Armando Trovajoli Dies: Italian Composer Dead At 95

Armanda Trovajoli, an Italian musician and composer, has died at the age of 95.

Roman mayor Gianni Alemanno lamented Trovajoli’s death, stating that “the voice of Rome has been extinguished.” Italian news agency ANSA said the composer’s widow, Maria Paola Trovajoli, announced the death Saturday. She also said her husband died a few days before in Rome, but she would not give the exact date of her late husband’s death.

According to the Associated Press, Trovajoli began his musical career as a pianist, appearing with jazz stars such as Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and Louis Armstrong. He then made the move into composing music for films in the 1950s. Some of Italy’s best directors turned to Trovajoli to write music for their films in the decades following World War II. These include Dino Risi, Vittoria De Sica, and Luigi Comencini.

Trovajoli also wrote the music for two of Italian actress Sophia Loren‘s most famous films, A Special Day and Two Women, the latter of which won her an Oscar. He also wrote the music for her 1964 film, Marriage Italian-Style.

Trovajoli’s most famous song is the tourist-favorite “Roma nun fa’la stupida stasera,” which was written for the stage musical “Rugatino” in 1962 and translates to “Rome, don’t act silly this evening.” The first performance of the unofficial theme song for the city of Rome was sung as a duet by Nino Manfredi and Lea Massari. It is currently featured on Andrea Bocelli‘s most recent album of pop favorites.

Armando Trovajoli’s last film composition was for 2010’s La vita è una cosa meravigliosa (Life is a marvelous thing).