Domenico Modugno is a legendary Italian singer, composer, actor, whose songs are relevant even after half a century far beyond the borders of his homeland. In Italy he is fondly called "the king of Italian music". In addition to musical and cinematographic creativity, already at a venerable age, the merits of Domenico Modugno can be attributed to public activities to protect social rights.
Biography
The small homeland of Domenico Modugno is the small ancient town of Polignano a Mare, located on the Adriatic coast. It was here, in the sunny region of Apulia, on January 9, 1928, that Mimmi or Mimmo was born. So the household called Domenico affectionately, since he was the youngest of four children in the family. The family of the future celebrity was no different. Mother, Pasqua Lorusso, took care of children and home. Father, Cosimo Modugno, was the commander of the carabinieri in San Pietro Vernotico, where the whole family moved on duty in 1935.
Of course, unlike other strata of the Italian population, it was considered very prestigious to be among the carabinieri. While in the state military service, one could acquire not only the skills of a soldier, but also a minimal education. In addition, the carabinieri received a stable salary, which the family could live on. During the years of service, Cosimo Modugno, the carabinieri were charged with the duty of maintaining public order in sparsely populated areas, that is, replacing the police. This was exactly the town of San Pietro Vernotico, where Domenico's parents lived until his death.
How small San Pietro Vernotico was, can be judged even by the fact that Domenico was at school. He had to attend an educational institution in the neighboring village of Lecce. Simultaneously with his schooling, Mimmi also mastered the local language. In the former province, Albanian was spoken, and here the Sicilian dialect is widespread. During his school years, Domenico learned to play the guitar and accordion. The father of the boy was the initiator of the development of musical abilities and the teacher. By the age of 17, the younger Modugno already had two songs of his own composition in the arsenal.
After leaving school, he studied at the school of accountants here in Lecce. However, Mimmy dreamed of a career as a film actor. The young man could watch the same films several times, shown in the only cinema in the town. The first time Domenico decides to leave home at the age of 19, and this is Turin - the cinematic capital of Italy. The search for happiness was not crowned with success: a hard life in the barracks, a forced, but not at all a favorite job: a tire factory worker, a waiter. All this ended with the call to serve in the Army.
After Mimmy returns to her native land, but with a firm intention to learn only acting. For this purpose, secretly from his parents, he sends a letter of inquiry to Rome. The answer comes from the Cinematography Experimental Center. Despite the dissatisfaction of his father and mother with his choice, Domenico travels to pass the exams. Parents were not able to support their son during the training period and saw him among the carabinieri. For the trip, the young man borrowed money from his older brother, and then earned his living by singing and playing the guitar. Very soon Domenico Modugno becomes one of the top students and receives a scholarship.
Creativity and career of Domenico Modugno
The first acting work of Domenico Modugno was the film "Filumena Marturano" (1951), where he played a Sicilian soldier. His singing talent accompanies almost all of his works. The lullaby from this film was appreciated by Frank Sinatra, about which he spoke on a radio broadcast during one of his visits to his homeland. It is worth noting films with Modugno's participation:
- Easy Time (1953);
- Queen's Knights (1954)
- That's Life (1956)
- The Adventures of the Three Musketeers (1957), etc.
Along with cinematography, Domenico devotes a lot of time to the theater, works on the radio as a screenwriter and presenter, writes a lot of songs. His musical work in the southern dialect is simple and understandable to ordinary Italians. Modugno devotes songs to fishermen, workers, peasants, and everyday topics. Listening to them, it becomes clear why in Italy Domenico Modugno was attributed to the first cantautori (bards) who perform their songs with a guitar. The first serious popularity was brought to him by his own song "Lazzarella" performed by Aurelio Fierro at the festival of Neapolitan songs, where it took the second step of the podium.
1958 should be celebrated as the birth year of the legendary song "Volare". Despite its 50th anniversary, this work is in demand even by modern youth. With this song, co-written with Franco Migliacci, Modugno won the annual San Remo Italian Song Festival. Perhaps, if only this work was on the singer's list, it would have already made him famous for centuries. After all, Domenico's discs were sold out in millions of copies. And although at the festival the song was given only 3rd place, it was recognized as the best in demand among the public. Hence the 2 Grammy Awards (for the best song and the best disc of the year).
1959 was marked by a victory at the same festival, but with the song "Piove". I must say that the 60-70 years in the life of Domenico Modugno were the most successful. He successfully performed 11 times at the Sanremo festival, where he was the winner 4 times (only Claudio Villa could repeat his record), repeatedly represented the country at the Eurovision Song Contests. For a short time, this resounding success was overshadowed by the state of health of the actor and singer following a road accident in 1960.
This time he quickly made up for the musical "Rinaldo in campo", which was released on the stage in 1961, in which he played the main role. In the 70s, Domenico Modugno's attitude to the familiar musical genre of light songs changed dramatically. Now he is more attracted to the classics. At this time, he performed more operatic roles. But work on television and radio always goes in parallel, where Modugno is a screenwriter and producer.
Personal life of the famous actor and singer
Working on the radio, Domenico Modugno meets his future wife, Franca Gandolfi. They are connected by a common cause, since Franka is also an actress. Although she was more in the shadow of her famous husband, she has 11 films on her account. In the marriage they had three sons: Marcello, Marco and Massimo. As in the case of the celebrity herself, in his own family it was the youngest son who clearly showed his musical gift. Massimo followed in his father's footsteps and he should be grateful to him for his first successes. After all, one of the last songs "Dolphins", written by Modugno, was performed with his son. Massimo sings it "with his father" at his concerts today, where Domenico's part is recorded.
last years of life
Working worn out could not but affect health and during the filming of one of the TV shows, in 1984, he suffered a stroke. Domenico Modugno, as a strong-minded person, is not so easy to "knock out of the saddle." He quickly recovered and found himself in active social activities. In 1987 he was elected congressman from Turin, being in the ranks of the Radical Party. For everyone who knew Domenico as a creative person, this step was incomprehensible. However, he quickly joined the struggle for the social rights of his fellow citizens.
In 1991, another stroke followed. But even after that, Modugno finds the strength to enter the stage of his hometown of Polignano a Mare. As part of a grand concert in August 1993, he performed several songs. Exactly one year later, in August 1994, there was a fatal heart attack that claimed the life of the 66-year-old famous singer and actor. It happened in his own house on the island of Lampedusa. In memory of the "king of Italian music", 15 years after his death, a monument was erected in his homeland, in Palignano a Mare.
