Eugenio Bennato

Eugenio Bennato (born 16 March 1948) is an Italian folk musician and songwriter. He is the brother of the musician Edoardo Bennato.

In 1969, he cofounded the folk band Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare, discovered by the author Eduardo De Filippo, who admitted them in his theater. After four studio records, he left and cofounded Musicanova in 1976.

The band wrote the film soundtrack of L'eredità della priora, television film directed by Anton Giulio Majano. In the early 80's he started a solo career.

In 1989, he won a Nastro d'Argento for Best Score, with the movie Cavalli si nasce, directed by Sergio Staino.

In 1990, he participated at the Sanremo Music Festival with Tony Esposito, playing a song called Novecento aufwiedersehen.

In 1998, he founded a musical movement called Taranta Power, with the aim of promoting south-Italian folk culture through music, cinema and theater.

In 2003, he wrote, along with his brother Edoardo, the soundtrack of the animated cartoon Totò Sapore e la magica storia della pizza.

In 2006, he taught laboratory of ethnomusicology at the Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples.

In 2008, he returned at the Sanremo Festival with the song Grande Sud.

He is a supporter of esperanto language.