Mussolini, Romano 1927-2006 (Guilio Romano Mussolini)

PERSONAL:

Born Guilio Romano Mussolini, September 26, 1927, in Carpena, Italy; died of complications following heart surgery, February 3, 2006, in Rome, Italy; son of Benito (a politician), and Rachele Mussolini; married first wife, Anna Maria Scicolone (divorced); married second wife, Carla Puccini; children: (first marriage) Alessandra, Elisabetta; (second marriage) Rachele. Hobbies and other interests: Painting.

CAREER:

Jazz pianist and band leader.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Critics' award (Italy; with band Romano Mussolini All Stars), 1963, for album Jazz allo Studio 7.

WRITINGS:

Benito Mussolini, A Cura di Rivista Romana (Rome, Italy), 1969.

Il Duce, Mio Padre, Bur (Milan, Italy), 2006, translated as My Father, Il Duce: A Memoir by Mussolini's Son, translated by Ana Stojanovic, introduction by Alexander Stille, Kales Press (San Diego, CA), 2006.

SIDELIGHTS:

Romano Mussolini was one of five children of the former Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini, the fascist ally of Germany's Adolf Hitler who was commonly known as "Il Duce," or "the leader." Romano, however, learned the price of his father's political stance early; he was only eighteen when his father was assassinated. The younger Mussolini fell in love with music as a child, and that passion became his driving force as an adult. An adept musician, he had a particular love for jazz, a form that was frowned upon by the fascist regime. Nevertheless, he trained himself and eventually went to work as a jazz pianist. He frequently played under an assumed name in the early days of his career to escape the stigma of his ties to his father. Eventually, he worked as a band leader and played with such noted jazz musicians as Dizzie Gillespie, Duke Ellington, and Chet Baker. Despite the necessities of his career, Romano never let go of his more idealized vision of his father, and he shares his private memories of the man in his books, including My Father, Il Duce: A Memoir by Mussolini's Son. His writings give readers an inside look at the softer side of the dictator through his family interactions. California Literary Review critic Peter Bridges found the book to be "a small but interesting addition to the many accounts of Italy's years under fascism," adding that the introductory essay by Alexander Stille helps provide balance to the more biased portions of the book.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

BOOKS

Mussolini, Romano, My Father, Il Duce: A Memoir by Mussolini's Son, Kales Press (San Diego, CA), 2006.

PERIODICALS

Booklist, November 15, 2006, Jay Freeman, review of My Father, Il Duce, p. 21.

Library Journal, November 15, 2006, Jim Doyle, review of My Father, Il Duce, p. 77.

Small Press Bookwatch, December 1, 2006, review of My Father, Il Duce.

UPI NewsTrack, November 19, 2004, "Mussolini Bio Sparks Debate."

ONLINE

American,http://www.theamericanmag.com/ (August 29, 2007), Kristine Crane, "Profiles: Romano Mussolini."

California Literary Review Web site,http://calitreview.com/ (April 22, 2007), Peter Bridges, review of My Father, Il Duce.

Lady DaVinci,http://www.ladydavinci.com/ (November 10, 2006), Gina Stepp, review of My Father, Il Duce.

Scotsman Online (Edinburgh, Scotland), http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/ (November 20, 2004), Alessandra Rizzo, "Mussolini Was a Caring Father, Says Son."

OBITUARIES

PERIODICALS

New York Times, February 4, 2006, "Romano Mussolini, 79, a Son of the Dictator, and a Musician."

UPI NewsTrack, February 3, 2006, "Pianist Romano Mussolini Dead at 78."

World Entertainment News Network, February 3, 2006, "Mussolini's Jazz Pianist Son Dies."

ONLINE

BBC Web site,http://news.bbc.co.uk/ (February 3, 2006), "Mussolini's Jazz Pianist Son Dies."

eJazz News Web site,http://www.ejazznews.com/ (August 29, 2007).

Guardian Online (London, England), http://www.guardian.co.uk/ (February 8, 2006), John Hooper, "Romano Mussolini: Fascist Leader's Son Who Marched to a Jazz Musician's Tune."

Independent Online (London, England), http://news.independent.co.uk/ (February 4, 2006), John Phillips, "Romano Mussolini: Jazz-Musician Son of ‘Il Duce.’"

Jazz House,http://www.jazzhouse.org/ (August 29, 2007), Todd S. Jenkins, "Romano Mussolini: Italian Pianist and Bandleader."

Telegraph Online (London, England), http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ (February 2, 2006), "Romano Mussolini."