Is dead Peppino of Capri. The singer and pianist, one of the great protagonists of Italian music of the twentieth century, passed away today, July 11, 2026at the age of 86 years oldin his beloved Capriafter a long illness. As reported by The Morningdied in his home in Villa Castiglione.
Born in Capri on 27 July 1939 with the name of Giuseppe Faiellaleaves his children Igorhad by his first wife Roberta Stoppaand Edward And Darioborn from marriage with Giuliana Gagliardiwho passed away in 2019.
Who was Peppino di Capri, from his beginnings with the Rockers
Peppino of Capri he had started playing the piano as a child. In 1943, at the age of four, he performed in front of American soldiers on the island during World War II.
In the 1950s he began playing in clubs on Capri and Ischia together with the drummer Ettore “Bebè” Falconieri. In 1958 they were born Peppino di Capri and his Rockersa formation with which he combined Neapolitan song with the sounds of American rock'n'roll.
The first big success came in the same year with It's not a sin. In the following years songs such as Nobody in the world, Capri moon, Let's Twist Again, St. Tropez Twist And Robertahelping to make him one of the most popular artists in Italian music.
Peppino di Capri, from Champagne to victories in Sanremo
After a more difficult phase at the end of the sixties, Peppino of Capri he returned to success with the Neapolitan song. In 1970 he won the Naples Festival with You call me love and founded his own record label, the Splash.
In 1973 he conquered the Sanremo Festival with A great love and nothing morea song also written with Franco Califano. In the same year he published Champagnedestined to become the best-known song in his repertoire.
Three years later he returned to win Sanremo with I don't do it anymore. In total he participated in the event fifteen times, the last in 2005 with The bench. In 2023 he took the stage at the Ariston Theater again to receive the City of Sanremo Lifetime Achievement Award.
International career and Eurovision
Peppino of Capri he also took his music outside of Italy, with tours in the United States and Latin America. In 1961 he performed at the Carnegie Hall of New York, while in 1965 he opened some Italian concerts with his Rockers Beatles.
During his career he gained a large following even abroad, contributing to making Italian music known beyond national borders. In 1991 he represented Italy atEurovision Song Contest with As it is in the sweet seafinishing in seventh place.
His discography has spanned more than sixty years, alternating pop music, twist, rock'n'roll and reinterpretations of the Neapolitan tradition. Other best-known songs include And time and time again, The dreamer, Voice 'and night And I want you to go.
The film Champagne dedicated to his life
In March 2025 Rai 1 had sent Champagne – Peppino di Capritelevision film directed by Cinzia TH Torrini and played by Francesco Del Gaudio.
The film had reconstructed the beginnings in the clubs, the success with the Rockers, the crisis at the end of the Sixties and the victory at the Sanremo Festival in 1973. The music had been created by the same Peppino of Capri together with his son Edoardo Faiella.
A few hours before the film aired, the artist had received the keys to the city of Capri, the island where he was born, had built much of his musical identity and spent the last years of his life.
The last farewell in his Capri
The last public appearance dates back to May 2026, when he participated in the celebrations for his sister's ninetieth birthday Margherita pizza. The funeral will be celebrated on Sunday 12 July in the former cathedral of Saint Stephenin the Piazzetta of Capri, the island that saw him born and which accompanied his entire artistic and personal life.
