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Piero Piccioni

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Piero Piccioni
BornDecember 6, 1921
DiedJuly 23, 2004 (aged 82)
Rome, Italy

Piero Piccioni (Italian pronunciation: [ˈpjɛːro pitˈtʃoːni]; December 6, 1921 – July 23, 2004) was an Italian film score composer and lawyer.

A pianist, organist, conductor, composer, he was also the prolific author of more than 300 film soundtracks. He played for the first time on radio in 1938 with his “013” Big Band, to return on air only after the liberation of Italy in 1944. “013” was the first Italian jazz band to be broadcast in Italy after the fall of Fascism.

Early life

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Piero Piccioni was born in Turin, Piedmont. His mother's maiden name was Marengo, hence his pseudonym Piero Morgan, which he adopted until 1957.

When he was growing up, his father Attilio Piccioni (a prominent member of the Italian Christian Democratic Party with the post-war Italian government), would frequently take him to hear concerts at the EIAR Radio Studios in Florence. Having listened to jazz throughout his childhood (he loved the music of Art Tatum and Charlie Parker) and attending studies at the Conservatorio Luigi Cherubini, Piero Piccioni became a musician.

Career

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Piccioni made his radio debut at 17 with his 013 Big Band in 1938, but only returned on air after the liberation of Italy in 1944. His 013 was the first Italian jazz band to be broadcast in Italy after the fall of Fascism.

He was influenced in the use of jazz by 20th century classical composers and American films. Directors he liked included Frank Capra, Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, and John Ford, while Alex North was a film score composer he admired. He began writing songs of his own and was soon able to get some of his works published by Carisch editions.

Piero Piccioni came into contact with the movie world in Rome during the fifties, when he was a practicing lawyer securing movie rights for Italian producers such as Titanus and De Laurentiis. During that time, Michelangelo Antonioni had called Piccioni to score a documentary film directed by Luigi Polidoro, one of his apprentices. Piccioni's first score for a feature film was Gianni Franciolini’s Il mondo le condanna (1952). He consequently changed his lawyer's "toga" for a conductor's baton. He developed close-knit working relationships with directors Francesco Rosi and Alberto Sordi, and established strong personal and professional bonds with them.

Many directors sought Piero Piccioni to score the soundtracks for their films: Francesco Rosi, Mario Monicelli, Alberto Lattuada, Luigi Comencini, Luchino Visconti, Antonio Pietrangeli, Bernardo Bertolucci, Roberto Rossellini, Vittorio De Sica, Lina Wertmuller, Tinto Brass, Dino Risi, and others.

His film scores include Il bell'Antonio, Contempt, The 10th Victim, More Than a Miracle, The Deserter, The Light at the Edge of the World, Puppet on a Chain, Lucky Luciano, Camille 2000, The Nun and the Devil, Swept Away, Christ Stopped at Eboli, Fighting Back, and many Alberto Sordi movies. He is credited with over 300 soundtracks and compositions for radio, television, ballets and orchestra. Among his favorite vocalists were female soul singer Shawn Robinson and Edinburgh-born Lydia MacDonald.

Awards and legacy

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Piccioni won many prestigious prizes including the David di Donatello Award for the movie Swept Away (1975), Nastro d’argento Award for the movie Salvatore Giuliano by Francesco Rosi (1963), Prix International Lumière 1991, Anna Magnani Award 1975 and Vittorio De Sica Award 1979.

His song "Traffic Boom" was featured as the song for the fictional Logjammin' movie-within-a-movie in The Big Lebowski.

The song "It's Possible" was sampled by Hollywood JB for DJ Khaled's "Jermaine's Interlude" on his Major Key album.

In 1953 Piccioni was implicated in the Montesi scandal, after he was identified by journalists as being the 'blond' who handed in clothes of Wilma Montesi after her death. The accusations were recanted by the journalist Marco Cesarini Sforza after legal pressure was applied.

His music is compiled into YouTube playlists and is extensively sampled by the lo-fi community.

Death

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Piccioni died in Rome on July 23rd, 2004 from unknown causes.


