Franco Cerri

Jazz guitarist Franco Cerri in Milano, Italy in September 2008

Franco Cerri (born January 29, 1926) is an Italian guitarist, born in Milan.

Franco Cerri was considered as “the best Italian guitarist”^[1] and “the best guitarist that European jazz has produced” and became popular in Italy thanks to his participation to the television show Buone Vacanze.^[2] He was not only one of the world's most popular and the most authoritative Italian guitarists, but was also one of the most important stylists of the European jazz world.

He began his long and prolific career in 1945 with Gorni Kramer and in 1949 he accompanied Django Reinhardt. In the 1950s he was near great jazz masters. Working with musicians from Chet Baker to Gerry Mulligan, and from Billie Holliday to Lee Konitz, and in modern jazz quartet, he became a leader in the Italian and European jazz world.

On January 1, 2006 he was named "Commendatore della Repubblica" (official title awarded for service to Italy) by President of the Italian Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

Sources

1. ^ Librando, Diego (2004) (in Italian). Il jazz a Napoli: dal dopoguerra agli anni Sessanta. Guida Editori. p. 75. 
2. ^ "Italian newsnotes". Billboard. August1, 1960. 

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Name	Cerri, Franco
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Date of birth	January 29, 1926
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