When his song "Nel blu dipinto di blu" (aka "Volare") hit the #1 slot on the
US charts in 1958, it became the only Italian song ever to do so. It
went on to win the very first "Record of the Year" and "Song of the
Year" categories at the Grammys when the recording industry's awards
show premiered that year. When English lyrics were later added, artists
such as Dean Martin, Nelson Riddle,
Bobby Rydell, Al Martino, The McGuire Sisters,
Alan Dale, Barry White, Linda Ross, Jesse
Belvin each released their own covers of the song.
He made over 200 recordings and sold 60 million records, in the process becoming Italy's most successful performing artist. Modugno had begun his career as a small part supporting actor in films.
Derived the idea for his 1958 hit song 'Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu' "while thinking of a painting by Chagall, of a man, with half of his face painted blue, looking out of a window".
In later life turned to politics and, in 1987, became an MP for Italy's Radical Party.