Selected filmography

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Year Film Directed by Singles Latest CD / Digital Release
1954 The Beach Alberto Lattuada
1957 The Woman Who Came from the Sea Francesco De Robertis Saimel / 3995610 / 2005
Guendalina Alberto Lattuada CAM / Digital / 2022
1958 March's Child Antonio Pietrangeli CAM / Digital / 2024
Tempest Alberto Lattuada Legend / CD 33 DLX / 2010
1959 Boys of the Parioli Sergio Corbucci CAM / Digital / 2022
Vacations in Majorca Giorgio Bianchi CAM / Digital / 2022
The Big Night Mauro Bolognini CAM / Digital / 2022
1960 The Employee Gianni Puccini CAM / Digital / 2022
Il bell'Antonio Mauro Bolognini Dagored / RED183 / 2008
World By Night Luigi Vanzi Camille 3000 / CAM3K-012-MDN / 2018
Adua and Her Friends Antonio Pietrangeli Cinevox / CD MDF 359 / 2005
Sweet Deceptions Alberto Lattuada Saimel / 3998983 / 2017
From a Roman Balcony Mauro Bolognini CAM / Digital / 2024
The Hunchback of Rome Carlo Lizzani
The Swedes Gian Luigi Polidoro CAM / Digital / 2022
1961 The Assassin Elio Petri CAM / Digital / 2022
Youth At Night Mario Sequi CAM / Digital / 2024
La Viaccia Mauro Bolognini Saimel / 3998965 / 2016
Destination Fury Giorgio Bianchi
World by Night No. 2 Gianni Proia CAM / Digital / 2022
Duel of the Titans Sergio Corbucci
The Two Marshals Sergio Corbucci
1962 Careless Mauro Bolognini CAM CA 2399: Tango Per Flicorno / Musica Del Mare GDM / GDM 4329 / 2014
Violent Life Paolo Heusch, Brunello Rondi CAM / CSE 106 / 1993
Totò Diabolicus Steno Digitmovies / DGST027 / 2017
The Slave Sergio Corbucci
Salvatore Giuliano Francesco Rosi GDM / GDM 4209 / 2011
The Captive City Joseph Anthony
1963 The Girl from Parma Antonio Pietrangeli CAM / Digital / 2023
The Shortest Day Sergio Corbucci
The Attic Gianni Puccini Beat Records / BCM 9519 / 2013
To Bed or Not to Bed Gian Luigi Polidoro CAM / Digital / 2023
Il demonio Brunello Rondi Beat Records / BCM 9520 / 2013
Il Boom Vittorio De Sica CAM CA 2505: Organ Grinders Boom / Samba Della Ruota Think! Records / THCD-144 / 2010
Hands over the City Francesco Rosi GDM / GDM 4209 / 2011
A Sentimental Attempt Pasquale Festa Campanile, Massimo Franciosa
The Terrorist Gianfranco De Bosio
Contempt (Italy/Spain version) Jean-Luc Godard Digitmovies / CDDM002 / 2003
1964 Tre per una rapina Gianni Bongioanni
Three Nights of Love Renato Castellani, Luigi Comencini, Franco Rossi CAM / CSE 112 / 1993
Il disco volante Tinto Brass CAM / Digital / 2023
Minnesota Clay Sergio Corbucci GDM / CD CLUB 7112 / 2012
1965 La fuga Paolo Spinola
The Moment of Truth Francesco Rosi
The Three Faces Michelangelo Antonioni, Mauro Bolognini, Franco Indovina CAM / Digital / 2024
The Captain's Daughter Leonardo Cortese Kronos Records / KRONCD006 / 2011
Agent 077: From the Orient with Fury Sergio Grieco
I Knew Her Well Antonio Pietrangeli Beat Records / BCM 9521 / 2013
The 10th Victim Elio Petri Easy Tempo / 1998
1966 Fumo di Londra Alberto Sordi CF Soundtracks / CFS002 / 2019
Pardon, Are You For or Against? Alberto Sordi Digitmovies / CDDM287 / 2017
1967 The Witches Luchino Visconti, Mauro Bolognini, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Franco Rossi, Vittorio De Sica Digitmovies / CDDM296 / 2018
I Married You for Fun Luciano Salce Verita Note / VQCD-10194 / 2010
The Stranger Luchino Visconti Verita Note / VQCD-10063 / 2008
More Than a Miracle Francesco Rosi Film Score Monthly / FSM Vol. 14 No. 7 / 2011
An Italian in America Alberto Sordi
1968 The Young Tigers Antonio Leonviola Beat Records / ?????? / 2010
Ballad of a Bounty Hunter Joaquín Luis Romero Marchent
OSS 117 - Double Agent Jean-Pierre Desagnat, Renzo Cerrato, André Hunebelle
If You Meet Sartana Pray for Your Death Gianfranco Parolini Verita Note / VQCD-10056 / 2007
Bora Bora Ugo Liberatore Cinevox / CD OST-PK 022 / 2016
L'Italia vista dal cielo: Emila Romagna e Marche Folco Quilici
Be Sick... It's Free Luigi Zampa Beat Records / BCM 9567 / 2015
1969 Temptation Lamberto Benvenuti Kronos Records / KRONCD006 / 2011
Naked England Vittorio De Sisti Quartet records / QR486 / 2022
Kenner Steve Sekely Film Score Monthly / FSM Vol. 14 No. 7 / 2011
Camille 2000 Radley Metzger Beat Records / BCM 9576 / 2016
Youth March Franco Rossi Easy Tempo / ET 905 CD /1998
Help Me, My Love Alberto Sordi Beat Records / BCM9606 / 2022
Oh, Grandmother's Dead Mario Monicelli CAM / Digital / 2022
