Johnny Dorelli

Born to light opera singer Nino d'Aurelio, Johnny Dorelli rose to prominence among Italy's foremost entertainers. His 1958 victory at the Festival of San Remo, delivered through a performance of Domenico Modugno's "Nel Blu Dipunto Di Blu", led to repeated appearances as a favorite at the yearly gathering throughout the 1960s. Although his final competitive entry came in 1969 alongside Caterina Caselli, he returned to headline the event in 1990.

Stage and screen roles proved equally central to his career. He originated the lead in the Italian production of Agguingi Un Posto A Tavola/You Add A Place To The Table as well as the Italian mounting of Neil Simon's Promises, and he accumulated numerous guest spots on Italian television series and dramas across the 1990s.

A native of Milan, Dorelli relocated with his family to the United States at age nine. While attending New York's High School of Music and Art, where he concentrated on piano and vocal technique, he was "discovered" by Canadian-American band leader Percy Faith (1908-1976), who showcased him with his lush-pop orchestra. After returning to Italy in 1956, Dorelli issued his self-titled debut album four years later.