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Domenico Modugno(Italian pronunciation:[doˈmeːnikomoˈduɲɲo];9 January 1928 – 6 August 1994) was an Italian singer, actor and, later in life, a member of theItalian Parliament.He is known for his 1958 international hit song "Nel blu dipinto di blu",for which he receivedthe first Grammy AwardsforRecord of the YearandSong of the Year.He is considered the first Italiancantautore.[1]
Domenico Modugno | |
|---|---|
 Modugno atPartitissimain 1967 | |
| Member of theSenate of the Republic | |
| In office 18 April 1990 – 22 April 1992 | |
| Constituency | Rome |
| Member of theChamber of Deputies | |
| In office 2 July 1987 – 18 April 1990 | |
| Constituency | Turin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 January 1928 Polignano a Mare,Italy |
| Died | 6 August 1994(aged 66) Lampedusa,Italy |
| Political party | Radical Party |
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Spouse |
Franca Gandolfi (m.1955) |
| Children | 4 |
| Occupation |
|
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1953–1993 |
| Labels |
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Early life
editThe youngest of four children, Modugno was born atPolignano a Mare,in theprovince of Bari(Apulia), on 9 January 1928.[2]His father, Vito Cosimo Modugno,[3]was amunicipal policecommander,[2]while his mother, Pasqua Lorusso,[3]was a housewife.[2]
At the age of 9, his family moved toSan Pietro Vernotico,in theProvince of Brindisi,[4]where his father was transferred for a new job position.[5]Here Domenico attended primary school and learned San Pietro Vernotico's dialect, which belongs to the linguistic area ofSalentino dialect,similar toSicilian.He attended secondary school in Lecce.[1]
Career
edit
While still studying, Modugno had a role in a cinematographic version ofFilumena MarturanobyEduardo De Filippoas well as some other films.[1]In 1957, his song "Lazzarella",sung byAurelio Fierro,came second in theFestival della Canzone Napoletana,bringing him his first taste of popularity.[1]
In 1958, Modugno took part inAntonio Aniante's comedyLa Rosa di Zolfoat the Festival della Prosa inVenice.Also in 1958, he discovered the Italiancomedy duoofFranco and Ciccio,became their manager and got them into a long-running film career.[6]The turning point of his career came in that year, when he also participated in theSanremo Music Festival,presenting, together withJohnny Dorelli,the song "Nel blu dipinto di blu."Co-authored by Modugno andFranco Migliacci,the song won the contest and became an enormous success worldwide. It received twoGrammy Awards[7]with sales above 22 million copies, and represented Italy in the1958 Eurovision Song Contest,where it came in third.[1]
Modugno reportedly used the money gained with "Nel blu dipinto di blu" to purchase aFerrari,however, his car was totalled in an accident, which included his fenders being smashed. This was mentioned in theAllan Shermansong "America's a nice Italian Name".
In 1959, Modugno won the Sanremo Music Festival for the second time in a row, with "Piove"(also known as" Ciao, ciao bambina "), and received second place in 1960 with" Libero ". This was a successful period of time for Modugno who again represented Italy in theEurovision Song Contest of 1959.Later his hit song "Io" was sung byElvis Presleyin English with the title "Ask Me".[1]
In 1962, Modugno won the Sanremo Music Festival a third time with "Addio..., addio...." Four years later, he again represented Italy atEurovisionwith "Dio, come ti amo".Sergio Franchirecorded it in Italian (titled "Oh How Much I Love You (Dio, come ti amo!)) on his 1967 RCA Victor album,From Sergio-with Love.Jack Jonesrecorded it in English for his 1967 album,Our Song,under the title "Oh How Much I Love You".[1]Shirley Bassey also recorded it with the titleOh God How Much I Love You, on her albumKeep the Music Playingin 1991.
