Peppino di Capri: addio all'ultimo romantico della canzone italiana.

From playing the piano in front of soldiers during the war to the worldwide success of "Champagne": the story of an artist who united Naples and America, tradition and modernity, becoming one of the most beloved voices in Italian music. He was the child of the piano, learning to play in front of soldiers during World War II and becoming one of the greatest interpreters of Italian pop music. He was the singer who brought rock and roll to the Italian squares, who transformed Neapolitan song into a modern language, who made entire generations dance with the twist and moved audiences with his love ballads: "Champagne," "Un grande amore e niente più," "Luna caprese," "Voce 'e notte," and "Roberta." Peppino di Capri, the stage name of Giuseppe Faiella, died in his native Capri, the island that was his birthplace and which remained the center of his artistic identity throughout his life. He would have turned 87 on July 27th. The news of his passing has sparked a wave of emotion in the music world and among millions of Italians who have rediscovered memories, loves, distant summers, and important moments in their lives in his songs. The funeral will be held tomorrow, Sunday, July 12, at 5:00 PM, in the Church of Santo Stefano, just steps from Capri's famous Piazzetta. For the occasion, the city administration has declared a day of mourning, a symbolic gesture to bid farewell to one of the island's most illustrious sons, an artist who brought the name of Capri to the world, transforming it into a musical brand recognized worldwide. His career was a lifelong journey: from his early beginnings in the clubs of the Gulf of Naples to his international success with the Rockers; from his first records to his chart-topping career in the 1960s; from the revival of Neapolitan song to his victories at the Sanremo Music Festival; from the great romantic hits of the 1970s to his final recordings and the tributes he received in his later years. Over 30 million records sold, fifteen appearances at the Sanremo Music Festival, and two victories—in 1973 with "Un grande amore e niente più" and in 1976 with "Non lo faccio più"—tell only part of an extraordinary artistic story. Peppino di Capri was much more than a successful singer. He was an innovator, a bridge between different worlds, capable of blending Neapolitan tradition with the influence of American music. "With him, Neapolitan song wore a miniskirt" was written to describe his musical revolution: a powerful image to illustrate how Peppino revitalized ancient melodies, bringing them to a younger audience through modern rhythms, electric instruments, and an image closer to the new generations. His elegant and instantly recognizable voice recounted happy and lost loves, unforgettable summers, nostalgia, and hope. Peppino Di Capri has visited Benevento several times, partly due to his friendship with Mayor Mastella, his friend. He has also visited the festival organized at the Roman Theater in 2013 by Maestro Luigi De Filippo and his wife Laura Tibaldi, and met with students from the "Classical Neapolitan Song" class at the Nicola Sala Conservatory of Music in Benevento. Let's hear the interview with Peppino Di Capri conducted on this last occasion for TV7 by Alfredo Salzano.