Peppino di Capri

Peppino di Capri
Peppino di Capri in Torino, 2008
Background information
Origin	Italy
Genres	Neapolitan songs; Pop; Italian popular music
Years active	1958–present
Labels	Carisch; Splash; Baby Records; Ricordi; Polygram; Lucky Planets
Website	http://www.peppinodicapri.net
Notable instruments
Piano

Peppino di Capri (born Giuseppe Faiella in Naples, Italy on 27 July 1939) is an Italian popular music singer, songwriter and pianist, successful in Italy and Europe. His international hits include "St. Tropez Twist"; "Daniela"; "Torna piccina"; "Roberta"; "Melancolie"; "Freva"; "L'ultimo romantico"; "Un grande amore e niente piú"; "Non lo faccio più"; "Nun è peccato"; and "Champagne".

Peppino began singing and playing the piano at age 4, entertaining the American army troops stationed on the island of Capri with a repertoire of American standards. After 6 years of classical studies and playing at nightclubs around Capri, Peppino and his group The Rockers released their first single, with the songs "Malattia" ("Sickness") and "Nun è Peccato" ("It's not a sin"), sung in Napoletano in 1958.

The single was an instant hit, and Peppino spent most of the following year touring. A string of hit singles soon followed, usually alternating between Italian versions of American rock'n'roll and twist songs (with some verses sung in English), and originals in Italian and Napoletano, and di Capri became one of the top acts in the country.

After performing as the opening act for The Beatles in their 1965 tour of Italy, Peppino and his group attempted, with moderate success, to break out of the European market. Their work was well received, particularly in Brazil, thanks to the large Italian immigrant community in the country.