Gino Piserchio
Encyclopedia
Eugene "Gino" Piserchio (September 5, 1944 – March 22, 1989) was an American actor, composer and musician. Piserchio appeared in two Andy Warhol
films including Beauty No. 2
, opposite Warhol Superstar Edie Sedgwick
.
In addition to his acting credits, Piserchio was noted for being an accomplished musician. He was one of the first musicians to master the Moog synthesizer
and would go on to compose and perform the original music for the film 1972 film, Ciao! Manhattan
.
, to Joe (1907-1955) and Jennie Piserchio (1909-1975). In the early 1950s, the Piserchio family moved from their Central Avenue home in Orange to Northfield Avenue, Livingston, New Jersey
- where Piserchio completed his grammar and high school educations. He graduated with the Livingston High School
class of 1962. Subsequent to his high school graduation, Piserchio graduated from the Mannes College The New School for Music in New York City
and did graduate work at Columbia University
.
In 1970 Piserchio presented three evenings of electronic music
in the Moog synthesizer
at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
in New York City. In about 1971 he participated with his future wife (Gillian Spreckels Fuller) in producing an experimental 16-mm color movie, "The Tacky Woman" in which she appeared as did Holly Woodlawn
who starred.
Bell Labs
, circa 1971, selected Piserchio to score a movie about molecular dynamics.
, the California industrialist and financier who amassed a sugar fortune, was graduated from The Masters School
in Dobbs Ferry, New York
, and attended Wheaton College
in Norton. The Piserchio wedding was held at the Paragon Restaurant at Aspen, Colorado, where the Rev. Thomas Benton, the Church of Truth, presided. Richie Berlin (sister of Brigid Berlin
) was the maid of honor. Richie acted in Ciao! Manhattan
. The marriage ended in divorce three years later.
-related opportunistic infection on March 22, 1989, in New York City
where he had lived variously in London Terrace, Old Chelsea, and Patchin.
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
films including Beauty No. 2
Beauty No. 2
Beauty No. 2 is a 1965 film by Andy Warhol starring Edie Sedgwick, Gino Piserchio, and Chuck Wein.-Synopsis:The movie has a fixed point of view showing a bed with two characters on it, Sedgwick and Piserchio. Chuck Wein is heard speaking but is just out of view...
, opposite Warhol Superstar Edie Sedgwick
Edie Sedgwick
Edith Minturn "Edie" Sedgwick was an American actress, socialite, model and heiress. She is best known for being one of Andy Warhol's superstars. Sedgwick became known as "The Girl of the Year" in 1965 after starring in several of Warhol's short films in the 1960s...
.
In addition to his acting credits, Piserchio was noted for being an accomplished musician. He was one of the first musicians to master the Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
and would go on to compose and perform the original music for the film 1972 film, Ciao! Manhattan
Ciao! Manhattan
Ciao! Manhattan is a 1972 American avant garde film starring Edie Sedgwick, one of Andy Warhol's Superstars. Although not a documentary, the film centers around a character very closely based on Sedgwick, and deals with the pain of addiction and the lure of fame.-Film overview:Written and directed...
.
Early life and career
Piserchio was born in Orange, New JerseyOrange, New Jersey
The City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...
, to Joe (1907-1955) and Jennie Piserchio (1909-1975). In the early 1950s, the Piserchio family moved from their Central Avenue home in Orange to Northfield Avenue, Livingston, New Jersey
Livingston, New Jersey
Livingston is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 29,366.Livingston was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 5, 1813, from portions of Caldwell Township and Springfield...
