Effective period / Period of releases: 1964

Members: Francesco Marsella, Giacomo Di Martino, Enrico Maria Papes, Benedetto Pretolani, Giannino Zinzone, Benvenuto Pretolani

Formed in Italy in 1963, in the beginning with the name Gli Amici (the accompanying group of Guidone). The first line-up consists of Enrico Maria Papes (from Clem Sacco) on drums, Giacomo Di Martino said "Mino" Di Martino on guitar, Giannino Zinzone said "Giannino" (from I Ribelli) on bass, Francesco Marsella said "Checco" Marsella keyboards and Benvenuto Pretolani said "Benny" Pretolani on sax. Zinzone was then replaced by Mino's brother, Sergio Di Martino, while Pretolani left the band; in 1964 changed their name from Gli Amici in "The Ghenga's Friends", becoming the official group of the record label La Ghenga and recording disks accompanying several singers of the label, including I Diabolici and An' Neris.