Romano Mussolini

For his grandson, a footballer, see Romano Floriani Mussolini.

Romano Bruno Mussolini (26 September 1927 – 3 February 2006) was an Italian jazz pianist, painter, and film producer.^[1] He was the fourth child and youngest son of Benito Mussolini.

Romano Mussolini
Mussolini in 1932
Born	Romano Bruno Mussolini (1927-09-26)26 September 1927 Forlì, Italy
Died	3 February 2006(2006-02-03) (aged 78) Rome, Italy
Occupations	Jazz pianist painter film producer
Years active	1945–2006
Spouses	Maria Scicolone ​ ​ (m. 1962; div. 1971)​ Carla M. Puccini [it]
Children	3, including Alessandra and Rachele
Parent(s)	Benito Mussolini Rachele Guidi
Relatives	Sophia Loren (former sister-in-law) Romano Floriani Mussolini (grandson)

Early life and education

Romano Mussolini grew up in Villa Carpena [it], his family's residence in Forlì in Romagna.^[2] He studied music as a child, playing classical pieces on the piano and accompanying his father, Benito Mussolini, who played^[3] the violin. After World War II, he started playing jazz under the assumed name "Romano Full".^[4]

Musical career

His playing style has been described as "like a slightly melancholic Oscar Peterson. Occasionally inspired, he was always efficient; he made the refrains run on time."^[5]

Personal life

In 1962, Mussolini married Maria Scicolone, the younger sister of actress Sophia Loren. They had two daughters, Alessandra and her younger sister Elisabetta. Alessandra led a small Italian far-right party often described as neofascist, Alternativa Sociale. Romano Mussolini composed the party's official anthem, "The Pride of Being Italian".^[5]

With his second wife, the actress Carla Maria Puccini [it], he had a daughter, Rachele Mussolini, named after his mother Rachele Guidi. The younger Rachele has served as a member of the city council of Rome.^[6]

Mussolini was very reserved about his family history until the entry of the post-fascist National Alliance party into government following the 2001 general election.^[7] In 2004 he published a broadly sympathetic account of his personal recollections of his father, Il Duce, mio padre (translated as My father, il Duce: a memoir by Mussolini's son, alluding to the Fascist dictator's official title), including anecdotes of private confidences and discussions.^[7]

Death

Romano Mussolini died from heart problems in a hospital in Rome in 2006, aged 78.

Selected discography

• Mirage (1974)
• Soft & Swing (1996)
• The Wonderful World of Louis (2001)
• Timeless Blues (2002)
• Music Blues (2002)
• Romano Piano & Forte (2002)
• Jazz Album (2003)
• Napule 'nu quarto 'e luna (2003)
• Alibi perfetto (2004) – soundtrack

Books

• Mussolini, Romano (2006) [2004]. My father il Duce: a memoir by Mussolini's son. Translated by Stojanovic, Ana. Introductory essay by Alexander Stille. San Diego, CA: Kales Press. ISBN 0-9670076-8-2.