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{{Short description|Italian singer, actor and politician (1928–1994)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Expand Italian|topic=bio|Domenico Modugno|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[Italian honorifics|The Honourable]]
| name                = Domenico Modugno
| image               = Partitissima modugno67.jpg
| caption             = Modugno at ''{{interlanguage link|Partitissima|it|Partitissima}}'' in 1967
| office1             = Member of the [[Italian Senate|Senate of the Republic]]
| term_start1         = 18 April 1990
| term_end1           = 22 April 1992
| constituency1       = [[Rome]] 
| office2             = Member of the [[Chamber of Deputies (Italy)|Chamber of Deputies]]
| term_start2         = 2 July 1987
| term_end2           = 18 April 1990
| constituency2       = [[Turin]]
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|df=yes|1928|1|9}}
| birth_place         = [[Polignano a Mare]], [[Kingdom of Italy|Italy]]
| death_date          = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1994|8|6|1928|1|9}}
| death_place         = [[Lampedusa]], Italy
| restingplace        = 
| birthname           = 
| spouse              = {{marriage|Franca Gandolfi|1955}}
| party               = [[Radical Party (Italy)|Radical Party]]
| relations           = 
| children            = 4
| alma_mater          = 
| occupation          = {{hlist|Singer|actor|politician}}
| signature           = 
| website             = 
| footnotes           = 
| module              = {{Infobox musical artist
|embed       = yes
| genre           = {{hlist|[[Canzone napoletana|Neapolitan song]]|[[Pop music|Pop]]|[[Folk music|Folk]]}}
| instrument      = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar}}
| years_active    = 1953–1993
| label           = {{hlist|[[RCA Italiana|RCA]]|[[Fonit Cetra]]|[[Carosello Records|Carosello]]|{{Ill|Panarecord|it|Panarecord}}|[[Decca Records|Decca]]|[[Polydor Records|Polydor]]|[[Jubilee Records|Jubilee]]}}
| associated_acts = 
}}
| height              = {{convert|1.74|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
}}

'''Domenico Modugno''' ({{IPA|it|doˈmeːniko moˈduɲɲo}}; 9 January 1928 – 6 August 1994) was an Italian singer, actor and, later in life, a member of the [[Italian Parliament]]. He is known for his 1958 international hit song "[[Nel blu, dipinto di blu (song)|Nel blu dipinto di blu]]", for which he received [[1st Annual Grammy Awards|the first Grammy Awards]] for [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]] and [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]]. He is considered the first Italian [[cantautore]].<ref name=bio>{{in lang|it}}[http://cinquantamila.corriere.it/storyTellerThread.php?threadId=DmdBiografiaDiDomenicoModugno Domenico Modugno: biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140917213814/http://cinquantamila.corriere.it/storyTellerThread.php?threadId=DmdBiografiaDiDomenicoModugno |date=17 September 2014 }}</ref>

== Early life ==
The youngest of four children, Modugno was born at [[Polignano a Mare]], in the [[province of Bari]] ([[Apulia]]), on 9 January 1928.<ref name=Parents /> His father, Vito Cosimo Modugno,<ref name=Birth>{{Cite web | url = http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2002/01/09/polignano-mister-volare-storia-di-un.html | work = [[la Repubblica]] | language = it | access-date = 11 June 2012 | title = Polignano & Mister Volare storia di un amore impossibile | date = 9 January 2002 | author = Raffaele Lorusso}}</ref> was a [[Municipal police (Italy)|municipal police]] commander,<ref name=Parents>{{Cite web |url=http://www.okmusik.com/it/artisti/domenico-modugno_2222 |publisher=OkMusic.com |language=it |access-date=11 June 2012 |title=Artisti – Domenico Modugno |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131024140/http://www.okmusik.com/it/artisti/domenico-modugno_2222 |archive-date=31 January 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> while his mother, Pasqua Lorusso,<ref name=Birth /> was a housewife.<ref name=Parents />

