Nelly Goletti, French chanteuse, composer, and pianist was born in Algiers, North Africa on December 25, 1908. Goletti began studying piano at the age of five and enrolled in the Beaux Arts Conservatory at the age of six. At the age of six she gave her first concert and was recognized from then on as a child prodigy. At the age of thirteen she became the youngest member of S.A.C.E.M., the French society of composers. By the age of fourteen she had completed her studies at Conservatories of Classical Music in Milan and Paris, where she was honored with fourteen first prizes. A student of the world renowned Isadore Phillip, her mark remains at the Paris Conservatory, where her piano etudes are still taught. At the age of sixteen she became the youngest member of the Society of Authors and Composers.

Goletti performed extensively in well-known clubs and cabarets throughout Europe and the United States, including London’s Bagatelle Club in Mayfair. She composed the music to the state musical "Talleyrand" by Sacha Guitry and the complete score for the Casino de Paris. Her songs have been sung by Jean Sablon, Jean Lumiere, Guy Berri, Reda Caire, and others. She has appeared on every major radio network in Europe from Luxemburg to Monte Carlo. In 1947 she was acclaimed as a "female Rachmanioff" by the Ce Soir critic Jean Weiner after a concert at Salle Pleyel. Her two American films performances include "One Too Many" and "The Best is Yet to Come". She became the musical director of Hallmark Productions in Hollywood and she wrote the music for the film "Rich, Young and Pretty", starring Jane Powell. While living in New York she had her own fifteen minute prime time program on WOR-TV every Thursday evening from 7:00 to 7:15 PM. She also appeared on the Steve Allen Show and in Hollywood on Peter Potter’s show.

Nelly Goletti has over three hundred songs and compositions to her name. Her first major song was called "Serenade", other songs were written specifically for music stars like Jean Sablon and Tino Rossi. Her recordings, mainly done in Paris, were on the Decca, Pacific, Columbia and Pathe labels. She was a long-time staff artist at the Paris studios of Decca. Her works, both in the popular and classical musical idioms, have been performed extensively in Europe and the United States. Nelly Goletti’s style as a composer and pianist can be recognized by her unusual harmonies, contrapuntal treatment, beautiful tones and strong attack.