Wess

Wess with Dori Ghezzi (Sanremo, 1973)

Wesley Johnson known by his stage name Wess (August 13, 1945 — September 21, 2009) was an American-born Italian singer and bass guitarist, perhaps mostly known for representing Italy along with Dori Ghezzi in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975 in Stockholm, Sweden, placing third.^[1] He formed a successful duo with Ghezzi and achieved some hits in Italy, such as "Voglio stare con te", "Come stai? Con chi sei?" and "Un corpo e un'anima". Wess also was a singer and played bass guitar for the funk-soul band Wess & The Airedales in the 1960s and early 1970s. Originally from North Carolina, Wess moved to Italy in the 1960s in pursuit of a musical career. Wess died in New York during his United States tour when a breathing crisis led to his death .^[2] He was the father of UK-based R'n'B singer Romina Johnson, who often accompanied him as a backing singer.^[3]

References

External links

• Discography of Wess Johnson
• Discography of Wess & The Airedales

Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest
Participation 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 to 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 to 1996 1997 1998 to 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Artists 1950s Franca Raimondi (1956) Tonina Torrielli (1956) Nunzio Gallo Domenico Modugno Domenico Modugno 1960s Renato Rascel Betty Curtis Claudio Villa Emilio Pericoli Gigliola Cinquetti Bobby Solo Domenico Modugno Claudio Villa Sergio Endrigo Iva Zanicchi 1970s Gianni Morandi Massimo Ranieri Nicola Di Bari Massimo Ranieri Gigliola Cinquetti Wess and Dori Ghezzi Al Bano & Romina Power Mia Martini Ricchi e Poveri Matia Bazar 1980s Alan Sorrenti 1981 to 1982 Riccardo Fogli Alice & Battiato Al Bano & Romina Power 1986 Umberto Tozzi and Raf Luca Barbarossa Anna Oxa and Fausto Leali 1990s Toto Cutugno Peppino di Capri Mia Martini Enrico Ruggeri 1994 to 1996 Jalisse 1998 to 1999 2000s 2000 to 2009 2010s 2010 Raphael Gualazzi Nina Zilli Marco Mengoni Emma Il Volo Francesca Michielin
Songs 1950s "Amami se vuoi" (1956) "Aprite le finestre" (1956) "Corde della mia chitarra" "Nel blu, dipinto di blu" "Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)" 1960s "Romantica" "Al di là" "Addio, addio" "Uno per tutte" "Non ho l'età" "Se piangi, se ridi" "Dio, come ti amo" "Non andare più lontano" "Marianne" "Due grosse lacrime bianche" 1970s "Occhi di ragazza" "L'amore è un attimo" "I giorni dell'arcobaleno" "Chi sarà con te" "Sì" "Era" "We'll Live It All Again" "Libera" "Questo amore" "Raggio di luna" 1980s "Non so che darei" 1981 to 1982 "Per Lucia" "I treni di Tozeur" "Magic Oh Magic" 1986 "Gente di mare" "Vivo (Ti scrivo)" "Avrei voluto" 1990s "Insieme: 1992" "Comme è ddoce 'o mare" "Rapsodia" "Sole d'Europa" 1994 to 1996 "Fiumi di parole" 1998 to 1999 2000s 2000 to 2009 2010s 2010 "Madness of Love" "L'amore è femmina (Out of Love)" "L'essenziale" "La mia città" "Grande amore" "No Degree of Separation"
(Note: Entries scored out are when Italy did not compete)