Born in Naples, Oliviero began his career as composer after the Second World War, composing a series of successful Neapolitan melodies such as "'Nu quarto 'e luna" and "'O ciucciariello". From Sixties he worked as musical editor of various newspapers and signed the soundtracks of a number of films, including "Mondo Cane" (1962), of which the theme song, "More", co-written with Riziero "Riz" Ortolani, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 36th Academy Awards and became an international hit. He also scored the 1976 Vincente Minnelli musical "A Matter of Time", which starred Liza Minnelli and Ingrid Bergman. Oliviero died in Rome, at 62, after a long illness.