Modugno was an actor in 44 movies (such asAppuntamento a Ischia), and was a film producer of two (Tutto è musicaof 1963 was his own biographical production).[1]
In 1970, Modugno focused on more classic music genres and profiles, as a singer and as a musician, adapting poetry, acting on television and in lead singing roles in modern operas.[1]
Final years
edit
In 1984, Modugno suffered a severe stroke and remained partially paralyzed; this forced him to abandon his artistic career and devote himself to rehab.[1]
From 1986, he worked for the rights of disabled people, and in June 1987, he was elected congressman forTurinin the Italian Parliament, in the ranks of theRadical Party,a liberal-social political group.[1]In the past he had supported the campaigns of theItalian Socialist Partyand one for divorce, in addition to criticizing the human rights violations by the regime ofAugusto Pinochet,that cost him a denial of entry inChile,where he had been scheduled to hold a concert.[1]In this last stage of his life, instead, he was very active in social issues, fighting against the inhumane conditions of patients in theAgrigentopsychiatric hospital.[1]
Modugno returned to the music scene, definitively (he already held a concert for former inmates of Agrigento's mental asylum, in 1989), in 1992–1993. His last song wasDelfini(Dolphins), in 1993 with his son, Massimo.[1]
On 6 August 1994, Modugno died at the age of 66, from a heart attack, on the island ofLampedusa,south of Sicily, while he was in his home by the sea.[1]His beach villa was put up for sale in 2020. It is located on Rabbits' Islet beach, the location is part of a natural protected reserve with limestones and crags.[8][9]
Discography
edit
- "Lu pisce spada"
- "Lazzarella"
- "Nel blu dipinto di blu"– also known as" Volare "(Sanremo winner song, 1958), co-authored withFranco Migliacci
- Buon Natale A Tutto Il Mondo (1958, withEnnio Morricone)
- "La lontananza"
- "Piove"– also known as" Ciao, ciao bambina "(Sanremo winner song, 1959)
- "Sopra i tetti azzurri del mio pazzo amore"
- "Vecchio frac"
- "Non piangere Maria"
- "Amara terra mia"
- "Stasera pago io"
- "Il maestro di violino"
- "Tu si 'na cosa grande"
- "Questa è la mia vita"
- "Addio...addio..."
- "Piange... il telefono"
Sanremo Festival
edit
Modugno was the winner four times (in 1958, 1959, 1962 and 1966).
- 1956 "Musetto"
- 1958 "Nel blu dipinto di blu"(winner)
- 1959 "Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)"(winner)
- 1960 "Libero" (second place)
- 1962 "Addio... addio..." (winner)
- 1964 "Che me ne importa a me" (second place)
- 1966 "Dio, come ti amo"(winner)
- 1967 "Sopra i tetti azzurri del mio pazzo amore"
- 1968 "Il posto mio"
- 1971 "Come stai?"
- 1972 "Un calcio alla città"
- 1974 "Questa è la mia vita" (second place)
References
edit- ^abcdefghijklmno(in Italian)Domenico Modugno: biographyArchived17 September 2014 at theWayback Machine
- ^abc"Artisti – Domenico Modugno"(in Italian). OkMusic. Archived fromthe originalon 31 January 2013.Retrieved11 June2012.
- ^abRaffaele Lorusso (9 January 2002)."Polignano & Mister Volare storia di un amore impossibile".la Repubblica(in Italian).Retrieved11 June2012.
- ^Alberto Selvaggi (7 August 1995)."Controfesta per Modugno nel paese che lo adottò".Corriere della Sera(in Italian).Retrieved11 June2012.
- ^Antonella Gaeta (10 January 2002)."Era orgoglioso delle sue radici".la Repubblica(in Italian).Retrieved11 June2012.
- ^Vivarelli, Nick (2 November 2004)."Variety Reviews – How We Got the Italian Cinema into Trouble: Franco & Ciccio's Real Story – Film Reviews – Venice – Review by Nick Vivarelli".Variety.Retrieved10 April2012.
- ^Tobler, John (1992).NME Rock 'N' Roll Years(1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 68. CN 5585.
- ^"Lampedusa, in vendita la villa appartenuta a Domenico Modugno".tgcom24.mediaset.it.Retrieved6 October2020.
- ^Silvia Marchetti."A hit song writer's former villa on one of the world's best beaches is up for sale".CNN.Retrieved6 October2020.
External links
edit- Official website(in Italian)