Frans Azzopardi Iż-Żott

Frans Azzopardi Iż-Żott was born on the 8th January 1953 and hails from Qormi. He started singing at the age of 27, and is one of the few folk singers who practices the high-pitched model La Bormliża. He started folk singing in 1973 at the Shooter's Club in the parish of San Ġorġ in Qormi, with Wiġi Cassar Il-Pewx.

Frans Azzopardi Iż-Żott

Amongst the sessions he sung, Azzopardi recalls the event which grouped him with Fredu Micallef Il-Kampjun, Salvu Cassar Il-Ħamra and Cesare Santucci Is-Santucci held in Siġġiewi.

In June 2013, he participated in Għanafest together with Vince Carabott Il-Bukku. He is resourceful and has a clear and melodic voice and he prefers the melisma form, known as għana bit-tkaxkira, għana bil-ksur

Some folk enthusiasts refer to him as tal-kappell, since he is always seen sporting a hat at the għana events he attends. Although he has rarely performed in folk singing events, with the right encouragement, he has the potential to become an esteemed folksinger through his very own merits. His cousin is Qormi born Kalċidon Zammit Ta' Redew, who later emigrated to Australia.

Folk singing remains in his family's veins, with two of his cousins children being young folksinger Gabriel Briffa Iż-Żeżin and folk guitarist Frankie Zammit Tal-Grekk. It is unknown if reel recordings of his folk singing existed in circulation among għana followers. However recent recordings featuring Azzopardi have been uploaded on Youtube.com

External Links

• https://www.facebook.com/frans.azzopardizott?fref=ts Facebook page
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOhUWAy_ZLo Frans Azzopardi Iż-Żott at Pretoria Bar Tarxien 2013.