Piero Umiliani Essentials

Piero Umiliani, who hailed from Florence, was a prolific composer throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s. His breakthrough came in 1968 with the song “Mah Nà Mah Nà”, an unshakeable earworm that propelled him into the spotlight internationally when it was adapted for The Muppet Show. But it was not wholly representative of his work, which was far more diverse and distinctive. A mix of smoky jazz nestling alongside electronic-tinged soul on brooding, late-night compositions was more indicative of his style, one that worked perfectly across his long and successful career scoring films.