Keyboard player Roberto Carlotto from Varese, whose nickname was Hunka Munka, began playing since his childhood, though his musical career was seriously compromised by an aircraft accident that caused him some heavy injuries. His beginnings as a professional musician took him to play in England, Germany and Switzerland, where he even had the chance of supporting such artists like Rod Stewart and Colosseum. In Italy he had previously played with Big 66, I Cuccioli and later with Ivan Graziani (Anonima Sound 1970), before entering a solo career starting with a single in 1971. As a solo artist, Carlotto was easily recognized by his very good technical quality and the high level of his equipment, that included an incredible number of different keyboards and even the early examples of tape drum machines. His only solo album, ‘Dedicato A Giovanna G.’, with its outrageous cover, is a soft-prog album, obviously dominated by Hunka’s keyboards (especially his self-customized Hammond organ) and odd tremolo voice resembling Demis Roussos or Bee Gees. Among the backing musicians were drummer Nunzio “Cucciolo” Favia from Osage Tribe and guitarist Ivan Graziani.
After the album release Carlotto joined Dik Dik in 1973, again with drummer Cucciolo playing with him too later as Carlotto & Cucciolo. He has also presumably released an electronic album in 1984, ‘Promise Of Love’ (Atlantide AMX 12003), under the name Karl Otto. In 2011 Roberto Carlotto joined the reformed Analogy playing with them many concerts. In the early 2000s Roberto Carlotto started a collaboration with keyboardist Joey Mauro, talented user and repairer of vintage keyboards; together they revitalized the Hunka Munka name… and finally they released an inspired album called ‘Foreste Interstellari’ in which Carlotto writes lyrics, plays keyboards and sings lead. Joey Mauro plays keyboards as well and writes music together with Mr. Hunka Munka.
Track list:
LA DAMA DELLA FORESTA 7:53
BRUCERAI 5:55
LA SOLITUDINE DELLE STELLE 2:19
IDEE MALEDETTE 8:07
L’UOMO DEI TRENINI 2:24
I CANCELLI DI ANDROMEDA 5:19
FORESTE INTERSTELLARI 11:49
AMANTI COME NOI 5:08
Line-Up:
Roberto Carlotto: Lead Vocals, Keyboards
Joey Mauro: Keyboards, Orchestra
musicians:
Marcantonio Quinto: Drums, Percussions
Gianluca Quinto: Lead Guitars
Andrea Arcangeli: Bass Guitar
Andreas Eckert: Bass Guitar
Alice Castagnoli: Backing Vocals, Vocals
Tony Minerba: Vocals
