Italo disco pioneer Carmelo La Bionda dies, aged 73

One of the founders of Italo disco, Carmelo La Bionda, has passed away. He was 73.

According to a report by Italy24 News, La Bionda passed away in his home in Milan on Saturday, 5th November following a year-long battle with cancer.

Alongside his brother, Michaelangelo, La Bionda was widely considered to be one of the founding fathers of the Italian dance music genre. Originally setting out as La Bionda Group in the early 1970s, the brothers later spearheaded Italo disco as D.D. Sound (short for Disco Delivery Sound) via late-1970s singles including ‘Disco Bass’ and ‘1, 2, 3, 4, Gimme Some More’. La Bionda singles such as ‘One For You, One For Me’ and ‘I Wanna Be Your Lover’ secured their status as Italo disco pioneers. 

The news was announced via a Facebook post by La Bionda’s son, Francesco Paolo. It read: “Carmelo left us today to join the great concert in heaven. We love you Carmelo, forever.”

Among others who expressed sympathies online was Johnson Righeira, one-half of the Italo disco duo Righeira, who were produced by La Bionda in the 1980s.

“A terrible news,” Righeira said.”A column in my life that collapses. Carmelo La Bionda has just passed away. , and nothing will be the same again. I don’t know where my life would have taken me without meeting him and Michelangelo. Hi Carme, thank you for everything. Have a good trip “.

After pioneering the Italo disco sound in the late 1970s, La Bionda continued to record music with his brother over the years, including soundtrack and production work. Their final album, ‘In Beatween’, was released in 1998.

Revisit DJ Mag’s recent long-read delving into Italo disco’s eternal evolution.