Peter Nero

American pianist and conductor. Director of The Philadelphia Orchestra "Pops" from 1979 to 2013. Born: May 22, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York, USA Died: July 6, 2023, in Eustis, Florida, USA Though Nero's family was non-musical, he began piano lessons at age seven and from the start showed a remarkable natural ability. By age eleven, he could play Haydn’s Piano Concerto in D Major from memory; in his early teens he was performing at small, local engagements. In 1960 he was signed to a three-year contract with RCA Victor records, which was then renewed for another five years, producing more than 26 albums. He won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1961 for his first album followed by another Grammy Award in the next year. Nero directed the Philly Pops from 1979 to 2013.