Gianni Meccia

Giovanni "Gianni" Meccia (2 June 1931 – 9 April 2024) was an Italian composer, singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. He was often associated with Jimmy Fontana.

Life and career Born in Ferrara, in 1950 Meccia moved to Rome to pursue an acting career, eventually only getting some bit roles in some RAI TV series. An autodidact guitarist specialized in composing black humorous and nonsense songs, he was first noted by lyricist Franco Migliacci and later by Mario Riva, and had his breakout in 1959 with the song "Odio tutte le vecchie signore", which he launched in the Riva's popular music show Il Musichiere. In 1961 he took part in the eleventh edition of the Sanremo Music Festival with "Patatina", and had a good success with "Cha-cha dell'impiccato", a duet with his friend and frequent collaborator Jimmy Fontana.

Filmography Actor Moana, Virgin of the Amazon (1955) Ragazzi del Juke-Box (1959) as Gianni Nel blu dipinto di blu (1959) as Plainclothesman Howlers in the Dock (1960) as Gianni aka Satana Io bacio... tu baci (1961) as The Singer with a grey Pullover Eighteen in the Sun (1962) Canzoni in... bikini (1963) as Himself Djurado (1969) as Ricky - Guitar Player (uncredited) (final film role)

Composer Io bacio... tu baci (1961, "Diavolo", "Patatina") Girl with a Suitcase (1961, "Folle banderuola") Sentivano uno strano, eccitante, pericoloso puzzo di dollari (1973)

Singer Io bacio... tu baci (1961, "Patatina" and "Cha cha cha dell'impiccato") Of Wayward Love (1962, "Sole magico di luglio")