Farewell to Maurizio Graf, the gorizian voice of western movies that bewitched Morricone
The singer Attanasio, who became famous with Ringo, a collaborator and friend of the great composer, died at 78 years of age
Il Piccolo
October 25, 2019
GORIZIA The voice has gone, from Gorizia doc, of old Italian western movies. Many in Gorizia are remembered with affection and admiration by Maurizio Attanasio, known as Maurizio Graf, who died at 78 in Lugo di Romagna (where he had lived for some time) and became famous for his collaboration with the great composer Ennio Morricone in the soundtracks of some very successful films.
A piece of Gorizia, Attanasio grew up in his house in Via Cadorna, and after graduating from the Dante Alighieri high school and his university studies, he began to take his first steps as a singer, participating in the historical musical competitions organized at Ugg in the early years Fifty, winning two consecutively. Later he was then inserted as a singer in the music complex of Gorizia "I Vagabondi", very popular at the time, which included Vittorio Brancati (who would later also become mayor of Gorizia) on double bass, Enrico Zampi on drums, Aldo Cossovel on piano and Carlo Chersevani on guitar. The group had gained notoriety outside of our region, so much so as to be called for two years to perform during the winter at the famous Hotel Miramonti in Cortina, and some recordings also arrived at the RCA of Rome, at that time the largest company Italian record company.
Attanasio himself moved to Rome, and even in the capital his songs had become the focus of experts. Thus came the most important call, to work together with Ennio Morricone, of which he became a close and trusted collaborator. His soundtracks will remain unforgettable in the films "A Pistol for Ringo" with Giuliano Gemma, and "The Return of Ringo". In those same years, continuing the work with Morricone, other masterpieces had been born such as "A Fistful of Dollars", "For a Few Dollars More" and "Agent 007 mission Bloody Mary". "An exciting collaboration", remembered Maurizio also in an interview released a few years ago in Lugo di Romagna, where he had moved from Rome. His friendship with Morricone had also continued, reinforced by constant correspondence.
Attanasio had also collaborated in the elaboration of the soundtrack of "The Tales of the Marshal", by Mario Soldati. Equally rich in memories was his tour in Australia, where he was specially invited by a group of fans of soundtracks, performing, always as a singer, in all the major cities of the country. The 2012 trip to London, invited by the "Western Orchestra", was unforgettable for the Gorizia singer, who asked him to sing two pieces of Morricone on stage at the Elisabeth Hall, in front of two thousand people.
But despite the success and a life around the world, Maurizio Attanasio has always had in his heart his hometown, Gorizia. The last time on the banks of the Isonzo was in 2006, on the occasion of a reunion with old friends, complete with a concert at the Teatro Verdi together with all the other historic musical ensembles. An exciting and full of warmth meeting concluded in the historical local of the "Golden Lantern" under the impeccable direction of the owner Flavio Zollia, another unforgettable figure in Gorizia.
Once the scenes were abandoned, Attanasio-Graf had instead worked in the commercial sector, in various clothing companies. With his death, the city and all the Isontino certainly lose a high profile figure, who honored the territory and brought his name around the world with the great artistic talent of composer and singer. But also, something not secondary, with great humanity. That of a man full of warmth and cordiality with everyone.
Maurizio Attanasio leaves his wife Silvia, many admirers, in Gorizia and not only evidently, and also his faithful and trusted friend of all times, the former mayor of Gorizia Vittorio Brancati, with whom, as mentioned, he took the first steps and shared the first satisfactions in the world of music before taking flight to success.
A piece of Gorizia, Attanasio grew up in his house in Via Cadorna, and after graduating from the Dante Alighieri high school and his university studies, he began to take his first steps as a singer, participating in the historical musical competitions organized at Ugg in the early years Fifty, winning two consecutively. Later he was then inserted as a singer in the music complex of Gorizia "I Vagabondi", very popular at the time, which included Vittorio Brancati (who would later also become mayor of Gorizia) on double bass, Enrico Zampi on drums, Aldo Cossovel on piano and Carlo Chersevani on guitar. The group had gained notoriety outside of our region, so much so as to be called for two years to perform during the winter at the famous Hotel Miramonti in Cortina, and some recordings also arrived at the RCA of Rome, at that time the largest company Italian record company.
Attanasio himself moved to Rome, and even in the capital his songs had become the focus of experts. Thus came the most important call, to work together with Ennio Morricone, of which he became a close and trusted collaborator. His soundtracks will remain unforgettable in the films "A Pistol for Ringo" with Giuliano Gemma, and "The Return of Ringo". In those same years, continuing the work with Morricone, other masterpieces had been born such as "A Fistful of Dollars", "For a Few Dollars More" and "Agent 007 mission Bloody Mary". "An exciting collaboration", remembered Maurizio also in an interview released a few years ago in Lugo di Romagna, where he had moved from Rome. His friendship with Morricone had also continued, reinforced by constant correspondence.
Attanasio had also collaborated in the elaboration of the soundtrack of "The Tales of the Marshal", by Mario Soldati. Equally rich in memories was his tour in Australia, where he was specially invited by a group of fans of soundtracks, performing, always as a singer, in all the major cities of the country. The 2012 trip to London, invited by the "Western Orchestra", was unforgettable for the Gorizia singer, who asked him to sing two pieces of Morricone on stage at the Elisabeth Hall, in front of two thousand people.
But despite the success and a life around the world, Maurizio Attanasio has always had in his heart his hometown, Gorizia. The last time on the banks of the Isonzo was in 2006, on the occasion of a reunion with old friends, complete with a concert at the Teatro Verdi together with all the other historic musical ensembles. An exciting and full of warmth meeting concluded in the historical local of the "Golden Lantern" under the impeccable direction of the owner Flavio Zollia, another unforgettable figure in Gorizia.
Once the scenes were abandoned, Attanasio-Graf had instead worked in the commercial sector, in various clothing companies. With his death, the city and all the Isontino certainly lose a high profile figure, who honored the territory and brought his name around the world with the great artistic talent of composer and singer. But also, something not secondary, with great humanity. That of a man full of warmth and cordiality with everyone.
Maurizio Attanasio leaves his wife Silvia, many admirers, in Gorizia and not only evidently, and also his faithful and trusted friend of all times, the former mayor of Gorizia Vittorio Brancati, with whom, as mentioned, he took the first steps and shared the first satisfactions in the world of music before taking flight to success.
GRAF, Maurizio (Maurizio Attanasio)
Born: 1941, Gorizia, Gorizia, Italy
Died: 10/25/2019, Lugo, Rome, Lazio, Italy
Maurizio Graf’s westerns – singer:
A Pistol for Ringo – 1965 [sings “Angel Face”]
The Return of Ringo – 1965 [songwriter, sings “Il ritorno di Ringo”, “ La mia gente”]
Seven Guns for the MacGregors - 1966 [songwriter]
Seven Guns for the MacGregors - 1966 [songwriter]
Killer Caliber .32 – 1967 [sings “Amica Colt”]
Killer Adios - 1967 [sings: "Killer Adios"]
Killer Adios - 1967 [sings: "Killer Adios"]
The Wild and the Dirty – 1968 [sings “Find the Man”]