Fred Bongusto
Encyclopedia
Alfredo Bongusto known by his stage name Fred Bongusto, is an Italian light music
singer and songwriter
who was very popular in the 1960s
and 1970s
.
-based label Primary. It was released on phonographic record in 1960, with "Doce Doce" as the back side. Some of his most successful songs include "Malaga", "Una rotonda sul mare", "Spaghetti a Detroit" and "Prima c'eri tu", which won the 1966 edition of Un Disco per l'Estate. Bongusto was also successful in South America
, especially Brazil
. He had collaborated with Toquinho
and Vinicius de Moraes
.
He composed the soundtracks of 24 movies, such as Malizia, Superfantozzi
and Fantozzi contro tutti
. He also starred in Obiettivo ragazze
(1961) and Peccato Veniale (1974).
In the 1990s
, he was elected as a PSI
town councillor in Bari
. On March 18, 2005, the President of the Council
(Premier), Silvio Berlusconi
, presented him with a silver plate to celebrate the 50th year of his career. On June 2, 2005, he was awarded the title of Commendatore
by President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
.
, who was famous in the 1950s
and 1960s
. She is known for starring in the film Buonanotte... Avvocato! with Alberto Sordi
. In 1960, before their marriage, Palazzoli had a previous marriage with American actor John Drew Barrymore
, who is the father of her daughter Blyth Dolores. Blyth was raised by Bongusto.
Bongusto enjoys playing football and tennis
, and is very good at both sports. He enjoys antiquing and reading Tex Willer
comics. Bongusto currently spends much of his time in Ischia
, in the village of Sant'Angelo, in the places which inspired some of his songs.
Light music
Light music is a generic term applied to a mainly British musical style of "light" orchestral music, which originated in the 19th century and had its heyday during the early to mid part of the 20th century, although arguably it lasts to the present day....
singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
who was very popular in the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
and 1970s
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
.
Career history
He debuted with the song "Bella Bellissima", which was written by his friend Ghigo Agosti and produced by the MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
-based label Primary. It was released on phonographic record in 1960, with "Doce Doce" as the back side. Some of his most successful songs include "Malaga", "Una rotonda sul mare", "Spaghetti a Detroit" and "Prima c'eri tu", which won the 1966 edition of Un Disco per l'Estate. Bongusto was also successful in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, especially Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. He had collaborated with Toquinho
Toquinho
Antônio Pecci Filho , better known as Toquinho , is a Brazilian singer and guitarist. He is well-known for his collaborations, as composer and performer, with Vinicius de Moraes.-Childhood and musical studies:...
and Vinicius de Moraes
Vinicius de Moraes
Marcus Vinicius de Moraes , known as Vinicius de Moraes and nicknamed O Poetinho , was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Son of Lydia Cruz de Moraes and Clodoaldo Pereira da Silva Moraes, he was a seminal figure in contemporary Brazilian music...
.
He composed the soundtracks of 24 movies, such as Malizia, Superfantozzi
Superfantozzi
Superfantozzi is an Italian film from 1986. It is the fifth film in the saga of the unlucky clerk Ugo Fantozzi, played by its creator, Paolo Villaggio. In this film, Fantozzi is portrayed in a surreal historical journey, from Genesis to 1980s....
and Fantozzi contro tutti
Fantozzi contro tutti
Fantozzi contro tutti is an Italian comedy film, released in 1980) is the third film in the saga of the unlucky clerk Ugo Fantozzi, played by its creator, Paolo Villaggio.It is the first movie in which Fantozzi's wife, Pina, is played by Milena Vukotic....
. He also starred in Obiettivo ragazze
Obiettivo ragazze
Obiettivo ragazze is a 1963 comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Franco Franchi.-Cast:* Franco Franchi* Ciccio Ingrassia - Franco* Alighiero Noschese* Walter Chiari - Alberto* Vittorio Congia* Diletta D'Andrea* Renzo Palmer...
(1961) and Peccato Veniale (1974).
In the 1990s
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
, he was elected as a PSI
Italian Socialist Party
The Italian Socialist Party was a socialist and later social-democratic political party in Italy founded in Genoa in 1892.Once the dominant leftist party in Italy, it was eclipsed in status by the Italian Communist Party following World War II...
town councillor in Bari
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
. On March 18, 2005, the President of the Council
President of the Council
President of the Council can refer to:*President of the Council of Ministers*Lord President of the Council...
(Premier), Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
, presented him with a silver plate to celebrate the 50th year of his career. On June 2, 2005, he was awarded the title of Commendatore
Commendatore
Literally Commander, the official title of Commendatore is awarded by decree of the President of Italy to individuals who are given this honour in the Italian Order of Merit known as the Ordine al Merito della Repubblica and other orders of knighthood...
by President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
dr. Carlo Azeglio Ciampi is an Italian politician and banker. He was the 73rd Prime Minister of Italy from 1993 to 1994 and was the tenth President of the Italian Republic from 1999 to 2006...
.
Personal life
He is currently married to Gabriella Palazzoli, an Italian soubretteSoubrette
A soubrette is a female stock character in opera and theatre. The term arrived in English from Provençal via French, and means "conceited" or "coy".-Theater:...
, who was famous in the 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
and 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
. She is known for starring in the film Buonanotte... Avvocato! with Alberto Sordi
Alberto Sordi
Alberto Sordi, also known as Albertone, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian actor. He was also a film director and the dubbing voice of Oliver Hardy in the Italian version of the Laurel & Hardy films....
. In 1960, before their marriage, Palazzoli had a previous marriage with American actor John Drew Barrymore
John Drew Barrymore
John Drew Barrymore was a member of the Barrymore family of actors, which included his father, John Barrymore, and his father's siblings, Lionel and Ethel...
, who is the father of her daughter Blyth Dolores. Blyth was raised by Bongusto.
Bongusto enjoys playing football and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, and is very good at both sports. He enjoys antiquing and reading Tex Willer
Tex Willer
Tex Willer is the main fictional character of the Italian comics series Tex, created by writer Gian Luigi Bonelli and illustrator Aurelio Galleppini, and first published in Italy on 30 September 1948. It is among the most popular characters of Italian comics, with translations to numerous ...
comics. Bongusto currently spends much of his time in Ischia
Ischia
Ischia is a volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea. It lies at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples, about 30 km from the city of Naples. It is the largest of the Phlegrean Islands. Roughly trapezoidal in shape, it measures around 10 km east to west and 7 km north to south and has...
, in the village of Sant'Angelo, in the places which inspired some of his songs.