Romano Mussolini

Romano Mussolini (September 26, 1927 - February 3, 2006) was the third and youngest son of Benito Mussolini, fascist dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943. Romano was never involved in politics, but rather was a well-appreciated jazz pianist, painter, and an unsuccessful film producer. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/obituaries/same-name-different-fame/2006/03/17/1142582520356.html?page=2 Same name, different fame - Obituaries - smh.com.au ] ]

Biography

A native of Forlì (Emilia-Romagna), Romano Mussolini studied music as a child playing classical pieces with his father on the violin. [http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006/02/03/mussolini-jazz-obit.html.]

After World War II, he started playing jazz under an assumed name and by the mid 1950s, he had formed a trio. Romano Mussolini released a self-titled record through RCA Records in 1956. By the 1960s, he had formed the "Romano Mussolini All Stars", which became one of Italy's foremost jazz bands.

The All Stars recorded a well-received record "Jazz Allo Studio 7" in 1963 with "At the Santa Tecla" following a year later. Mussolini's band toured internationally with artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Helen Merrill, and Chet Baker. In the 1990s, Mussolini recorded two more albums, "Perfect Alibi" and "Soft and Swing".

Mussolini married Anna Maria Scicolone, the sister of actress Sophia Loren. They had two daughters, Elisabetta, and Alessandra Mussolini, who is currently a member of the European Parliament, and leads an Italian right-wing neo-fascist party, "Alternativa Sociale". With his second wife, the actress Carla Puccini, he had a third daughter, Rachele, named after his mother (Donna Rachele Mussolini).

Mussolini was very reserved about his family history. It was only in 2004 that he published a book, entitled "Il Duce, mio padre" ("Il Duce, My Father"), followed by a similar book in 2005, collecting personal memories and accounts of private confidences and discussions with his father.

He was the last surviving child of Benito Mussolini.He died, aged 78, in a hospital in Rome of undisclosed causes.

Selected discography

* "Soft & Swing" (1996)
* "The Wonderful World of Louis" (2001)
* "Timeless Blues" (2002)
* "Music Blues" (2002)
* "Jazz Album" (2003)
* "Napule 'nu quarto 'e luna" (2003)
* "Alibi perfetto" (2004, soundtrack)
* "Mirage" (2005)

References

Books

* cite book
title=My Father Il Duce: A Memoir by Mussolini's Son
first=Romano
last=Mussolini
coauthors= Ana Stojanovic (trans.)
location=San Diego, CA
publisher=Kales Press
year=2006
isbn=0967007682
url=http://books.google.com/books?id=j-njVpRUeSIC

External links

*en icon [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4676934.stm Mussolini's jazz pianist son dies] from BBC News
*en icon [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=23366 Singer Helen Merrill recalls Romano Mussolini]
*it icon [http://www.repubblica.it/2006/b/sezioni/spettacoli_e_cultura/mussolini/mussolini/mussolini.html E' morto Romano Mussolini, il figlio jazzista del duce] from La Repubblica
*en icon [http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006/02/03/mussolini-jazz-obit.html "Jazz pianist Romano Mussolini dies at 78" CBC Arts]
*en icon [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:lgfe4j270wat~T2 Allmusic.com entry on Romano Mussolini]
*en icon imdb name|id=0615909|name=Romano Mussolini
*en icon [http://209.157.64.201/focus/f-news/1629784/posts "He made the refrains run on time"] - obituary by Mark Steyn