Peter Nero, Grammy-winning pianist and bandleader of the Philly Pops for more than three decades, has died aged 89.
Nero died Thursday at the Home Care Assisted Living Facility in Eustis, Fla., according to his daughter, Beverly Nero, the daily reported. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Funeral services will be private.
Nero colored his renditions of pop songs – from Cole Porter and George Gershwin to the Beatles and Bob Dylan – with classic, swing, Broadway, blues and jazz melodies. He often described his music as “indefinable” and was not offended when others called him “middle of the road”.
Recruited by Philadelphia concert promoter Moe Septee, Nero founded the Philly Pops Orchestra in 1979, the year Arthur Fiedler died. The latter was reputed to have practically invented the modern version of the pop orchestra in Boston, and Nero hoped to rival in popularity.
In his work as a performer and conductor, Nero frequently returns to Broadway tunes, Hollywood themes and Gershwin, the subject of the first Philly Pops concert. But he also dipped into Motown’s catalog and later bands such as Procol Harum and an album devoted to 1970s disco and love songs.
He led the Philly Pops until 2013, stepping down as leader when the orchestra said it could no longer afford him.
Nero won the Grammy Awards in 1961 for Best New Artist and in 1962 for Best Performance by an Orchestra or Instrumentalist for his record The Colorful Peter Nero.
A 1963 album, Hail the Conquering Neropeaked at number five on the Billboard Pop Albums chart.
His version of Theme from ‘The Summer of 42’a song written by Michel Legrand for the 1971 film, reached number 21e place on the Billboard Pop Songs Chart.