Dik Dik

American and British pop tunes have been translated into Italian and successfully re-recorded by Milan-based band, Dik Dik. Their many hits included Italian versions of the Mamas And The Papas' "California Dreaming", Tim Hardin's "If I Were A Carpenter" and the Turtles' "Happy Together". Taking their name from an African gazelle, known for its jumping ability, Dik Dik was briefly known, in the early-1960s, as Dreamers and Squali. The group initially came together as a trio featuring guitarist/background singer Erminio "Pepe" Salvaderi and elementary school friends Pietruccio "Peter" Montalbetti on guitar and Giancarlo "Lallo" Sbriziolo on lead vocals and guitar. Expanded into its present quintet formation, with the arrival of drummer Sergio Panno and keyboardist Mario Todaro, Dik Dik scored an Italian hit with their debut Beatle-esque single, "1-2-3", in 1966. Although they maintained a low profile in the late-70s and ‘80s, Dik Dik re-surfaced with a hit single, "Isole In Viaggio", in 1997. Subsequent releases have included "Kalifornia" in 1999 and "L'Isola Di Wight E Altri Successi" and "Sogno Beat" in 2000.