Piero, Iconic Argentine Singer/Songwriter, Dies at 81

Piero, the Argentine singer/songwriter whose colloquial, yet refined songs and beautiful, clear voice defined generations of Latin fans, has died. He was 81 years old. His death was confirmed on his social media accounts.

Born Piero Antonio Franco De Benedictis in Gallipoli, Italy, the artist later known simply as Piero sprung into international consciousness with his debut album, Mi Viejo (My Old Man), which included the song of the same name.

The track (written with José Tcherkaski), an unsparingly sincere yet touching ode to his father (“Old man, my dear old man; now you walk slowly; as if forgiving the wind; I’m your blood, old man; I’m your silence, I’m your time”) became an anthem for fathers throughout Latin America. To date, it is performed at birthday parties up and down the continent as the ultimate tribute for fathers.

The success of “Mi Viejo” propelled Piero to become one of the leaders of Latin America’s singer/songwriter tradition. Accompanied by his guitar, he was the ultimate troubadour, capable of songs like the lilting “Llegando, Llegaste,” about love at first sight, or 1970’s “Pedro Nadie,” which incorporated social commentary.

Piero’s writings became increasingly political with time, and in the 1970s, fearful for his life during the military regime, he lived abroad, including in Spain and Colombia — where he was beloved — and returning to Argentina in 1981.

Piero remained musically active throughout his life, touring actively throughout Latin America.

In 2016, he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Recording Academy, and his music was recently used for an Yves Saint Laurent fashion show.