At the age of 9, his family moved to [[San Pietro Vernotico]], in the [[Province of Brindisi]],<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/agosto/07/Controfesta_per_Modugno_nel_paese_co_0_9508077179.shtml | work = [[Corriere della Sera]] | language = it | date = 7 August 1995 | access-date = 11 June 2012 | title = Controfesta per Modugno nel paese che lo adottò | author = Alberto Selvaggi}}</ref> where his father was transferred for a new job position.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2002/01/10/era-orgoglioso-delle-sue-radici.html | work = [[la Repubblica]] | language = it | access-date = 11 June 2012 | title = Era orgoglioso delle sue radici | author = Antonella Gaeta | date = 10 January 2002}}</ref> Here Domenico attended primary school and learned San Pietro Vernotico's dialect, which belongs to the linguistic area of [[Salentino dialect]], similar to [[Sicilian language|Sicilian]]. He attended secondary school in Lecce.<ref name=bio />

== Career ==
[[File:Mantellorosso1.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Modugno in 1955]]
[[File:Modugno durante l'esibizione al Festival di sanremo del 1958.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Modugno performing "[[Nel blu, dipinto di blu (song)|Nel blu, dipinto di blu]]" (better known as "Volare") at the [[1958 Sanremo Music Festival]]]]
While still studying, Modugno had a role in a cinematographic version of ''[[Filumena Marturano]]'' by [[Eduardo De Filippo]] as well as some other films.<ref name=bio /> In 1957, his song "[[Lazzarella]]", sung by [[Aurelio Fierro]], came second in the [[Festival della Canzone Napoletana]], bringing him his first taste of popularity.<ref name=bio />

In 1958, Modugno took part in [[Antonio Aniante]]'s comedy ''La Rosa di Zolfo'' at the Festival della Prosa in [[Venice]]. Also in 1958, he discovered the Italian [[comedy duo]] of [[Franco and Ciccio]], became their manager and got them into a long-running film career.<ref>{{cite web|last=Vivarelli |first=Nick |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117925454/ |title=Variety Reviews – How We Got the Italian Cinema into Trouble: Franco & Ciccio's Real Story – Film Reviews – Venice – Review by Nick Vivarelli |publisher=Variety.com |date=2 November 2004 |access-date=10 April 2012}}</ref> The turning point of his career came in that year, when he also participated in the [[Sanremo Music Festival]], presenting, together with [[Johnny Dorelli]], the song "[[Volare (song)|Nel blu dipinto di blu]]." Co-authored by Modugno and [[Franco Migliacci]], the song won the contest and became an enormous success worldwide. It received two [[Grammy Award]]s<ref name="NME Rock 'N' Roll Years">{{cite book
| first= John
| last= Tobler
| year= 1992
| title= NME Rock 'N' Roll Years
| edition= 1st
| publisher= Reed International Books Ltd
| location= London
| page= 68
| id= CN 5585}}</ref> with sales above 22 million copies, and represented Italy in the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1958|1958 Eurovision Song Contest]], where it came in third.<ref name=bio />

Modugno reportedly used the money gained with "Nel blu dipinto di blu" to purchase a [[Ferrari]], however, his car was totalled in an accident, which included his fenders being smashed. This was mentioned in the [[Allan Sherman]] song "America's a nice Italian Name".

In 1959, Modugno won the Sanremo Music Festival for the second time in a row, with "[[Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)|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 the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1959|Eurovision Song Contest of 1959]]. Later his hit song "Io" was sung by [[Elvis Presley]] in English with the title "Ask Me".<ref name=bio />

In 1962, Modugno won the Sanremo Music Festival a third time with "Addio..., addio...."  Four years later, he again represented Italy at [[Eurovision Song Contest 1966|Eurovision]] with "[[Dio, come ti amo]]". [[Sergio Franchi]] recorded 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 Jones (singer)|Jack Jones]] recorded it in English for his 1967 album, ''Our Song'', under the title "Oh How Much I Love You".<ref name=bio />Shirley Bassey also recorded it with the title ''Oh God How Much I Love You, on her album [[Keep the Music Playing]] in 1991''.

