Rita Pavone, Lucio Battisti, John Fiddy & altre storie

Oggi non parliamo di un nuovo disco, ma ritorniamo su un 45 giri di Rita Pavone che tempo fa era stato il tema di questo post. "Zucchero" di Rita Pavone
Nel libro di Michele Neri "Lucio Battisti. Discografia mondiale", scritto con la collaborazione di Annunziato Cangemi e Fabio Sanna e pubblicato l'anno scorso dalla Coniglio Editore, vi era scritto che si ipotizzava che Lucio Battisti avesse partecipato ai cori; vi era inoltre scritto che il nome dell'arrangiatore, John Fiddy, era errato, trattandosi in realtà di John Feedy.

John Fiddy nel 1975

Già in quel post avevamo inserito il link verso la biografia di Fiddy, questo il suo vero cognome (e non Feedy): proprio Fiddy aveva partecipato come direttore d'orchestra a Sanremo, dirigendo la Pavone.
Il bello è che il nome errato è riportato in molti siti, tra cui quello della Rai, ed in altri....
Comunque ho pensato di contattarlo e di chiedere direttamente a lui l'informazione....e con l'occasione è nata una piccolissima (ma, a mio parere, interessante) intervista, da cui si deducono alcune notizie prima d'ora mai confermate ufficialmente, e che vi riporto qui:


Vito: In 1969 you worked with Italian singer Rita Pavone, for single "Zucchero" (Sanremo 1969): do you remember if during registration there was Italian singer Lucio Battisti on choir? 

John: Yes there was, and also Ricki Gianco and others. Great fun days...!

Vito: Do you remeber something about Lucio Battisti? Do you remember if some member of "Quelli" band play on this record?

John: I lost touch with the "Milano Mob" a long time ago, although I did continue to make occasional records with Rita. 40 years goes by very quickly; I miss Italy though, and had great times there.
Subsequently spent a lot of time in Paris, Marbella, and most of all in Munich. Lucky to be in such a fun business, and still working hard. Can't afford to retire! Yes of course I remember Lucio and Ricki...I can't remember any of the other musicians, singers etc...a long time ago! Rita came over to London in 1968 to record with myself and Peter Knight (producer) They liked working with me and asked me to come over and arrange/conduct at San Remo. As I mentioned previously they came over to London on a few occasions to record with me during the 70s and 80s.
Because of the Rita/San Remo connection I subsequently worked with lots of Italian artists, mostly via Walter Guertler, eg Ricki G, Maurizio and many others.
Occasionally we recorded in London, but usually in Milano, sadly not Roma.

Vito: John, another question....on Sanremo 1969 there was Stevie Wonder: do you remember something about him? You mentioned Walter Guertler, that was a director of Jolly-Saar-Joker, Italian record label of Maurizio.....

John: Yes, I remember Stevie Wonder at San Remo, I jammed with him at a club somewhere in the town. He played drums, and I assume I played bass guitar (my main instrument) but maybe it was guitar. I can't remember. A great musician!
I also got very (very) friendly at this get-together with a lady called Rose, who I assumed was his mother (she wasn't), but she was probably a sort of minder / carer. Stevie would have been 19 at the time.
I mentioned Walter G to you earlier; I made all kinds of recordings for his various labels. The last time I saw him was 1989 at Midem....do you have any news of him? I looked up Ricki Gianco on Google and was pleased to see he is still well....a really nice guy.

Vito: I'm sorry, but the only news about Walter Gurtler that I know is that he died on 2004...thanks for your answers!

John: Thanks Vito. Best wishes,