Alberto Radius, guitarist, singer-songwriter, producer, and founder of Formula 3, has died.
He was 80 years old. The news was announced by his family, with a text also published on the Alberto Radius Fans Club page on Facebook: “It is with deep sorrow and sadness that the family of Maestro Alberto Radius shares the news of his passing.
After a long illness, he passed away peacefully, next to his loved ones. The family of Maestro Radius asks, in this difficult moment, that the privacy that has always distinguished him be respected”.
Born in Rome in 1942, Radius began his career in the 50s with White Booster, then with Premiata Forneria Marconi. With Tony Cicco and Gabriele Lorenzi he founded Formula 3, produced by Battisti's Numero Uno, recording a song by Battisti himself, Questo folle sentimento, among the best-selling singles in Italy.
The first album, Dies irae, was released in 1970; two years later the guitarist recorded his first solo album, Radius. In 1974, after the breakup of Formula 3, Radius – together with Mario Lavezzi, Vince Tempera, Gianni Dall'Aglio, Bob Callero and the other ex-Formula 3 member Gabriele Lorenzi – founded a new band, Il Volo.
In 1976 his second solo album, Che cosa sei, was released; the following year Carta straccia was released. In the meantime he collaborated with Battisti, Marcella Bella, Pierangelo Bertoli, Cristiano Malgioglio, Franco Battiato and also Alice, Milva, Sibilla, Giusto Pio and Giuni Russo, of whom he was also sometimes a producer.
In 1978 he opened Studio Radius, where he would record his subsequent albums. Radius' last appearance was at the Sanremo Festival 2021, on stage with Coma_Cose on the cover night to perform Il mio canto libero by Battisti.
“I have no words to describe one of the most bitter awakenings of my life,” comments Gianluca Grignani on Facebook.
"Memories come flooding back, moments of life and music lived together. Just a few months ago you were here in the studio holding me while listening to 'Quando ti manca il fiato'… (the song with which the artist participated in Sanremo 2023, ed.) and now it's one of those moments when you're really out of breath holding me while listening to 'Quando ti manca il fiato'… and now it's one of those moments when you're really out of breath. Today my mentor, my friend, my source of inspiration left us… goodbye Alberto! Yours Gian".
