Banco Lead Singer Francesco Di Giacomo Dies in Car Accident

Italian vocalist Francesco Di Giacomo, lead singer of legendary progressive rock group Banco del Mutuo Soccorso (also known as Banco) died February 21, 2014 in a car crash in Zagarolo (Rome province).

Francesco Di Giacomo was born in Siniscola, August 22, 1947. In 1971, he became the lead singer for Banco, one of the finest progressive rock bands of the 1970s. He was known for his captivating tenor voice. He also wrote most of Banco’s lyrics.

With Banco, Francesco Di Giacomo recorded various essential albums in the history of Italian progressive rock, including Banco del Mutuo Soccorso (1972), Darwin! (1972), and Io sono nato libero (1973). In 1975, the band released Banco, an album English language versions of songs from previous albums. In 1991, Banco re-recorded Darwin.

In 1989 Francesco Di Giacomo released a solo album titled Non mettere le dita nel naso (Do not put your fingers in the nose), featuring musicians from Banco del Mutuo Soccorso and Sam Moore.

Francesco Di Giacomo appeared in three of Fellini’s films, Satyricon (1969), Rome (1972), and Amarcord (1973).