{
  "id": 13442512,
  "title": "Piero, Singer of ‘Mi Viejo,’ Dies at 81 After Long Connection to Colombia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/piero-singer-of-mi-viejo-dies-at-81-after-long-connection-to-colombia",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-10T15:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/10/10/piero-mi-viejo-singer-dies-81-colombia/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Piero, the Italian-born Argentine singer-songwriter famed for his rendition of \"Mi Viejo\" (\"My Father\"), passed away on Wednesday at the age of 81 in Buenos Aires. Initially a popular performer in the 1960s, Piero's music shifted towards addressing social issues as time progressed. Born on April 19, 1945, in Gallipoli, Italy, he immigrated to Argentina at the age of three and began his professional music career in the 1960s. Piero's collaboration with Argentine journalist and lyricist Jose Tcherkaski began in 1968, yielding the iconic song \"Mi Viejo\" released in 1969 as part of his debut album. Beyond \"Mi Viejo,\" Piero co-created hits such as \"Pedro Nadie\" and \"Para el pueblo lo que es del pueblo,\" which echoed the political and social tensions of Argentina and Latin America during the 1970s.\n\nA significant chapter in Piero's life unfolded in Colombia, where he forged a close connection through his performances and his advocacy for peace efforts. His first visit to Colombia was in 1971, after which he returned multiple times, including to Bogota for a concert in April marking his 81st birthday. Piero's ties to Colombia's peace initiatives were cemented after the 1985 Armero tragedy, where he participated in an international campaign alongside artists like Joan Manuel Serrat and Julio Iglesias. He contributed \"Por ti Colombia\" to the cause and later expanded his impact through initiatives like Colombia Viva in 1990, which united artists and communities around the cause of peace. In 1994, Piero was granted Colombian citizenship amid President Ernesto Samper's administration. His legacy is not solely anchored to \"Mi Viejo\" but spans over six decades, with over 25 albums released, spanning a variety of themes from familial and childhood to political and social concerns. His influence on the Latin American music scene remains profound, as evidenced by the song's over 500 recorded versions and his recognition with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Recording Academy in 2016.",
  "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": [
    "Piero, Italian-born Argentine singer-songwriter, dies at 81 in Buenos Aires.",
    "Collaborated with Jose Tcherkaski to create iconic song \"Mi Viejo\" in 1969.",
    "Deeply connected to Colombia through peace initiatives and 1985 Armero tragedy."
  ],
  "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."
}