Raf (IT)

About

Also known as: Raffaele Riefoli, Rip Kirby

Best known outside Italy for co writing and originally recording "Self Control" in 1984, Raf spent the early part of his career working in English, landing in the new wave and italo disco scene with a debut album that charted strongly across Europe. The song was later covered by Laura Branigan and became a worldwide smash, but Raf's own version was a serious hit in its own right, reaching the top two in Germany and number one in Switzerland. He also co wrote "Si può dare di più" for the Morandi, Ruggeri and Tozzi trio, which won the Sanremo Music Festival in 1984, and co wrote "Gente di mare" with Umberto Tozzi, which represented Italy at Eurovision 1987 and placed third. From the late 1980s onward, Raf shifted into Italian language pop and found an even bigger audience at home. His 1993 album Cannibali went six times platinum in Italy, powered by tracks like "Il battito animale" and "Stai con me". He has kept releasing records steadily since, with studio albums landing in the Italian top fifteen as recently as 2012.