Petru Guelfucci was born March 6, 1955 in Sermano, Corsica, France. One of the most charismatic singers from Corsica, Petru Guelfucci maintains his connection to his homeland’s traditional polyphonic music while creating a personal ballad style. In Corsica, a Mediterranean island, singing is a secular tradition, which brings pleasure in a harsh and lonely environment. The Corsican vocal technique reflects elements of Italian, French, and Greek song while maintaining strong connections to a Byzantine past.
In the early 1980s, Petru Guelfucci revolutionized Corsican music by founding Canta U Populu Corsu, an ensemble that revitalized the island’s music by providing it with a contemporary energy and significance.
Since 1987, Guelfucci has been mostly performing solo, occasionally touring and performing with the group Voce di Corsica. He has recorded with Hector Zazou and Manu Dibango, among others, and his powerful voice can be heard on most of the best Corsican recordings of recent years.
The album “Corsica” sold nearly a million copies worldwide. A powerful testament to the beauty and emotion of Corsican song, “Corsica” contains elements of traditional styles blended with the sensibilities of a singer and composer who has been exposed to everything from French and English pop to Algerian rai.
Discography:
Eri, oghje, dumane, with Canta U Populu Cursu (Ricordu, 1975)
Libertà, with Canta U Populu Cursu (Ricordu, 1976)
Canti di a terra è di l’omi, with Canta U Populu Cursu (Ricordu, 1977)
A strada di l’avvene, with Canta U Populu Cursu (Ricordu, 1978)
Chjamu a puesia, with Canta U Populu Cursu (Ricordu, 1979)
Festa zitellina, with Canta U Populu Cursu (Ricordu, 1979)
Au théâtre de la Ville, live, with Canta U Populu Cursu (Ricordu, 1981)
C’hè dinù, with Canta U Populu Cursu (Ricordu, 1982)
Isula (Ricordu, 1987)
S’o chjodu l’occhji (Olivi Music,1988)
Corsica (Olivi Music, 1991)
Memoria (Olivi Music, 1994)
Vita (Olivi Music, 1999)
Sì mea (Olivi Music, 2009)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
