Mons. Cesare Franco (Acquaviva delle Fonti, February 24, 1885 - Bari, January 21, 1944) was an Italian composer of sacred music and organist. He was born into a musical family: his father as well, devoted to music, like his brothers Peppino, prolific dialect poet, and Giacomo, fruitful "amateur composer [...] and assistant in the direction of the Schola Cantorum" Caeciliana of Acquaviva, founded Monsignor Cesare. In his native city he lived his childhood and early adolescence, attending schools of lower grade. He was sent to study at the Vatican seminary in Rome before and after the Gregorian University, where he graduated in theology and philosophy. On March 19, 1908 he was ordained a priest. Musically, however, was self taught, helped the family and Monsignor Raffaele Casimiri, who gave him some lessons; However the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome, where P. Angelo De Santi was president, awarded him an honorary diploma of teaching in sacred composition. He was Deputy Director of the Sistine Chapel.