Gorni Kramer facts for kids
Francesco Kramer Gorni (born July 22, 1913 – died October 26, 1995) was an Italian songwriter, musician, and band leader. He was best known by his stage name, Gorni Kramer.
Contents
About Gorni Kramer
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Gorni Kramer was born Francesco Kramer Gorni in Rivarolo Mantovano, a town in Lombardy, Italy. Many people thought his name sounded foreign or like a made-up stage name. But it was his real name! His family name was Gorni, and Kramer was his middle name. He got this middle name from an American cyclist named Frank Kramer. This cyclist won a big race in 1912 and really impressed Gorni's father.
Kramer started learning music when he was very young. His father was a musician, and he taught him. The first instrument Kramer learned to play was the accordion. He even performed with his father's band as a child.
Later, he studied the double bass at the Parma Conservatory. He earned his diploma in 1930. After that, he began working as a musician for dance bands. In 1933, when he was 20 years old, he started his own jazz group.
Facing Challenges with Jazz Music
During the 1930s, the Italian government was controlled by a group called the fascist regime. This government did not like new American music styles like jazz. They even tried to stop people from playing it. However, Gorni Kramer learned about jazz from other musicians. These musicians worked on ships that traveled between Europe and North America.
In the mid-1930s, Kramer became a very successful songwriter. He wrote the music for "Crapa pelada" in 1936, which was a big hit song. He also wrote "Pippo non lo sa" in 1939, a famous song for a group called Trio Lescano. Even though his songs were popular, the Italian state radio, called EIAR, ignored him and his orchestra. They did this because he played jazz music.
Music During World War II
During World War II, Gorni Kramer worked with a singer named Natalino Otto. Otto was also not allowed on state radio because he played swing music, which was similar to jazz. Kramer wrote "Ho un sassolino nella scarpa," one of Otto's biggest hits.
During this time, Kramer also began working with a group called Quartetto Cetra. This partnership lasted a long time. He wrote many memorable songs for them, including "Nella vecchia fattoria." This song was the Italian version of the famous children's song "Old MacDonald Had a Farm." He also wrote "In un palco della Scala," "Donna," and "Concertino" for them.
Working in Musical Comedies
In 1949, Gorni Kramer started working with Garinei and Giovannini. They were a very famous team who created and produced musical comedies. For the next ten years, writing music for their shows was his main job.
Some of their most successful shows were Gran Baldoria and Un paio d'ali. These shows featured many popular songs. Some of these songs included "Un bacio a mezzanotte", "Non so dir ti voglio bene", and "Simpatica".
Television Career and Later Years
Gorni Kramer first appeared on television in 1957. He was part of a music show called Il Musichiere, hosted by Mario Riva. Kramer even wrote the show's theme song, "Domenica è sempre domenica." He went on to work on other TV shows too, like Buone vacanze and L'amico del giaguaro.
In the mid-1960s, Gorni Kramer started performing less often in public. However, he continued to work behind the scenes. He became a music publisher and also wrote for television. He passed away in Milan in 1995 from a heart attack. He was survived by his two daughters, Teresa and Laura.
See also
- Totò, Eva e il pennello proibito (1959)
