Rico Garofalo

Pianist and composer, he was known in Foggia and nationwide as "Il Maestro Rico Garofalo". Born in Foggia on May 1, 1924, into a family of music lovers, with his father Ferdinando playing the violin, he studied piano with Professor Consagro from an early age.

In 1943 he played for the American expats, prompting him to found and conduct "The Parker's Boys International Orchestra," which was deemed the best orchestral ensemble in the South, performing in Viareggio, Taormina, Messina and other touristic locations. Rico Garofalo was also part of the Golden Gate Orchestra and K-13.

In May 1960 he staged and directed a polyphonic choral performance of 600 schoolchildren performing in the grandstands of the Pino Zaccheria Municipal Sports Field of Foggia, in front of the highest authorities of the province and of the city of Foggia, and the President of the Council of State. He is the composer of 249 Italian songs, of which 42 are folk songs from Foggia.

In 1968, following the death of Padre Pio, together with his friend and lyricist Gino Scauzillo, he wrote "La canzone di Padre Pio," which was recorded on LP a few weeks after the passing of Saint Pio, by the record company OPERVOKS, in the interpretation of the acclaimed Italian singer Luciano Rondinella. That was the first official song dedicated to Padre Pio.

In the same year he was chosen by the RCA of Rome as a trusted concert pianist for the search of new singing talents in the province of Foggia, to then present them on national television and radio broadcasts. Winner of National Competitions and National Song Festivals held in Rome in collaboration with RAI TV, many of his songs were selected to be included in the RAI pop music repertoire. He was invited as a guest on various television shows broadcasted on RAI TV and in many programs of local and regional broadcasters; He was also awarded the certificate of Commissioner of Accordionists and was awarded the honor of Knight.

From 1966 to 1989 he played in Pugnochiuso, a well-known town in the Gargano, performing alongside well-known cinema and entertainment artists and subsequently in Vieste until 1999. He was also Renzo Arbore's first music teacher.

On February 7, 2011, the Municipal Administration inaugurated a street in the city of Foggia naming it after the musician Rico Garofalo, in the presence of the authorities, family, friends and his illustrious student, the showman Renzo Arbore, who admitted: "What I am today I owe to Maestro Rico GAROFALO”.

On March 7, 2013, the Edmondo De Amicis Primary School Comprehensive Institute of Foggia inaugurated the music laboratory naming the classroom after maestro Rico Garofalo who taught at the De Amicis Institute for many years, instilling values of profound humanity and great professionalism.

Memorable was the performance of the choir of 600 children's voices composed of the students of the De Amicis Institute, in the grandstands of the Zaccheria stadium in Foggia, masterfully prepared and directed by Maestro Rico Garofalo.

He died on July 10, 2000.