Italian singer-songwriter, actor and television presenter
Pop singer
When his song "Nel blu dipinto di blu" (aka "Volare") hit the #1 slot on the US charts in 1958, it became the only Italian song ever to do so. It went on to win the very first "Record of the Year" and "Song of the Year" categories at the Grammys when the recording industrys awards show premiered that year. When English lyrics were later added, artists such as Dean Martin , Nelson Riddle , Bobby Rydell , Al Martino , The McGuire Sisters , Alan Dale , Barry White , Linda Ross, Jesse Belvin each released their own covers of the song.
Father of Marco Modugno , Marcello Modugno and Massimo Modugno.
He made over 200 recordings and sold 60 million records, in the process becoming Italys most successful performing artist. Modugno had begun his career as a small part supporting actor in films.
Derived the idea for his 1958 hit song Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu "while thinking of a painting by Chagall, of a man, with half of his face painted blue, looking out of a window".
In later life turned to politics and, in 1987, became an MP for Italys Radical Party.