Love Me, Love My Wife Enzo Battaglia CAM / Digital / 2022
Check to the Queen Pasquale Festa Campanile Cinevox / CDOST-PK 040 / 2020
Playgirl '70 Federico Chentrens Verita Note / VQCD-10178 / 2010
The Others Alessandro Fallay Beat Records / BCM 9523 / 2013
Il Prof. Dott. Guido Tersilli, primario della clinica Villa Celeste, convenzionata con le mutue Luciano Salce GDM / GDM 2042 / 2004
1970 Let's Have a Riot Luigi Zampa Avanz Records / SP/CR-20015 / 1997
The Syndicate: A Death in the Family Piero Zuffi Quartet Records / QR472 / 2021
Stop the world... I want to get off! Giancarlo Cobelli Beat Records / BCM 9574 / 2016
The President of Borgorosso Football Club Luigi Filippo D'Amico
So Long Gulliver Carlo Tuzii Saimel / 3996810 / 2005
The Deserter Burt Kennedy Legend / CD32DLX / 2010
Le coppie (Man and Wife) Mario Monicelli, Alberto Sordi, Vittorio De Sica
1971 Marta José Antonio Nieves Conde Chris' Soundtrack Corner / CSC 041 / 2023
In the Eye of the Hurricane José María Forqué CAM / Digital / 2024
Devil's Ransom Piero Sciumè Saimel / 3996810 / 2005
The Light at the Edge of the World Kevin Billington Quartet Records / QR176 / 2014
Puppet on a Chain Geoffrey Reeve Silva Screen / SILCD1519 / 2017
In the Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Colt Mario Bianchi
A Girl in Australia Luigi Zampa GDM / CD CLUB 7024 / 2004
Seven Murders for Scotland Yard José Luis Madrid Beat Records / CDCR 29 / 1996
1972 The Seduction of Mimi Lina Wertmüller Cinevox / CD MDF 628 / 2008
The Mattei Affair Francesco Rosi GDM / GDM 4209 / 2011
Watch Out Gringo! Sabata Will Return Alfonso Balcázar, Pedro L. Ramirez
The Scientific Cardplayer Luigi Comencini Quartet Records / QR529 / 2023
The Monk Ado Kyrou Digitmovies / CDDM191 / 2011
1973 A Colt In The Hand Of The Devil Gianfranco Baldanello
The Nun and the Devil Domenico Paolella Digitmovies / CDDM015 / 2004
The Lonely Woman Francisco Rovira Beleta Saimel / 3995510 / 2004
My Brother Anastasia Steno Beat Records / BCM9597 / 2022
Lucky Luciano Francesco Rosi Epic ECPB-274: Underground Sketches
A Way Of Being A Woman Pier Ludovico Pavoni Saimel / 3995510 / 2004
Story of a Cloistered Nun Fernando Cerchio Digitmovies / CDDM015 / 2004
1974 God Under the Skin Carlo Alberto Pinelli, Folco Quilici Quartet Records / QR471 / 2021
All Screwed Up Lina Wertmüller Traffic Boom Beat Records / CDCR 113 / 2011
Appassionata Gianluigi Calderone Cinevox MDF 051: Strano Mercoledi' 2 / La Chatte Quartet Records / QRSCE028 / 2011
Kidnap Giovanni Fago Digitmovies / CDDM170 / 2010
The Kiss Mario Lanfranchi Beat Records / CDCR 30 / 1995
Swept Away Lina Wertmüller Beat Records / DDJ016 / 2012
1975 Dawn of Man Folco Quilici Beat Records / BCM 9539 / 2014
City and Countryside Vittorio Marchetti
1976 Dog's Heart Alberto Lattuada Beat Records / BCM9616 / 2024
Illustrious Corpses Francesco Rosi GDM / CD CLUB 7013 / 2002
Chi dice donna dice donna Tonino Cervi CAM / Digital / 2023
Il comune senso del pudore Alberto Sordi
1977 This Is the Night Carlo Di Carlo CAM / Digital / 2022
1978 Professor Kranz tedesco di Germania Luciano Salce Beat Records / DDJ010 / 2011
The Witness Jean-Pierre Mocky Music Box Records / MBR-052 / 2014
Where Are You Going on Holiday? Mauro Bolognini, Luciano Salce, Alberto Sordi GDM / CD CLUB 7079 / 2010
1979 Fear Over the World Domenico Campana CAM / Digital Only / 2024
Christ Stopped at Eboli Francesco Rosi CAM AMP 221: Cristo Si E' Fermato A Eboli (3:06) / Cristo Si E' Fermato A Eboli (2:33)
Upcoming… Marsch! Luciano Salce CAM / Digital Only / 2022
1980 The Precarious Bank Teller Luciano Salce
Catherine and I Luciano Salce CAM / Digital Only / 2022
1981 Three Brothers Francesco Rosi Quartet Records / QR528 / 2023
1982 Fighting Back Lewis Teague Quartet Records / QR230 / 2016
I Know That You Know That I Know Alberto Sordi GDM / CD CLUB 7075 / 2009
Journey with Papa Alberto Sordi
1985 I Am an ESP Sergio Corbucci Digitmovies / CDDM288 / 2018
1987 Chronicle of a Death Foretold Francesco Rosi Virgin / CDV 2441 / 1987
A Taxi Driver in New York Alberto Sordi Digitmovies / CDDM278 / 2016
1990 L'avaro Tonino Cervi
1992 Acquitted for Having Committed the Deed Alberto Sordi
1998 Logjammin' Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Forbidden Encounters Alberto Sordi RCA / 74321-64058-2 / 1998
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