IThe President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, has appointed Renzo Arbore as Knight of the Grand Cross of Merit of the Italian Republic.
Lorenzo Giovanni Arbore, newly appointed Knight of the Grand Cross of Merit of the Italian Republic, is one of the most eclectic 'showmen' in Italian entertainment. Born in Foggia on June 24, 1937, Arbore is a singer-songwriter, disc jockey, radio host (who doesn't remember the very famous "Altro Gradimento" created with Gianni Boncompagni), clarinetist, showman.
But also author and television host, director, screenwriter, composer and actor. An all-round artist, 360 degrees in the true sense of the word. He is considered the first Italian disc jockey, the one who then became a school for all the others. Son of a dentist and a housewife, a doctor of Law at the University of Naples, he began performing as a musician in Foggia at a very young age, especially interested in pop music and jazz.
His radio broadcasts with his colleague and friend Gianni Boncompani, such as “Bandiera gialla” and “Altro gradimento”, are memorable, and paved the way for a certain type of entertainment-hosting, dedicated to new musical releases and gags with invented characters.
In “Alto gradimento”, there was no logical thread, there were interruptions with musical pieces, various jokes and recurring surreal, nonsense and demented interventions of every kind. With Boncompagni, Arbore was among the first ever to broadcast Beatles songs on the radio, not considered suitable at the time for broadcasting on the national broadcaster.
Talent scout, he discovered personalities of the calibre of Roberto Benigni with whom he worked on “L'altra domenica”, Gege' Telesforo, Giorgio Bracardi, Mario Marenco, Marisa Laurito, Nino Frassica, Milly Carlucci, Daniele Luttazzi, just to name a few.
He played with several bands (his first experiences in the musical world began in 1972, with the “NU Orleans Rubbish Band” composed, in addition to Arbore himself on the clarinet, by Fabrizio Zampa on the drums, Mauro Chiari on the bass, Massimo Catalano on the trombone and Franco Bracardi on the piano), arriving in 1991 to found the Italian Orchestra, with fifteen great soloists to enhance the classical Neapolitan song by restoring dignity, among other things, to the mandolin.
His great success was television programs such as “L'altra domenica” on Rai networks, as an alternative to Domenica In, “Quelli della notte” and “Indietro tutta”, which made the history of Italian television. Arbore also worked as a director, in “Il pap'occhio”, “FF.SS” and “Che mi hai portato a fare sopra a Posillipo se non mi vuoi più' bene”. A confirmed bachelor, among his great loves we remember the bond with Mariangela Melato which lasted until the death of the great actress.
On December 27, 1992 he was awarded the title of Grand Officer of the Italian Republic. Today he received the title of Knight of the Grand Cross, presented by the current President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella.
Article published on 15 January 2022 - 15:14
