Farewell to Franco Cerri, internationally renowned jazz guitarist. He was "the soaking man"
He was 95 years old, his face became familiar to the general public for a famous commercial from the seventies
Mourning in the world of jazz.
Franco Cerri, an internationally renowned guitarist, died at the age of 95 in his Milan.
Among his most important collaborations that with artists of the caliber of Django Reinhardt, Gorni Kramer, Chet Baker, Billie Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie. And in Italy with the pianist Enrico Intra, with whom he founded the "Civic School of Jazz" in Milan.
"We will miss him, he has always filled the classrooms of the school with his personality - Intra recalls today - We played together for half a century, living together in this world of sound which will miss an excellent guitar teacher, because Franco was able to communicate all his experience and personality of a man, he was very communicative, available, polite, civilized, human, those beautiful qualities that everyone should have, those who frequented him were lucky and therefore also the students ".
Cerri had started playing at the age of 17 as a self-taught, when his father gave him his first guitar as a gift. He worked as a bricklayer and elevator operator until in 1945 he joined the orchestra of Gorni Kramer, to which he was introduced by the members of the Cetra Quartet, who had listened to him live. He then met Django Reinhardt, with whom he played in a trio, while in 1950 the first Franco Cerri Quintet was born from the meeting with the saxophonist Flavio Ambrosetti.
He was also an actor and dancer with Renato Rascel and conducted popular jazz programs for Rai. He has worked with Bruno Martino, Renato Carosone, Mina and Roberto Vecchioni, and wrote songs for commercials. His face became famous for a famous spot in which, half-length and fully dressed, he was immersed in a glass tub full of water up to his neck: he became "the soaking man".
“Internationally renowned jazz guitarist - writes the mayor Beppe Sala - from Milan he entered the homes of millions of Italians thanks to his extraordinary skill and sympathy. His talent and his wonderful notes will always remain with us ".
(Unioneonline / D)
