimension to his legacy. Though he stopped writing songs for a decade after "Che sarà", his return in 1982 showed his enduring connection to his craft. Fontana's legacy is that of a versatile artist whose melodies and lyrics resonated widely, bridging Italian and international audiences.

Did You Know?

• Jimmy Fontana adopted his stage name in homage to American musician Jimmy Giuffre, with the surname Fontana chosen arbitrarily from a phone book.
• His song "Il mondo" was arranged by Ennio Morricone.
• He won second prize at the 1971 Sanremo Music Festival with "Che sarà", performed by José Feliciano and Ricchi e Poveri.
• Fontana died at age 78 while still planning concert tours.