Modugno was an actor in 44 movies (such as ''[[Appuntamento a Ischia]]''), and was a film producer of two (''Tutto è musica'' of 1963 was his own biographical production).<ref name=bio />

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.<ref name=bio />

== Final years ==
[[File:Domenico Modugno camera.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6]]
In 1984, Modugno suffered a severe stroke and remained partially paralyzed; this forced him to abandon his artistic career and devote himself to rehab.<ref name=bio />

From 1986, he worked for the rights of disabled people, and in June 1987, he was elected congressman for [[Turin]] in the Italian Parliament, in the ranks of the [[Radical Party (Italy)|Radical Party]], a liberal-social political group.<ref name=bio /> In the past he had supported the campaigns of the [[Italian Socialist Party]] and one for divorce, in addition to criticizing the human rights violations by the regime of [[Augusto Pinochet]], that cost him a denial of entry in [[Chile under Pinochet|Chile]], where he had been scheduled to hold a concert.<ref name=bio /> In this last stage of his life, instead, he was very active in social issues, fighting against the inhumane conditions of patients in the [[Agrigento]] [[psychiatric hospital]].<ref name=bio />

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 was ''Delfini'' (''Dolphins''), in 1993 with his son, Massimo.<ref name=bio />

On 6 August 1994, Modugno died at the age of 66, from a heart attack, on the island of [[Lampedusa]], south of Sicily, while he was in his home by the sea.<ref name=bio /> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/spettacolo/lampedusa-in-vendita-la-villa-appartenuta-a-domenico-modugno_23366393-202002a.shtml|access-date=6 October 2020|website=www.tgcom24.mediaset.it|title=Lampedusa, in vendita la villa appartenuta a Domenico Modugno}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Silvia Marchetti|title=A hit song writer's former villa on one of the world's best beaches is up for sale|url=https://www.cnn.com/style/article/volare-domenico-modugno-villa-for-sale-lampedusa/index.html|access-date=6 October 2020|website=CNN|language=en}}</ref>

== Discography ==
{{Listen
|filename=Domenico Modugno - Volare.ogg
|title=Domenico Modugno "Nel blu dipinto di blu" (1958)
|description="Nel blu dipinto di blu" was Modugno's [[signature song]].
|format=[[Ogg]]}}

* "Lu pisce spada"
* "Lazzarella"
* "[[Nel blu, dipinto di blu (song)|Nel blu dipinto di blu]]" – also known as "Volare" (Sanremo winner song, 1958), co-authored with [[Franco Migliacci]]
* Buon Natale A Tutto Il Mondo (1958, with [[Ennio Morricone]])
* "La lontananza"
* "[[Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)|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 (song)|Piange... il telefono]]"

=== Sanremo Festival ===
[[File:Modugno esegue Vecchio frac e, mentre fischia, percuote la cassa della chitarra.jpg|thumb|Modugno in 1969]]

Modugno was the winner four times (in 1958, 1959, 1962 and 1966).
* 1956 "Musetto"
* 1958 "[[Volare (song)|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 ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.domenicomodugno.it/ Official website] {{in lang|it}}

{{Domenico Modugno}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Articles related to Domenico Modungo
|list  =
{{Sanremo Music Festival winners}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 1958}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 1959}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 1966}}
{{Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{Congratulations (Eurovision)}}
{{Billboard Year-End number one singles 1946–1959}}
{{Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1960s}}
{{Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1960s}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Modugno, Domenico}}
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:1994 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Polignano a Mare]]
[[Category:Radical Party (Italy) politicians]]
[[Category:Federation of the Greens politicians]]
[[Category:Deputies of Legislature X of Italy]]
[[Category:Senators of Legislature X of Italy]]
[[Category:Politicians of Apulia]]
[[Category:Italian male singers]]
[[Category:Italian pop singers]]
[[Category:Italian male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century Italian singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Jubilee Records artists]]
[[Category:RCA Victor artists]]
[[Category:Decca Records artists]]
[[Category:Polydor Records artists]]
[[Category:Italian human rights activists]]
[[Category:20th-century Italian  male singers]]
[[Category:Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia alumni]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Sanremo Music Festival winners]]
[[Category:Burials at the Cimitero Flaminio]]
[[Category:Spanish-language singers of Italy]]
[[Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants]]