Italian Musician Living the Dream, The Intelligencer

By Naila Francis
The Intelligencer

Hold the comparisons, please.Sure, he may sing with a sonorous baritone that plies an ardent emotion.

And, yes, he has the knack for both the soaring vocal and the tender croon — not to mention that air of sultry romance that he so effortlessly exudes.

Oh, and he's Italian, too.

But before you make the assumption, based on one or any combination of these distinctions, that the next Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban or Michael Bubl is here, know that Nicola “Niko” Congiu takes polite umbrage at the thought.
“I have respect for them,” says the self-taught musician, songwriter and performer. “I don't know if it's right comparing because Bocelli and Groban are classical singers and I'm not opera or classical. I sing just pop-rock or rock and roll.”

If he speaks with a halting, self-conscious English, it is because Congiu is a relative newcomer to these shores, the Sardinia native having moved just recently to Oxnard, a seaside city in California, 60 miles north of Los Angeles. He admits he is still struggling to learn English, but when it comes to his singing, be it in English or his native tongue, he is confidently at home.

Congiu's most recent CD, “Per Te,” is a mix of covers — including a stirring “Inutile” (Roy Orbison's “A Love So Beautiful”) and Robbie Williams' “Angels,” as well as several by famed Italian songwriting duo Battisti and Mogol — and originals, in both languages. From soulful ballads and danceable pop to country-rock tunes and more guitar-driven rockers, the disc draws on a range of early influences.

“I love Sam Cooke, I love Jackie Wilson. I love hard rock music — Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, many artists, sometimes Iron Maiden, also U2, The Beatles,” he says. “I sing from my soul. That's the thing about when you sing. It's not just an exhibition of your voice. It's what you transmit — your emotion, your sensations, your feelings.
“I love to sing in front of people because if I'm having fun, for me, it's the best thing. When I see the people have fun, I think it's the most important thing when you sing.”

The past year has been a whirlwind for the artist who never dared to set his career sights beyond Italy, where he maintained a rigorous performing schedule, emerging on the bar circuit around age 18 and then going on to perform at discos, clubs, festivals and other small venues while gaining exposure by participating in national singing competitions that were televised across the country.

“I played with my musicians in many dancing clubs. You have to play every kind of music, from pop to Latin music, from disco to rock music, every kind of music because the people have to dance,” says Congiu, who comes to the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden on Thursday, opening for Chicago and The Doobie Brothers. “In these years, I thought just to work because it was important work for me, for my musicians, every night, almost five nights for a week. I couldn't imagine about now, about America. It was impossible for me.”

Yet, he did know that music was the only thing he wanted to do. The son of a soccer player and a school teacher, he became hooked on the rock sounds of the '50s when he got his first audio cassette featuring the music of Little Richard and Chubby Checker as a boy. Then when he was about 6, he saw the movie “Grease.”

“That was my first music love,” he says. “The first thing was the soundtrack — the songs, beautiful songs and the style of songs, rock and roll, rock-a-billy ... I like rock-a-billy — and everything, the black leather jacket. It was very different.”

His father gave him his first keyboard for Christmas when he was about 8, which he taught himself to play, and by 12, he was also teaching himself guitar. When he began playing locally — Paul Anka's “Diana” was the first song he sang during his public debut — he sang only cover songs.

Eventually, he began writing his own songs, and in 1997, formed his own nine-piece orchestra, with which he began touring more extensively, building an enamored fan base. It was one of those electrifying performances that caught the attention of Steve Binder, the man who produced Elvis Presley's 1968 comeback special, and among other star projects, introduced America to Rick Springfield and launched the career of Seals & Crofts. Vacationing in Italy with his wife, Binder stumbled upon one of Congiu's performances and became as captivated with the young singer as was the crowd of more than 1,000 who had gathered to see him.When he and Congiu met after the producer returned a second night to see the show, the singer, a fervent Elvis fan, asked for his autograph. But Binder extended something even better: an opportunity to come to America.

“I can't believe it yet,” says Congiu. “It's a dream. Believe me, it's a dream come true.”

Since landing in North America with his family — wife Manuela and son Leonardo — the singer has already covered some impressive ground. He made his U.S. debut opening for Jewel with the Chicago Pops, performed with Tony Bennett during the 25th anniversary concert of the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall and opened for Celine Dion during the start of her “Taking Chances” world tour.

“She's my favorite singer,” he raves. “It was beautiful for me. I saw her rehearsals, I saw her on stage with her musicians. I understood many, many things about her. I learned ... it's important to have always a good relationship with many people who surround you, musicians, friends, everyone. She's great, not only like a singer, but like a person. I love her very much.”

While adjusting to life in America has not been without its challenges — along with his family, he misses speaking Italian the most — he is happy to be where he is, figuratively and physically.“It's fantastic living now in California. (Oxnard is) similar to Sardinia — the weather, the temperature, everything because I live close to the ocean and in Sardinia I lived close to the Mediterranean Sea,” he says.

Despite a significant push toward stardom, he maintains a cautious blend of humility and anticipation.
“We'll see what happens. It doesn't depend on just me but many things — destiny, fortune,” says Congiu. “For me, it's a beautiful adventure.”