Lorenzo Giovanni Maria Antonio Domenico Arbore was born
on June 24, 1937 in Foggia, Apulia, Italy. Arbore became nationally recognized
as radio anchor man, together with Gianni Boncompagni, in the late 1960s, with shows
such as “Bandiera gialla” (1965), “Per voi giovani” (1967), and “Alto
Gradimento” (1970), increasingly marked by their ironical approach which later
became one of their brands. He debuted in Italian television with “Speciale per
voi” (1969–1970), which included debates about singers of that age. His first
great TV success was the surreal “L'altra domenica” ("The Other
Sunday", 1976–1979), in which he launched numerous comedians including
Mario Marenco, Isabella Rossellini and Roberto Benigni. Also very successful
were “Quelli della note” (1985) and “Indietro tutta!” (1988), which established
Arbore as one of the most intelligent cult figures of Italian television.
In the meantime he wrote and directed the movies “Il
pap'occhio” (1980) and "FF.SS." – Cioè:...che mi hai portato a fare
sopra a Posillipo se non mi vuoi più bene?" (1983), both surreal stories
featuring numerous actors launched by him and others friends, set in his
adoptive city of Naples. Arbore also played and sang on his shows, notably in
“Quelli della Notte” and “Indietro tutta!”. His music albums sold hundreds of
thousand copies in Italy.
An apt amateur clarinet player, in 1991 Arbore founded
the Orchestra Italiana, a group of 15 artists with the aim to popularize
Neapolitan music worldwide. The orchestra has toured in Europe, Asia, and the
Americas. He was also director of the Umbria Jazz festival. His last TV show
was “Speciale per me - Meno siamo, meglio stiamo!” on Rai Uno.
Arbore appeared in one Euro-western “Showdown for a Badman”
(1971) as the sheriff.
Today we celebrate Renzo Arbore’s 75th
birthday.
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