Nicola di Bari: The Romantic Voice of Italian Pop

Nicola di Bari is an Italian singer and songwriter celebrated for his romantic ballads and melodic pop songs that dominated the Italian charts in the 1970s. Hailing from Zapponeta in Apulia, his career is defined by a remarkable string of successes, including two victories at the prestigious Sanremo Music Festival and millions of records sold across Europe and Latin America.

Early career

Born Michele Scommegna in 1940, he adopted the stage name Nicola di Bari early on, paying homage to his home region. His professional journey began in the early 1960s with modest singles, but his big break arrived in 1965 when he participated in the Sanremo Festival for the first time with the song "Amici miei".

Breakthrough

Di Bari's true national breakthrough came in 1971. That year, he won the Sanremo Festival with the heartfelt ballad "Il cuore è uno zingaro", released on the Ri-Fi label. The song became an instant classic, propelling him to stardom and setting the stage for a dominant decade.

Key tracks

Il cuore è uno zingaro — This 1971 Sanremo winner cemented his status as a leading figure in Italian melodic pop.

La prima cosa bella — His second Sanremo victory came in 1972 with this song, which also served as the title track for a popular film.

Paese — A 1972 hit that showcased his signature nostalgic and romantic style, resonating deeply with the Italian public.

Chitarra suona più piano — This 1975 hit demonstrated his ability to craft enduring melodies that crossed international borders.

Vagabondo — A later career highlight from 1974, it confirmed his consistent chart appeal throughout the decade.

Following his back-to-back Sanremo triumphs, Nicola di Bari enjoyed immense commercial success throughout the 1970s. He released a series of gold-certified albums like "Nicola di Bari" (1971) and "Il vecchio e il bambino" (1972), and his music found a particularly passionate audience in Spain and Latin America, leading to recordings in Spanish. His warm baritone voice and accessible, emotive songwriting defined a specific era of Italian popular music.

Artists with a similar melodic and romantic approach to Italian pop include Al Bano, known for his powerful tenor voice and durable career. Massimo Ranieri shares a background in festival singing and dramatic balladry. The sentimental style of Michele Zarrillo also echoes di Bari's later work. For the classic Sanremo sound, explore Claudio Baglioni and his poetic songcraft.

Nicola di Bari's catalog remains a staple on Italian adult contemporary and classic pop radio stations. His timeless ballads are frequently featured on dedicated nostalgia programs and mainstream FM rotations that celebrate the great Italian songbook, ensuring his voice continues to reach new generations of listeners.

The romantic pop anthems of Nicola di Bari are regularly featured on the radio stations available through our network. You can discover his classic hits and relive the sound of 1970s Italy by tuning into the Italian and international pop stations streaming on onairium.com.