Romano Mussolini
Romano Mussolini (* 26. September 1927 in Forli , † 3. February 2006 in Rome ) was an Italian jazz - pianist .
Life
Romano Mussolini was the youngest son of Benito Mussolini , the dictator of fascist Italy. His mother was Rachele Mussolini , née Guidi. He had two brothers and two sisters.
Even in Fascist Italy , Romano Mussolini found great interest in this music. He developed into one of the great connoisseurs of the jazz scene and wrote for renowned magazines. Mussolini taught himself to play the piano. However, he only played classical pieces with his father, who played the violin. Through his brother Vittorio , a jazz fan and author, he came into contact with the music of the American enemy. After the end of the Second World War he played in Ischia , where his mother Rachele had retired, and later in Naples and Rome as a jazz musician in various bands and under various names.
It was only with his band "Romano Mussolini All Stars" that he became a celebrated jazz musician in Italy. He became internationally known through his album "Jazz Allo Studio 7", released in 1963, and then played with Chet Baker , Caterina Valente , Dizzy Gillespie , Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton . Romano Mussolini was a committed advocate of traditional big band jazz as well as intimate interplay in combos. He encouraged the next generation with numerous joint recordings, including the trombonist Guido Pisticchi and the tenor saxophonist Massimo D'Avola.
Romano Mussolini was first married to Anna Maria Scicolone, the sister of Sophia Loren , and later to Carla Maria Puccini. The daughters Alessandra and Elisabetta emerged from the first marriage, the daughter Rachele from the second. Romano Mussolini was never politically active - in contrast to his daughter Alessandra. Alessandra Mussolini , MEP and leader of the extreme right-wing splinter party Alternativa Sociale , ran for mayor in Rome in 2006.
The apolitical Romano Mussolini did not comment on his father for a long time. In 2004, however, he published the book: " Il Duce, mio padre " (German: Der Führer, mein Vater ).
Discography
(Selection)
- 1996: Soft & Swing
- 1996: Timeless Blues
- 2001: Romano Mussolini & Lino Patruno , The Wonderful World of Louis ( yvp music )
- 2002: Music Blues
- 2003: Jazz album
- 2003: Napule 'Nu Quarto'E Luna
- 2004: Alibi perfetto (Soundtrack for The Perfect Alibi )
- 2005: Mirage
literature
- Romano Mussolini: My Father Il Duce. A Memoir by Mussolini's Son.Kales Press, Carlsbad 2006, ISBN 978-0-9670076-8-7 (Italian original edition: Il Duce, mio padre. Rizzoli, Milan 2005, ISBN 88-17-00848-6 ).
Web links
- Mussolini's jazz pianist son dies. In: BBC News. February 3, 2006
- Hans Kumpf: A jazz musician named Mussolini. In: JazzPages. February 2006
- Cover of the biography on Amazon (JPEG)
- Obituary in the NZZ on February 3, 2006
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Mussolini, Romano |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Italian jazz musician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 26, 1927 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Forlì |
| DATE OF DEATH | February 3, 2006 |
| Place of death | Rome |