Piero

Piero is the stage name of Italian-born, Argentina-based folk singer-songwriter Piero Antonio Franco de Benedictis (born on April 19, 1945), who is mostly known for his socially-conscious lyrics, heavily inspired by the Cuban trova movement, and his humanitarian work. De Benedictis gained notoriety during the late 60s, playing classic Italian songs and other covers in Argentine TV shows. Soon, he was performing alongside established pop stars such as Leo Dan, Palito Ortega, and Chico Novarro in Buenos Aires’ top venues. In 1969, de Benedictis released his eponymous debut, which featured the song that propelled him to international stardom: the heartfelt “Mi Viejo”. That same year, he won the third edition of Buenos Aires’ Festival de la Canción with “Como somos,” also included in his studio debut. More accolades followed, and the title track from Pedro Nadie (1970) won the Festival Internacional da Canção in Rio de Janeiro. Following the release of Coplas de mi país (1972) and Para el Pueblo lo Que Es del Pueblo (1973), two folk protest albums that denounced the brutality of Argentina’s dictatorship, de Benedictis had to exile himself in Europe after a frustrated abduction attempt. He returned to Buenos Aires in 1981 and resumed his career with Canto de la Ternura (1982), Un Hombre Común (1983), and Las Galaxias Nos Miran (1986), playing sold-out shows and festivals throughout the city. During the 90s, de Benedictis spent most of his time touring and doing humanitarian work in Colombia, who granted him citizenship in 1994. Towards the end of the decade, he released Piero y Pablo (1999), a live album in collaboration with legendary Cuban songwriter Pablo Milanés. A seventeen-year silence ensued, after which he released América (2016), a star-studded release featuring guest appearances by Aterciopelados, León Gieco, and Victor Heredia.

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