- where Piserchio completed his grammar and high school educations. He graduated with the Livingston High School
Livingston High School (New Jersey)
Livingston High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grade from Livingston, in Essex County, New Jersey, operating as part of the Livingston Public Schools. It receives all eighth grade graduates from Heritage Middle School...
class of 1962. Subsequent to his high school graduation, Piserchio graduated from the Mannes College The New School for Music in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and did graduate work at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
In 1970 Piserchio presented three evenings of electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
in the Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is a well-known museum located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States. It is the permanent home to a renowned collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and contemporary art and also features special exhibitions...
in New York City. In about 1971 he participated with his future wife (Gillian Spreckels Fuller) in producing an experimental 16-mm color movie, "The Tacky Woman" in which she appeared as did Holly Woodlawn
Holly Woodlawn
Holly Woodlawn is a Puerto Rican-born transgendered actress and former Warhol superstar, who appeared in his movies Trash and Women in Revolt .-Early life:...
who starred.
Bell Labs
Bell Labs
Bell Laboratories is the research and development subsidiary of the French-owned Alcatel-Lucent and previously of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company , half-owned through its Western Electric manufacturing subsidiary.Bell Laboratories operates its...
, circa 1971, selected Piserchio to score a movie about molecular dynamics.
Personal life
On February 7, 1972, Piserchio married Gillian Spreckels Fuller, daughter of Andrew Powie Fuller (1916-1994) and Geraldine Anne Spreckels (1919-1998). She is the great-granddaughter of John D. SpreckelsJohn D. Spreckels
John Diedrich Spreckels , the son of German-American industrialist Claus Spreckels, founded a transportation and real estate empire in San Diego, California in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
, the California industrialist and financier who amassed a sugar fortune, was graduated from The Masters School
The Masters School
The Masters School, known as "Masters", is a private, coeducational boarding school and day college preparatory school located in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Its campus is located near Manhattan in the Hudson Valley in Westchester County...
in Dobbs Ferry, New York
Dobbs Ferry, New York
Dobbs Ferry is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 10,875 at the 2010 census.The Village of Dobbs Ferry is located in, and is a part of, the town of Greenburgh...
, and attended Wheaton College
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)
Wheaton College is a four-year, private liberal arts college with an approximate student body of 1,550. Wheaton's residential campus is located in Norton, Massachusetts, between Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 1834 as a female seminary, it is one of the oldest...
in Norton. The Piserchio wedding was held at the Paragon Restaurant at Aspen, Colorado, where the Rev. Thomas Benton, the Church of Truth, presided. Richie Berlin (sister of Brigid Berlin
Brigid Berlin
Brigid Berlin is an American artist and former Warhol superstar.-Early years:Berlin was the eldest of three daughters born to socialite parents, Muriel Johnson "Honey" Berlin and Richard E. Berlin, into a world of Manhattan privilege. Her father was chairman of the Hearst media empire for 32 years...
) was the maid of honor. Richie acted in Ciao! Manhattan
Ciao! Manhattan
Ciao! Manhattan is a 1972 American avant garde film starring Edie Sedgwick, one of Andy Warhol's Superstars. Although not a documentary, the film centers around a character very closely based on Sedgwick, and deals with the pain of addiction and the lure of fame.-Film overview:Written and directed...
. The marriage ended in divorce three years later.
Death
Piserchio died at age 44 of an AIDSAIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
-related opportunistic infection on March 22, 1989, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he had lived variously in London Terrace, Old Chelsea, and Patchin.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Space | ||
| 1965 | Beauty No. 2 Beauty No. 2 Beauty No. 2 is a 1965 film by Andy Warhol starring Edie Sedgwick, Gino Piserchio, and Chuck Wein.-Synopsis:The movie has a fixed point of view showing a bed with two characters on it, Sedgwick and Piserchio. Chuck Wein is heard speaking but is just out of view... |
||
| 1968 | A Lovely Way to Die | Michel | Alternative title: A Lovely Away to Go |
| 1972 | Ciao! Manhattan Ciao! Manhattan Ciao! Manhattan is a 1972 American avant garde film starring Edie Sedgwick, one of Andy Warhol's Superstars. Although not a documentary, the film centers around a character very closely based on Sedgwick, and deals with the pain of addiction and the lure of fame.-Film overview:Written and directed... |
Composer |