Answer:
As far as I know, they were not related. In the 1970's, I interviewed them both for publications in Italy while I was living there as a music and dance critic, and they both answered the same way to my question, more or less "Not that I know of, but since we're both from Reggio Emilia, it could be!' And each proceeded to express his admiration for the other, one for a true legend and the other for a very talented newcomer! I was very sorry to discover, only today, that Franco passed away in 2010.
Susan Gould