The Italian music scene is mourning the death of Christian, the Palermo-born singer known for his romantic ballads Cara and Daniela. He died in Milan at the age of 82 after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage, his family announced.

Born Cristiano Gaetano Rossi in 1943, he adopted his stage name on Mina’s advice. A former youth football player, he turned to music after an injury, winning the Festivalbar newcomers’ section in 1970 with Firmamento. His breakthrough came in the 1980s, when Daniela (1982) and especially Cara (1984) brought him international fame. Over the years, he performed six times at the Sanremo Festival, collaborated with songwriters like Mogol, Bruno Lauzi, and Cristiano Malgioglio, and toured worldwide, from New York’s Madison Square Garden to Australia and South Africa.

Christian’s personal life also drew attention, particularly his marriage to singer and TV personality Dora Moroni, which lasted eleven years and had its share of turmoil. In recent years, the two reconciled and even recorded a duet, Paradiso e Inferno, in 2017.