Bernardo Bonezzi (July 6, 1964 – August 30, 2012) was a Spanish composer, singer, and songwriter. He is primarily recognized for his influence on the Spanish cultural movement known as La Movida Madrileña and for his extensive work as a film score composer.
Early Career and Pop Music Bonezzi began his musical career at a young age, often described as a child prodigy of the Madrid music scene. In the late 1970s, he formed the new wave band Zombies. The group achieved significant commercial and critical success with the 1980 single "Groenlandia," which remains one of the most iconic songs associated with the Movida era. Following the dissolution of the band, Bonezzi released several solo projects and collaborated with other artists, including the duo Bonezzi-St. Louis.
Film and Television Composition In the 1980s, Bonezzi transitioned into film scoring, establishing a notable professional relationship with director Pedro Almodóvar. He composed the original scores for several of Almodóvar’s early works, including Labyrinth of Passion (1982), What Have I Done to Deserve This? (1984), Matador (1986), Law of Desire (1987), and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988).
His work in cinema extended beyond Almodóvar to include scores for directors such as Agustín Díaz Yanes and Iciar Bollaín. In 1995, Bonezzi won the Goya Award for Best Original Score for the film Nadie hablará de nosotras cuando hayamos muerto (Nobody Will Speak of Us When We're Dead). He also contributed music to various television series and documentary projects throughout the 1990s and 2000s.
Later Years In the latter part of his career, Bonezzi shifted his focus toward instrumental and electronic music, releasing a trilogy of albums titled La hora del lobo, La hora azul, and La hora del té. He returned to pop music shortly before his death with the release of the album La esencia de la ciencia in 2012.
Bonezzi was found dead in his apartment in Madrid on August 30, 2012, at the age of 48. His legacy is defined by his versatility across musical genres and his role in shaping the sound of Spanish cinema and pop culture during the transition to democracy.