Born in Scandicci, Cini started his career in the second half of the 1960s, collaborating as arranger with several artists of RCA Italiana, notably Luigi Tenco, The Rokes, Fred Bongusto and Dino. He debuted as composer in 1967, with the song "Bisogna saper perdere", presented at the 17th edition of the Sanremo Music Festival by Lucio Dalla and The Rokes.