Peppino di Capri

Giuseppe Faiella (27 July 1939 – 11 July 2026), professionally known as Peppino di Capri ("Joe from Capri"), was 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 più", "Non lo faccio più", "Nun è peccato", and "Champagne".

Life and career Peppino di Capri 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 singles, "Malattia" ("Sickness") and "Nun è Peccato" ("It's not a sin"), sung in Neapolitan in 1958.

Sanremo Festival Di Capri participated 15 times in the Sanremo Music Festival, tying for most participations with Al Bano, Anna Oxa, Milva, and Toto Cutugno. He won the competition twice.

1967 – "Dedicato all'amore" 1971 – "L'ultimo romantico" 1973 – "Un grande amore e niente più" (winner) 1976 – "Non lo faccio più" (winner) 1980 – "Tu cioè..." 1985 – "E mo' e mo'" 1987 – "Il sognatore" 1988 – "Nun chiagnere" 1989 – "Il mio pianoforte" 1990 – "Evviva Maria" 1992 – "Favola blues" 1993 – "La voce delle stelle" 1995 – "Ma che ne sai (Se non hai fatto il pianobar)" 2001 – "Pioverà (Habibi ené)" 2005 – "La panchina"

Literary references In his writings, Orhan Pamuk brings up Di Capri's songs. His nove0l Snow, taking place at the Turkish provincial town of Kars, includes the following passage:

"Through the open door of a shop which sold women's stockings, bolts of cotton, coloured pencils, batteries and cassettes, he heard once again the strains of Peppino di Capri's "Roberta". He recalled hearing it on the radio when he was a child and his uncle had taken him out for a drive to the Bosphorus" (Snow, Ch. 12).

In The Museum of Innocence, he writes: "Later on I wrapped my arms around the ever patient and compassionate Sibel, swaying with her as Pepino di Capri sang “Melancholy.”" (The Museum of Innocence, Ch. 29)