Pino Presti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pino Presti
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Pino Presti
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Giuseppe Prestipino Giarritta |
| Born | 23 August 1943 |
| Origin | Milan, Italy |
| Genres | Pop, jazz, funk, Latin music, dance |
| Occupation(s) | conductor, arranger, Bassist, composer, record producer |
| Instruments | Bass guitar, Fender Rhodes, percussion |
| Years active | 1961–present |
| Labels | Atlantic, Durium, Saar, Polydor, Baby Records, Emergency, Belldisc, Edizioni Curci, Dischi Ricordi |
| Associated acts | Mina, Gerry Mulligan, Ástor Piazzolla, Stéphane Grappelli, Wilson Pickett, Maynard Ferguson, Franco Cerri, Severino Gazzelloni, Aldemaro Romero, Tullio De Piscopo, Shirley Bunnie Foy, Enrico Intra, Ellade Bandini |
Giuseppe Prestipino Giarritta (born August 23, 1943), known as Pino Presti, is a talented Italian musician from Milan. He is a conductor, arranger, bassist, composer, and record producer. He is also a black belt in Shotokan Karate.
Pino Presti started his music journey at a young age. He began as a bass guitar player and then became an arranger, composer, orchestra conductor, and producer. He has worked with many famous artists in different music styles like jazz, pop, funk, soul, and Latin music. Some of these artists include Mina, Gerry Mulligan, Ástor Piazzolla, Quincy Jones, and Wilson Pickett.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Start
Pino Presti's father, Arturo Prestipino Giarritta, was a skilled violinist. Pino started learning piano and music theory when he was six years old. At 17, he began performing as a singer and bass guitarist in clubs. He also worked in recording studios as a musician.
Even though he had a contract as a singer, he chose to focus on playing music. He recorded many songs with major Italian artists. These include Mina, Giorgio Gaber, Ornella Vanoni, and Adriano Celentano.
Music Career Highlights
Pino Presti played bass guitar for Mina, a very famous Italian pop singer, for many years. He also arranged and conducted many of her songs. From 1971 to 1978, Presti arranged and conducted 86 of Mina's songs. These included popular hits like "Grande grande grande" and "L'importante è finire". He also worked on many of her albums, such as Mina and Mina Live '78.
Presti also composed four songs for Mina. These were "Tentiamo ancora," "L'amore è un'altra cosa," "Amante amore," and "Bignè."
In 1978, Mina performed live at the Bussoladomani theatre. The Italian press praised the concert and Pino Presti's orchestra. They said it was a "triumph."
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Between the 1970s and 1980s, Pino Presti worked with many international music stars. He collaborated on recordings and concerts with artists like Wilson Pickett, Shirley Bassey, Quincy Jones, and Ástor Piazzolla.
One time, Wilson Pickett needed a bass player for the Sanremo Music Festival. Pino Presti was playing with another band, and Pickett heard him. He immediately chose Presti to play bass for his song "Un' Avventura." After the festival, Pickett asked Presti to join his European tour.
Pino Presti's real name, Giuseppe Prestipino, is listed on important records. These include Libertango with Ástor Piazzolla and Summit with Ástor Piazzolla and Gerry Mulligan.
In April 1975, Presti toured Europe with Mulligan and Piazzolla. They played at famous venues like the Olympia Theatre in Paris.
In 1976, Pino Presti created and produced 1st Round for Atlantic Records. This was the first dance-funk album made in Italy. It featured hit songs like Smile and Funky Bump.
In 1977, he became an arranger, conductor, and composer for the TV show Auditorio A. He led a large orchestra of 56 musicians. Many famous artists appeared on the show, including Gino Paoli and Maynard Ferguson. He also worked on other TV shows like C'era due volte (1980) and Il cappello sulle ventitré (1983).
Since the 1980s, Pino Presti has also composed music for TV series. He has produced albums under different names for various record labels.
Recent Projects (Since 2000)
Since 2004, Pino Presti has lived in France. In 2009, he created the album A La Costa Sud. This album featured 28 singers and musicians from different countries. They all regularly perform in the French Riviera.
In 2011, he composed a five-hour soundtrack for a hotel group. The music included different styles like classic jazz, nu jazz, bossanova, world music, and ambient music.
In 2013, Presti helped produce the album Shirley Bunnie Foy. This album celebrated jazz singer Shirley Bunnie Foy's 60-year career.
In 2014, he released the album Deep Colors under the name Mad of Jazz. He worked with keyboardists Claudio and Andrea Calzolari on this project.
