Pino Presti

Lore & Background

Pino Presti began studying piano and music theory at age six, the son of an accomplished violinist. At 17 he started performing as a vocalist and bass guitarist in clubs and recording studios. Although he had a contract with Durium of Milan as a singer, he chose to focus on instrumental performance, recording hundreds of songs with major Italian artists such as Mina, Giorgio Gaber, Ornella Vanoni, Gino Paoli, Fabrizio De André, and Adriano Celentano.

From 1971 until Mina's last public appearances at Bussoladomani in 1978, Presti arranged and conducted 86 of her tracks, including hits like 'Grande grande grande', 'E penso a te', and 'L'importante è finire'. He also composed four songs for her. In 1976 he created and produced for Atlantic Records the first dance-funk album in Italy, 1st Round, with songs such as 'Smile' and 'Funky Bump'. He later worked as arranger and conductor for the RAI2 TV show Auditorio A, leading a 56-piece big band.

Presti collaborated internationally with Wilson Pickett, Shirley Bassey, Quincy Jones, Gerry Mulligan, Ástor Piazzolla (performing on 24 recordings including Libertango), Maynard Ferguson, Stéphane Grappelli, and Aldemaro Romero. He is listed under his real name on Piazzolla's Libertango and on Summit with Mulligan. Since the 2000s he has lived in France, producing albums such as A La Costa Sud and Deep Colors, and composing for advertising and poetry projects.

Reader's Guide

Pino Presti's significance lies in his versatility as a musician and his role in bridging Italian pop with international funk, soul, and jazz. As Mina's primary arranger and conductor during her most productive period, he helped define the sound of Italian popular music in the 1970s. His creation of the first Italian dance-funk album, 1st Round, marked a milestone in the country's music scene. His collaborations with figures like Ástor Piazzolla and Gerry Mulligan placed him in a global context, and his work on the Libertango recording remains notable. Presti's long career—spanning from the 1960s into the 2020s—demonstrates his adaptability across genres and media, including television, film, and digital releases. His martial arts achievement (5th-dan black belt) adds a distinctive dimension to his profile. Overall, Presti is a key figure in Italian music production and arrangement, with a legacy that extends beyond national borders.

Did You Know?

• Pino Presti holds a 5th-dan black belt in Shotokan Karate, obtained in Rome in 1987.
• He performed on 24 recordings with Ástor Piazzolla, including the well-known composition Libertango.
• In 1976 he created and produced the first dance-funk album in Italy, titled 1st Round, for Atlantic Records.
• He arranged and conducted 86 tracks for Italian pop singer Mina between 1971 and 1978.