Domenico Modugno was an Italian singer, songwriter, and actor, born in Polignano a Mare, Italy on January 9, 1928, and died in Lampedusa, Italy on August 6, 1994. Modugno was one of the most prominent figures in Italian music history, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s, and became famous internationally for his song "Volare" which won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1959. Modugno was also recognized for his contribution to Italian cinema, having acted in a number of films as well as writing songs for soundtracks. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of Italian modern pop music.