Peppino Di Capri

Affectionately known as "the Italian Buddy Holly," Peppino di Capri helped to usher Italy into the rock & roll era of the 1950s. Averaging ten singles a year for a decade, he and his band, Peppino & His Rockers, scored with such pre-Beatles hits as "Malatia," "Voce 'e Notte," "Luba Caprese," "Vicino 'o Mare," "Parlami D'amore Mariu," and "Speedy Gonzalez." He introduced the twist with his early-'60s hit, "St. Tropez Twist." During the summer of 1965, he toured Italy as opening act for the Beatles. Although he suffered a career lull in the late '60s, di Capri was not gone from ...