Enrico Simonetti (29 January 1924 – 28 May 1978) was an Italian pianist, composer, conductor, and television and radio presenter.

Enrico Simonetti
Born(1924-01-29)29 January 1924
Died28 May 1978(1978-05-28) (aged 54)
Rome

Life and career

edit

Born in Alassio, a Province of Savona, Simonetti studied piano at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome.[1][2] A lover of jazz, in the early 1950s he founded a jazz band with Piero Piccioni and Bruno Martino, with whom he performed in the most important nightclubs of the time.[1][2] In 1953 he moved, with his family, to Brazil, where he found immediate success as musician, composer and entertainer, hosting a long running television program, Simonetti Show, which lasted for 147 episodes;[1][2] thanks to his popularity he was made an honorary citizen of Brazil and was introduced into the "Candido Randon da Silva" order.[2] In 1964 he came back to Italy, where he joined RAI television, making his debut in the show Chitarra, amore mio.[1][2] He was active as a television and radio host (often paired with Isabella Biagini), as a film composer, and even an occasional actor. Simonetti died at age 54 from complications following a major surgical operation to remove a tumor in his throat.[2]

His film scores include Macumba Love (1960), Special Killers (1973), Il magnate (1973) and Per amore di Cesarina (1976).

He was the father of composer and musician Claudio Simonetti.[2]

Selected filmography

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d Aldo Grasso, Massimo Scaglioni. Enciclopedia della Televisione. Garzanti, 1996–2003. ISBN 881150466X.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Marco Tosatti (29 May 1978). "Simonetti è morto: un tumore alla laringe ?". No. 121. La Stampa. pp. 1–2.
edit