{
  "id": 12739367,
  "title": "Piero, Singer of ‘Mi Viejo,’ Dies at 81 After Long Connection to Colombia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/piero-singer-of-mi-viejo-dies-at-81-after-long-connection-to-colombia",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-07T23:20:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/10/07/piero-mi-viejo-singer-dies-81-colombia/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Piero, the Italian-born Argentine singer-songwriter famous for his hit \"Mi Viejo,\" passed away at the age of 81 in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. Born in 1945, Piero immigrated to Argentina at the age of three and began his music career in the 1960s. His professional journey took off after meeting Argentine journalist and lyricist Jose Tcherkaski in 1968, leading to the creation of \"Mi Viejo\" and numerous other popular songs.\n\nPiero’s connection to Colombia began in 1971 when he first visited the country for the Feria de Cali. Initially scheduled for just one concert, he ended up performing multiple shows, and soon returned in 1972 to perform in Bogota, where thousands attended. This initial connection later evolved into a deeper relationship with Colombia’s peace efforts, especially after the 1985 Armero tragedy.\n\nIn the aftermath of the tragedy, Piero joined an international campaign to aid victims and contributed the song \"Por ti Colombia.\" He continued to support peace initiatives across Uruguay and Caguan, even founding Colombia Viva in 1990 to unite artists and communities around peace. His contribution to Colombian society was officially recognized in 1994 when he obtained Colombian nationality.\n\nPiero’s musical repertoire ranged from family-oriented songs to politically charged pieces that reflected Argentina and Latin America's social tensions. His 1970 performance of \"Pedro Nadie\" won an international competition at the Festival Internacional da Cancao, marking a high point of his career. In 1981, Piero returned to Argentina with the band Prema and continued creating music focused on peace, social justice, and Latin American identity.\n\nHis legacy extends beyond \"Mi Viejo,\" as he contributed over 25 albums and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement by the Latin Recording Academy in 2016. Piero's final years saw him performing in Colombia, celebrating his 81st birthday, and remaining an active figure in the music scene until his death.",
  "summary": "Piero, the Italian-born Argentine singer-songwriter best known for “Mi Viejo” (“My Father”), died Wednesday in Buenos Aires at 81. The singer, who also held Colombian citizenship, had performed in Bogota in April to mark his 81st birthday. Piero Antonio Franco De Benedictis was born in Gallipoli, Italy, on April 19, 1945, and moved to Argentina […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}