Rino Gaetano’s sister remembers their childhood: “At home we suffered hunger and affection”

Anna Gaetano80 years old, tells in an interview with the Corriere della Sera The brother rinorevealing the most intimate and less known side of the Calabrian singer -songwriter. “I imagine that I will meet me laughing and we go to eat the granita in Monte Mario”.

A vivid memory, that of the Arista Prematurely disappeared in a car accident that took place in 1981when he was 30 and 8 months old. «I gave him the baby food with the teaspoon, it was like a doll. I couldn’t call him save, too long. For me it was Rino».

The childhood of the Gaetano brothersdistinguished by economic restrictionsis that of many post -war Italian families. “There was hunger. At home we never saw the milk. Dad worked in the oven, Every day he brought us the hot breadgrandmother put oil and sugar on it ». Rino Gateano, says his sister Anna, “he was splendid, he always laughed and joked. His only pain was dad’s health. He suffered for him. It was heart disease, worked because it had to. Up to a certain point he kept him on the youth, then no longer. He was often hurt, he was hospitalized ».

During the interview Anna describes him as an affectionate brother, generous until ingenuity. «To a friend who had seen the shop burned he lent the money to reopen it. He never saw them again. But he was done like this “. And if Sanremo in 1978 consecrated him with Gianna (“It was dedicated to me, but” Anna “sounded badly”), Rino Gateano always remained himself, without getting blinded by notoriety. Nonconformist, too. “During the last tour he went around with the pajama shirt. Celeste or yellow, of Ciniglia. It was comfortable to us ».

There was no lack of real friendships between colleagues songwriters: Antonello Venditti and Francesco De Gregori They were like brothers for Rino Gateano. “When they left together, Francesco and Rino paid for the petrol, Antonello put the car to us». Also Riccardo Cocciante It was part of the circle of real friends. «He lived in Monte Sacro near us. Riccardo loved my brother very well. Everyone wanted it to it. Rino was sincere, altruistic ».

What is certain is that Rino Gaetano’s parents hoped that the son to music preferred the safety of the permanent place. “Dad was worried because according to him with music nothing was combined. Mom was the door in a building where certain very rich signorons inhabited that would help her arrange her son. In the end she had managed to find a place at the Bank of Italy in via del Corso. Rino promise: “If I’m not successful, I go there in the end.” Jackets had it, but he won’t stand the tie».

With women the singer -songwriter was doing very well. “It was beautiful and some money handled him. Women had many. In Sanremo he went there at 27 and three months, up to 30 he has been busy ».

Today, in Anna, of his brother Rino Gaetano, everything is missing. And he feels it closer than ever. “It was the most human human being that exists. You know, I dream of it often. In 2013, when I operated on the second time for cancer, she said to me: “Anna, don’t be afraid, don’t worry” ».