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Michele Lacerenza (January 7, 1922 – November 17, 1989) was an Italian trumpeter renowned for his unforgettable solo in the score of "For a Fistful of Dollars." Born in Tarent, Italy, he was celebrated by composer Ennio Morricone, who described him as “a sublime trumpeter” and noted that Lacerenza’s performance was so moving that it brought him to tears. Initially, another famous Italian trumpeter was considered for the film score, but Lacerenza's breathtaking rendition of the solo left a lasting impact on both Morricone and director Sergio Leone. Italian singer Mina remarked on the profound effect of Lacerenza's trumpet, which broke the silence of Leone’s long sequences, likening it to a call from the desert. Following the success of "For a Fistful of Dollars," Lacerenza's trumpet became iconic in the spaghetti-western genre, embodying a gritty West influenced by Southern Italy rather than the traditional Westerns of John Ford. His interpretation of the final solo was deeply personal, rooted in his upbringing in the Apulian town of Trinitapoli and his experience with local citizens' bands, which shaped his passionate musical style.

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