Peppino Di Capri

Affectionately known as “the Italian Buddy Holly", Peppino DiCapri helped to usher Italy into the rock and roll era of the 1950s. Averaging ten singles a year for a decade, he and his band, Peppino & His Rockers, scored with such pre-Beatles hits as "Malatia", "Voce ‘e Notte", "Luba Caprese", "Vicino ‘o Mare", "Parlami D'amore Mariu" and &Speedy Gonzalez". He introduced the twist with his early-60s hit, "St. Tropez Twist". During the summer of 1965, he toured Italy as opening act for the Beatles.
Although he suffered a career lull in the late-1960s, DiCapri was not gone from the spotlight for long. Launching his comeback with crowd-pleasing performances at Canzonissima '70 and the Festival of Naples, in 1970, he capped it with his best-selling single,"Champagne", in 1974.

The winner of the song competition at the Festival of San Remo in 1973 and 1976, DiCapri has been a constant presence at the event since. In January 1996, he toured Italy with guitarist Fred Bongusto.

The son of a music instrument and record shop owner, DiCapri displayed musical talent at an extremely young age. Playing piano by the age of four, he spent much of his childhood playing for American soldiers stationed in Naples. His early repertoire was comprised of American tunes.

Adding modern interpretations of classic Neopolitan songs to the material that he played with the band he had formed with four friends, DiCapri increasingly drew attention to his music. Performing on RAI (Italian television) show, First Applause", he and the group premiered their version of Johnny Ray's heartbreaker, &"Cry"].

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