Ettore Stratta (1933–2015) was an Italian-American musician renowned for his work as a conductor, composer, pianist, and record producer. Born in Cuneo, Italy, on March 30, 1933, Stratta studied piano and composition at the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in Rome. He furthered his conducting education under Tibor Serly in New York and Eleazar de Carvalho in Brazil.

Stratta emigrated to the United States and became an influential figure in the music industry, particularly during his tenure as an A&R executive at Columbia Records in the 1960s. He played a pivotal role in the success of the groundbreaking album "Switched-On Bach" by Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind, which won three Grammy Awards and became a best-selling classical album.

Throughout his career, Stratta produced recordings for a wide array of artists, including Barbra Streisand, Dave Brubeck, Tony Bennett, and Andy Williams. He also worked with jazz and classical musicians such as Al Jarreau, Dori Caymmi, Hubert Laws, and Paquito D’Rivera. Stratta conducted for prestigious orchestras worldwide, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Stratta's projects often blended genres, as evidenced by his "Symphonic Elvis" album and other recordings like "Symphonic Lloyd Weber" and "Symphonic Bossa Nova." He was known for his collaborations with artists like Stephane Grappelli, Lena Horne, and Michel Legrand, and he produced numerous recordings that appeared on the Billboard charts.

Ettore Stratta passed away in New York on July 9, 2015, leaving behind a legacy of innovative musical contributions that spanned classical, jazz, and popular music genres.