Enzo Carella

The Profile

Enzo Carella (1952–2017) was an Italian singer-songwriter from Rome. He gained national attention with Barbara (second at Sanremo 1979) and is noted for a long collaboration with lyricist Pasquale Panella. His records blend pop and funk with surreal, hermetic texts, spanning from Vocazione (1977) to Ahoh yé nanà (2007).

Roman singer-songwriter; second at Sanremo 1979 with “Barbara” (B-side “Veleno”); collaborated extensively with Pasquale Panella; albums include Vocazione (1977), Barbara e altri Carella (1979), Sfinge (1981), Carella de Carellis (1992), Se non cantassi sarei nessuno (1995), Ahoh yé nanà (2007); released records on IT, RCA/Sfinge, and Sony BMG.

Reviews portray Enzo Carella as a cult Italian singer-songwriter blending pop lightness with complex, hermetic lyrics by Pasquale Panella. Sanremo 1979’s Barbara looms large, alongside albums like Vocazione, Barbara e altri Carella and Sfinge. Writers highlight funk and Latin-tinged arrangements and a playful, surreal edge. The 1990s brought a second phase culminating in Ahoh yé nanà (2007). Overall sentiment skews admiring and celebratory.