Nino Rota

About

Academy Award winner for 1974's "The Godfather Part II." He also scored 1972's "The Godfather" and Franco Zeffirelli's Shakespeare movies.

Before Fame

He was a musical prodigy from an early age, writing his first oratorio when he was 11. He began performing soon after.

Trivia

He scored over 150 films, writing more than one a month during his most productive year. He also composed operas, ballets, and orchestral works.

Family Life

He was born Giovanni Rota Rinaldi in Milan. His family was very musical.

Associated With

He had a long friendship with Igor Stravinsky, saying the Russian composer's "mind struck sparks," an apt description of Stravinsky's unceasing creativity.