The group was formed in
Naples by Gianni Averardi and Gianfranco Caliendo, in June 1974; it was officially launched in 1975 under the production of
Giancarlo Bigazzi and
Totò Savio. They got an almost immediate huge success, with several singles charting on the Italian hit parade. Characterized by a style which mixes Neapolitan tradition and melodic pop-rock, they got their biggest hit in 1976, peaking at the third place on the Italian hit parade with
Tu, ca nun chiagne, a cover version of a 1915
Canzone Napoletana classic. In 1977 the group entered the main competition at the
Sanremo Music Festival with the song
Miele, which sold 1 million copies. They attended at the popular music competition
Festivalbar three times, scoring smash-hits: ''M'innamorai
(1975); Vai
(1976); Concerto in La Minore (dedicato a lei)'' (1978). Their 1979 song
Silvie was a success in the Scandinavian countries. Later, the song was covered by artist
Katri Helena with the title
Helsingin helle, becoming a hit in Finland. In 1982, the group decided to self-produce their work. Their bestseller in the Eighties was the album
Ed è subito Napoli, which revisited classic Neapolitan songs through acoustic, electric and electronica music arrangements. In 2001, lead singer and guitarist
Gianfranco Caliendo co-wrote and co-produced the Italian hit
Turuturu (often spelled as
Turu Turu) - 3rd place at the Sanremo Festival in the "Young Section" - which eventually sold 2 million and 200,000 copies in the world, once being rearranged and performed by various artists as
Sandy & Junior and
Gisela. In 2012, co-founder, frontman, lead singer, guitarist and composer Gianfranco Caliendo left the band to pursue a solo career, releasing three albums so far. Il Giardino dei Semplici celebrated the 40th anniversary since the release of their first single in 2015, with the releases of an autobiographical book and a new live album. They have performed an estimate of 2,000 concerts all across Italy, as well as tours in the States and Canada in 1978 and Romania in 1992.
Tommy Esposito, drummer of the band since 1980, is one of the lyricists and composers of the smash-hit song
Grande amore, performed by
Il Volo in 2015. In 2024, the two former members and founders Caliendo and Averardi will release a new record together:
Liverpoolcinella. == Personnel ==