Behind his signature Ray-Ban sunglasses lurks one of Italy's most sophisticated songwriters. Antonello Venditti was born in Rome, often sings in his hometown dialect and spent much of his early career celebrating its working class. Inspired by Elton John, with a voice reminiscent of Cat Stevens, Venditti focused his attention on social themes such as drugs, prostitution and inequality during the '70s before becoming more introspective. His heavily rhythmic piano accompanies songs that seemed ripped from the news, making him a thorn in the sides of both church and state alike.