# 81 juLY 18 tH , 2016
June 26 , 1955 . In 1952 the young actor is in a theater play , The Bourgeois Gentleman by Molière . Once obtained the diploma from the Experimental Centre of Cinematography in 1953 , Domenico continues to be an extra in a few movies : his dream is to be an actor , even if he continues to perform also as a musician . Meanwhile , he ' s also a radio star .
Domenico involves Franca Gandolfi and so , in early 1953 , he hosts the show " Amuri , amuri " those are the days when begins the legend of Domenico Modugno as a sicilian born : many mistake the Salento dialect of this and other songs for the Sicilian dialect , and the singer , at least at that time , does not deny , attracting the hatred of many Sicilians .
In May 1953 Frank Sinatra is the guest of an Italian radio program , during which Modugno performs " Ninna nanna ": Sinatra appreciates very much the song , and asks Modugno a recording of the song . Sinatra will never record
that song , but this will serve to raise the interest of the Italian radio and television executives .
Modugno soon becomes one of the protagonists of the Italian and international pop music when triumphs at the 1958 edition of the Sanremo Festival 1958 with Johnny Dorelli . The winning song is " Nel blu dipinto di blu ", globally known as " Volare ". The lyrics of this masterpiece are written by Modugno together with Franco Migliacci , his partner in several moments of his career , leading to more successful results such as " Addio , addio " ( Goodbye , Goodbye ), which is translated in 13 languages all over the world .
The Apulian singer so describes the birth of his success in the United States : " In a radio station in Michigan or in Indiana , I can ' t remember , a gentleman comes with my record and airs it . The day after 2,000 people calls on the phone asking to listen it again , and so he airs it again . The day after , again 2,000 phone calls . The success of " Volare " was thus born .
It is in this period that the Americans nickname him " Mr . Volare ", and also his song " Nel blu dipinto di blu " is known by this title , and remains at the top of the US hit parade for thirteen consecutive weeks , a record yet today unsurpassed by any other Ita-
WE THE ITALIANS | 23 www . wetheitalians . com