Apulian singers

Puglia is a region that boasts many scenic, natural, artistic, historical, cultural and gastronomic beauties but not only that… it is also the land where many artists of the Italian musical scene were born who have also become famous worldwide. In this article we will tell you about some of the Apulian singers who have made the history of Italian music and not only that but also about the “new generation” artists who are writing history.

The Apulian singers who made the history of Italian music

There are many famous Apulian singers of today but also those who have made the history of Italian music, first of all, an artist whose songs are known and sung all over the world.

• “Nel blu dipinto di blu” has become a true symbol of Italianness and its author, Domenico Modugno, is remembered not only by generations of his years but also by today’s young people. Born in Polignano a Mare in 1928, Modugno was an Italian singer-songwriter and guitarist but also an Italian actor, director and politician.

• Renzo Arbore, born in Foggia in 1937, is a singer-songwriter, radio host, showman, author and television host, director, composer, actor: an all-round artist who is a true source of pride for Puglia.

• Another Apulian singer-songwriter is Nicola di Bari, born in Zapponeta in 1940. He is among the Apulian and Italian artists best known abroad, especially in Latin America where his music is particularly appreciated. He won the Sanremo Festival in 1971 with the famous “Il cuore è un zingaro” and the following year with “I giorni dell’arcobaleno”.

• Among the famous singers of the 70s (who is still very successful), there is Albano Carrisi, born in Cellino San Marco in 1943. Known to the public for his great musical and cinematographic successes together with his historic partner Romina Power: “Felicità”, “Nostalgia Canaglia”, “Ci sarà“, “Cara Terra Mia”, “Oggi sposi”.

• Among the artists who well represent the Puglia region, we cannot fail to mention Anna Oxa, a mix of talent, expressiveness and innovation that has made her famous to the Italian public. She was born in Bari in 1961 and took part in the Sanremo Festival 14 times, winning it twice, in 1989 with “Ti lascerò” together with Fausto Leali and in 1999 with “Senza Pietà”.

Apulian artists today

• The talent shows, the young proposals of the Sanremo Festival, the social networks, are increasingly bringing young Apulian artists into the limelight. Some of these have achieved fame thanks to the television program “Amici” by Maria de Filippi. Some examples are Alessandra Amoroso and Emma Marrone.

• Also worth mentioning is the Boomdabash group which saw its consecration to the general public after participating in the 2019 Sanremo Festival with the song “Per un milione”. Before this debut, they were known for songs with entire verses sung in the Salento dialect, a true hymn to their roots.

• Another Salento band that owes its name to a typical wine of this area is Negroamaro. From the participation in Sanremo in 2005 with the single “Mentre tutto scorre”, it is a succession of successes up to the live shows at San Siro.

• Diodato is very attached to his Taranto origins, despite not being born in Puglia. 2020 was certainly his year after his victory at the Sanremo Festival with the exciting song “Fai rumore” with which he also won the “Mia Martini” Critics’ Award and the “Lucio Dalla” Press Room Award.

• Among the Apulian singers, we cannot fail to mention one of the first proponents of rap music in Italy, Caparezza, stage name of Michele Salvemini. Born in Molfetta in 1973, he owes his fame to his ability as a writer of pungent, reflective and sometimes protesting texts. “Fuori dal tunnel” from 2003 is the first song with which he became famous to the general public.

• There are still many Apulian artists who are prominent in Italian music, among which we cannot forget Raf, from Margherita di Savoia and Dolcenera, a rock artist with a gritty and powerful voice, originally from Galatina.