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Italian singer-songwriter, actor, and politician, celebrated for his timeless hit 'Volare' which became a global phenomenon.Born in Polignano a Mare, Italy, Modugno initially pursued acting before rising to fame as a musician. His 1958 song 'Nel blu dipinto di blu (Volare)' revolutionized Italian pop music, winning two Grammys and topping charts worldwide. He represented Italy at Eurovision three times and later served in the Italian Parliament.

• 'Volare' was composed spontaneously during a car ride; Modugno scribbled lyrics on a cigarette pack after being inspired by Marc Chagall's blue-hued paintings.
• Despite winning four Sanremo Music Festivals (1958, 1959, 1962, 1966), Modugno faced financial ruin in the 1970s and sold his song rights to cover debts.
• After a paralyzing stroke in 1984, he campaigned for disability rights while wheelchair-bound and was elected to Parliament in 1987.
• He died of a heart attack at 66 on Lampedusa island, where thousands attended his funeral; his coffin was carried through streets lined with white sheets – a local mourning tradition.