Beloved Argentine singer-songwriter Piero dies at 81
Italian-born musician became one of the defining voices of Latin American protest music, with a career spanning more than five decades. Leer más
Piero Antonio Franco De Benedictis, the beloved Argentine-Italian singer-songwriter, passed away at the age of 81 on Wednesday, his family announced. Known for his iconic 1969 hit “Mi viejo,” Piero was a defining voice of Latin American protest music and the trova tradition. Born in Italy in 1945, he moved to Argentina at three years old and built a career as one of Argentina’s most prominent singer-songwriters.
His repertoire included love, peace, and social issue-themed songs, alongside 25 albums. In 1968, Piero partnered with writer José Tcherkaski, forming the songwriting duo “Piero-José.” His political exile in Spain during Argentina’s military dictatorship (1976) marked a significant period in his life. After returning to Argentina, Piero resumed his music career, maintaining a close bond with his audience.
He also founded the Fundación Buenas Ondas, focusing on children’s projects, and received various accolades, including the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame induction, the Diploma al Mérito, and the Musical Excellence Award.
Written by urgent.news from Buenos Aires Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
