Giuseppe "Pino" Donaggio was born in Burano, Italy, into a musical family. He showed a precocious talent for the violin, training at conservatories in Venice and Milan. His solo debut at the age of 14 foreshadowed a classical career, but the influence of rock music in 1959 led him to popular song. He established himself as a successful Italian singer-songwriter, peaking with "Io Che Non Vivo" with a hit that positioned him as a relevant international musical figure before his significant shift into film composition.

His collaboration with Brian DePalma marked a crucial stage, creating suspense-defining soundtracks for key films such as Carrie, where he replaced the late Bernard Herrmann, and the acclaimed Dressed to Kill. Donaggio's compositions for DePalma were characterised by a haunting atmosphere and palpable tension, influenced by Herrmann's legacy.

Donaggio's transition to film in 1973 with Don't Look Now demonstrated his ability to create distinctive cinematic atmospheres, gaining recognition for his handling of suspense through music. This initial foray paved the way for his prolific collaboration with DePalma, where his melodic sensibility and ability to generate tension became hallmarks of the director's films. Despite his contribution to influential cinematic works, his focus on Italian cinema and his life in Venice kept him out of the Hollywood media spotlight, preserving a more discreet profile in the global film industry.