Staring at the bust before us, this is the Vincent Scotto Sculpture. It stands facing the Vieux Port in Place aux Huiles. But who was Vincent Scotto?
Vincent Scotto was a prolific French composer. He was born in Marseille in 1874. Scotto died in Paris in 1952. Over his lifetime, he composed around 4,000 songs. He also wrote 60 operettas. His music became internationally successful. It reached audiences in Europe and the United States.
Scotto began his career in Marseille in 1906. Later, he moved to Paris and achieved even greater success. He was a friend of Marcel Pagnol. Scotto wrote music for many of Pagnol’s films. He contributed to about fifty films in the 1940s and 1950s. Occasionally, he even appeared as an actor in these films.
The Vincent Scotto Sculpture you see was created by Andrè Arbus. Arbus was a renowned architect, decorator, and sculptor. He was born in Toulouse in 1903. Arbus passed away in Paris in 1969. Besides the Vincent Scotto Sculpture, Arbus also worked on architectural projects like the Planier lighthouse.
Vincent Scotto’s full name was Vincent Baptiste Scotto de Aniello. His parents were Pasquale Scotto and Antonia Intartaglia. They came from the island of Procida. It’s located north of the Gulf of Naples. Vincent learned to play the guitar at seven. He then studied music at a religious institution.
Before rising to fame, Vincent Scotto played guitar at local weddings. He accompanied singers in the Marseille area. One of his early compositions became a hit. Henri Christiné adapted it for the singer Polin. The song was “La Petite Tonkinoise”. This success propelled Scotto to Paris. There, he began his abundant musical production.
Some of his famous songs include “J’ai deux amours”. Others are “Prosper (Yop la boum)” and “Le Trompette en bois”. Tino Rossi made “Marinella” famous. Alibert made “Le Plus Beau Tango du monde” a hit. Georgel popularized “Sous les ponts de Paris”.
Many artists interpreted Vincent Scotto’s songs. These included Alibert, Paulette Merval and Marcel Merkès. Scotto’s “opérettes marseillaises” became very popular. These shows helped spread a certain image of Marseille. Sometimes this image was a caricature.
Marcel Pagnol paid tribute to Vincent Scotto. Pagnol said, “My dear Vincent when you leave, you will leave a hundred or two hundred songs, feelings of your own, ideas of your own, which will still do good to people who are not born.”
Since 1948, the SACEM has awarded the Prix Vincent-Scotto. This award recognizes the best popular song of the year.
Though Vincent Scotto died in Paris, he was buried in Marseille. You can find his final resting place at the Cimetière Saint-Pierre.
So, the Vincent Scotto Sculpture commemorates a man. He was a master of melody and a true son of Marseille. His music continues to resonate today. It reminds us of the vibrant spirit of this city.