Valerie Dore

Valerie Dore (Valérie Doré) is an Italo disco musical project formed in 1984 by producer Roberto Gasparini. The moniker is now used as a stage name by Monica Stucchi (born May 28, 1962 in Milan). Several hit singles and one album were released under the Valerie Dore name between 1984 and 1986, with studio vocals first provided by Novecento's Dora Nicolosi (née Carofiglio), then Simona Zanini (of Radiorama, Doctor's Cat, and Raggio di Luna/Moon Ray). Thereafter, Stucchi herself voiced her recordings and did all public appearances.

Monica Stucchi lives in Milan, Italy. Prior to her career in music, she worked as graphic designer and was a singer in The Watermelon String Band, a bluegrass band led by Bruno Guaitamacchi that played in Milan pubs. She was discovered at age 20 by the Italo producer Roberto Gasparini.

The Valerie Dore project launched in 1984 with "The Night," an Italo disco ballad written by Barbara Lynn Addoms and Giuseppe Nicolosi who is closely tied with the Nicolosi brothers from Novecento. With the music produced by Gasparini and Lino Nicolosi, and vocals by Dora Carofiglio, the song was completed in the studio and released as a single. Stucchi provided the public face of the singer, both in print and in "live" lip-synched performances.

Slight variations on this professional arrangement continued for the next two singles, "Get Closer" and "It's So Easy", released in 1984 and 1985, respectively. During this time, the Italian music news publication TV Sorrisi e Canzoni ("Smiles and Songs") awarded Dore the prize of best new artist of year. She also "won" second place at the Festivalbar music showcase, which was billed as a singing contest, although all the performances were lip-synched. Dore also performed on the TV show "Azzurro" and on German TV.

Later in 1985, Dore and her collaborators parted ways due to personal and artistic differences. In an old castle near Milan, in Carimate, Dore began work with new production team on what would become The Legend LP. Marco Tansini provided the music, and Simona Zanini provided lyrics and background vocals. Stucchi recorded lead vocals. The degree to which each singer was used on the finished version of each song is unknown.

The Legend album's first single, "Lancelot," was a hit in Italy. The second single, "King Arthur," was a moderate hit outside of Italy, and was performed on the Italian music program Discoring. The songs "The Magic Rain" and "Bow and Arrow" were radio hits as well.

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