In 2016, he composed music for the advertising campaign of Scavolini, an Italian company that designs kitchens and bathrooms. In 2019, he composed music for the book "Eco nel vento" by poet Tania Cantone.
In May 2023, the vinyl album Pino Presti & Garden Planet - Sharade was released. It is also available on digital streaming platforms. In November 2024, a new remastered version of his album 1st Round was released digitally.
On February 6, 2025, the compilation Soul Touches, produced by Pino Presti, was released. On March 25, 2025, a project called Mina Arranger Pino Presti: Finali Strumentali was released on digital platforms.
Martial Arts
Pino Presti trained in Shotokan karate and Goshindo from 1967 to 1985. His main teacher was Master Hiroshi Shirai. He also trained with other Japanese masters. He earned a 5th degree black belt in Rome in 1987.
TV Shows
- 1964: Questo & Quello (Rai Uno) – Bassist, Singer
- 1965/1966: Le Nostre Serate (Rai Due) – Bassist, Singer
- 1969: Sanremo Festival (Rai Uno) – Bassist with Wilson Pickett
- 1977: Auditorio A (Rai Due) – Composer, Arranger, Conductor
- 1980: C'era due volte (Rai Due) – Composer, Arranger, Conductor
- 1983: Il Cappello sulle ventitré (Rai Due) – Composer, Arranger, Conductor
Selected Discography
Albums
- 1st Round – Atlantic Records (1976)
- A La Costa Sud – Edizioni Curci (2009)
- Shirley Bunnie Foy – MAP Golden Jazz (2013)
- Deep Colors – MAP/ Paper Moon (2014)
- Pino Presti & Garden Planet - Sharade – Private Recordings / Best Record Italy (2023)
- 1st Round - Digital Remastered 2024 – Planet Records (2024)
- Soulful Touches - Planet Distribution (2025)
Singles
- "Smile/L'estate di Laura" – Atlantic Records (1975)
- "Funky Bump/C.so Buenos Ayres" – Atlantic Records (1976)
- "You Know The Way part I/You Know The Way part II" – Baby Records (1979)
- "Dancing Nights/And I Love Her" – Polydor Records (1983)
- "Funky Bump" (Unreleased Original Extended Version) – Best Record Italy (2015)
- "You Know The Way" (Disco Version by Tee Scott) – Best Record Italy (2016)
- "Mina Arranger Pino Presti: Finali Strumentali" (EP) – Planet Distribution (2025)
Collaborations with Other Artists
Pino Presti has worked as a performer, arranger, or conductor on many albums and singles for other artists.
Albums (Selected)
- Mina – Artist: Mina – PDU (1971)
- Cinquemilaquarantatre – Artist: Mina – PDU (1972)
- Frutta e verdura – Artist: Mina – PDU (1973)
- Amanti di valore – Artist: Mina – PDU (1973)
- Baby Gate – Artist: Mina – PDU (1974)
- La Mina – Artist: Mina – PDU (1975)
- Singolare – Artist: Mina – PDU (1976)
- Mina con Bignè – Artist: Mina – PDU (1977)
- Mina Live '78 – Artist: Mina – PDU (1978)
- The Platinum Collection – Artist: Mina – PDU (2004)
- Mina Live alla Bussola 1968-1978 – Artist: Mina – Warner Music (2024)
Singles (Selected)
- "Grande grande grande" – Artist: Mina – PDU (1971)
- "E poi..." – Artist: Mina – PDU (1973)
- "L'importante è finire" – Artist: Mina – PDU (1975)
- "Città Vuota (It's a Lonely Town)" – Artist: Mina – PDU (1978)
As Performer (Selected International Projects)
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- "Cara Fatina/Lettera a Pinocchio" – Artist: Tony Renis, arranger-conductor Quincy Jones – Philips Records (1964)
- "La vita/Without A Word" – Artist: Shirley Bassey – United Artists (1968)
- "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" – Artist: Patrick Samson – Carosello Records (1970)
- "Non preoccuparti/Adesso ricomincerei" – Artist: Lara Saint Paul, arranger-conductor Quincy Jones – Polydor (1973)
- Libertango – Artist: Ástor Piazzolla – Carosello (1974)
- Summit – Artist: Gerry Mulligan, Ástor Piazzolla – erre-t-v (1974)
Music Video
In December 2023, a music video called "Pino Presti - Incontri di valore" was released on YouTube. It features some of Presti's own music and highlights his collaborations with famous artists like Mina, Astor Piazzolla, and Shirley Bassey. The video also includes a bonus track by Caterina Caselli.
See also
In Spanish: Pino Presti para niños
- List of music arrangers
- List of jazz musicians
- List of jazz bassists
