A cheerful, vivacious and animated personality, Spiro
Cauchi recognised how to distinguish himself throughout
the years particularly in the music sector. Being both a
musician and a singer, Spiro managed to get a good
reputation during his career which eventually promoted
his name and Ghajnsielem to a higher level. He is also
actively involved with the St Joseph Band Club both as a
bandsman and a member of the executive committee where
he also severed as the Society’s President for two
years.
Spiro Cauchi (also known as Spiru, or Spiridione) was
born on the 20th of September 1935,
the son of Angelo Cauchi and Natalina
nee Cassar from a family of five which also included
Amabile, the politician. He
took his primary
education at the Ghajnsielem Primary School before
continuing his secondary education at the St Anthony’s
Collage and Seminary.
He started practicing music at a very young age,
initially starting with the guitar and later the clarinet and
the piano accordion. Impressively the list does not end here as
Spiro also plays the drums and mandolin.
Between 1954 and 1958, he played guitar in several
popular places including the Chalet at Ta’ Sliema and the Café
Premier in Valletta where he joined orchestras such as Vinny’s
Blue Jackets, Oscar Lucas, Profs Valente and Kirkop Brothers.
.
During the same period, he also accompanied Perrone’s Orchestra
at the West End Hotel in San Pawl where he used to join several
popular singers of those times. In 1960, Spiro Cauchi was Guest
Singer with his guitar at Hamrun’s Radio City joining the
popular Italian singer Tony Dallara.
When
the St Joseph Band in Ghajnsielem was reborn in 1966 Spiro
immediately joined the Band as a clarinettist, a position he
still holds today. Later in his life he also became heavily
involved in the administration of the St Joseph Band by serving
several positions in the Executive Committee including
treasurer, secretary, vice president and president of the Club
between 2005 and 2006. During his tenure as President, he
inaugurated the extension of the front terrace and the paving of
the surrounding terrace with new tiles thus giving a fresh and
modern look to the whole premises. The embellishment project was
started by his predecessor president Anthony Aguis who passed
away shortly before he could see its completion. Since there
were no potential candidates to fill Aguis’s post, Spiro Cauchi
volunteered himself to serve as temporary president of the St
Joseph Band until the project is completed, all related expenses
paid and until a new committee is formed. In fact, in 2007 he
immediately gave way to a newly formed committee which included
several new faces. He was chosen to serve as vice-president, a
position he still holds today since the new committee saw his
experience as an asset to the Society.
St Joseph
Band Club President Spiro Cauchi presenting a commemorative gift
to Gozo Bishop Mgr Mario Grech during his first pastoral visit
in Ghajnsielem. Photo taken on 21st February 2006
Spiro
Cauchi is here seen ringing the Bells of the Old Parish Church
on
the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto. Photo taken on
Saturday 30th August 2008
Spiro
Cauchi
spends most of his free time at
the St Joseph Band Club playing traditional music
with some friends. Photo taken on Sunday 6th July 2008 during a
local activity
Spiro
Cauchi
playing the Clarinet with Italian
tricolor embodied on it!
Photo taken on Sunday 1st June 2008, Feast of St Anthony
Looking back at his
singing career, Spiro Cauchi also joined the Gozo Musketeers on
several occasions. During this period, the group was very
popular in Gozo and they took part in several social occasions.
In Ghajnsielem, Spiro gave several performances at Dun Karm
Cassar’s Circolo, at the St Joseph Band Club, at the Ghajnsielem
Primary School and at the Franciscan’s community. He also
accompanied the popular Italian Singer Orietta Berti when she
visited Lourdes Home. For a short period, he also used to form
part of the F.O.V.M.E.T Sisters which used to perform at the
British Institute in Independence Square, Victoria. He also gave
several performances together with Vince Saliba at the Gozo
General Hospital, elderly activities, the Gozo Seminary and
several Parish communities.
Extracts from the Malta Independent Newspaper published on
Monday 23 October 2000 showing a picture of Spiro Cauchi on
the front page after taking part in Rete 4's "La Domenica nel
Villaggio"
Click on thumbnail to enlarge
Watch Spiro Cauchi singing some of
his popular songs
Please turn of the music player before watching video.
On Friday 7th December 2002, during a ceremony organized by the
Ghajnsielem Local Council, Spiro Cauchi was presented the
‘Premju Gieh Ghajnslielem’ by Mayor Francis Cauchi.
Spiro Cauchi is well known with the Ghajnslemizi for two things.
The first being his love for Table-Tennis where in fact he won
several competitions in Gozo. The second being his unparalleled
love for Italy and Italian Music.
He is married to Mary nee’ Xuereb and is father of two girls,
Diane and Alida.
