Ernesto Tagliaferri was born on November 18, 1889, in Naples, Italy, into a family where his father worked as a barber. He pursued formal education in music, graduating in violin and composition from the Conservatory S. Pietro a Maiella in Naples. Tagliaferri began his career by directing main companies at the Eden and La Fenice theatres in Naples. During World War I, he formed an orchestra to perform concerts for troops and composed patriotic songs such as "Italia mia." In 1926, he co-founded the musical publishing house La bottega dei Quattro with Bovio, Lama, and Valente. Tagliaferri's compositions, particularly Neapolitan songs, gained worldwide recognition and were recorded by numerous artists. Some of his famous songs include "Nun me scetà," "Napule canta," and "Passione." He lived in Torre del Greco with his wife Lucia D'Orlando and died suddenly on March 6, 1937, at the age of 48. His funeral oration was delivered by the poet Libero Bovio.