Riccardo Cocciante, also known as Richard Cocciante in French-speaking countries and the United States, is an Italian and French singer, songwriter, and composer born on February 20, 1946, in Saigon, French Indochina (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam). He is the son of an Italian father from Rocca di Mezzo, L'Aquila, and a French mother. At the age of 11, Cocciante moved to Rome, Italy, where he attended the Lycée français Chateaubriand and began his musical journey.

Cocciante's career started in the late 1960s when he performed as a singer in Roman clubs for foreign students. He formed the band GL6 and began his professional career under the name Richard Cocciante, recording songs for film soundtracks. His first album, "Mu," was released in 1972, followed by "Poesia" in 1973. His breakthrough came with the 1974 hit "Bella senz'anima" from the album "Anima," arranged by Ennio Morricone, which gained significant attention despite being controversial.

In 1976, Cocciante released "Concerto Per Margherita," recorded in London with arrangements by Vangelis, which included the hit song "Margherita." Throughout the 1980s, he collaborated with lyricist Mogol and released several successful albums, including "Sincerità" in 1983. After a brief hiatus, he returned to the spotlight by winning the Sanremo Music Festival in 1991 with "Se stiamo insieme."

Cocciante expanded his repertoire by composing music for theater, including the acclaimed musical "Notre-Dame de Paris" in 1998. His work has been celebrated internationally, and he remains active in the music industry with a career spanning over five decades.