Fausto Papetti (January 28, 1923 – June 15, 1999) was an Italian alto saxophonist renowned for his instrumental covers of pop and jazz classics. Born in Viggiù, Lombardy, Papetti trained as a jazz musician and began his career in the late 1950s with I Campioni, accompanying Tony Dallara.
In 1959, he signed with Durium, gaining fame after improvising on “Violent Summer,” a track that outsold its film’s original score. This led to his debut album, Raccolta (1960), launching a prolific career.
Papetti’s peak came in the 1960s and 1970s, producing two collections annually, with his 20th Raccolta (1975) becoming his best-seller. His smooth, romantic saxophone style, often paired with provocative album covers featuring scantily clad women, dominated European and Latin American markets.
Hits like “Love’s Theme” earned him a lasting influence, inspiring imitators like Johnny Sax. Occasionally recording as Fausto Danieli, he blended jazz finesse with easy-listening appeal. Active until his death in Sanremo at 76, Papetti left a legacy of over 50 albums, remembered as a trailblazer in instrumental pop.
61 recordings of Fausto Papetti you can hear on Instrumentals Forever:
Abrazame • Africa • Alexandra • Amore • Anche un uomo • Ancora, ancora, ancora • Aranjuez mon amour • Birdland • Blue Eyes • Blue Spanish Eyes • Bossa For My Lady • C’est magnifique • Concerto Nr 2 (Rachmaninov) • Ebb Tide • Emmanuelle • Emotion • Europa • Girl From Ipanema • Giselle • Green Eyes • He • Hill Street Blues • Hymne • I Love Paris • I’ll Bring Your Heart • I’m On Fire • Isn’t She Lovely • John Dunbar Theme • Just The Way You Are • La mer • Laura • Laura Palmer’s Theme • Love In C Minor • Love Letters In The Sand • Mack The Knife • Magic Moon • Manha de Carnaval • Maria Elena • Maria La O • Misty • Mulata • My Way • Night And Day • Ode To Billie Joe • Onyx • Ormai • Part Time Lover • Revelations • Setembro • Sleepy Shores • Smile • Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word • Tempi d’amore • The Coldest Days Of My Life • The from ‘Dynasty’ • The Shadow Of Your Smile • This Is Not America • Us And Them • Waltz In Love • Windmills Of Your Mind • You Are The Sunshine Of My Life •
