Singer, pianist and actor, two-time Sanremo winner: “My extra equipment? Absolute pitch.” “Is Geolier my heir? Very good, but he’s a rapper”
Peppino Di Capri died on July 11, 2026 at the age of 86. We bring to your attention his latest interview with Courierwritten by Michela Proietti and published in the summer of 2025.
Peppino from Caprisinger, pianist and actor, two-time winner of the Sanremo festival. He recently celebrated his 86th birthday at his home in Capri.
“A wonderful evening organized by my children with their friends. At first I was afraid that no one would come, then there were 200 of us.”
And she sang.
“I sang with some difficulty, they were all upset. But the result was funny.”
What is it like celebrating such “important” birthdays?
“It was nicer to celebrate a few years ago when the numbers were a little smaller.”
Then let’s start from afar. First memory.
“I’m building a real-sized boat in my room that I can then sail on. I was 12 years old.”
How did he get her out of the room?
“It couldn’t get through the window or the door. Another time at school, I built a Santa Claus with a wire system: he opened and left gifts for the classes.”
Half a genius.
“No genius, I was extravagant. At school I studied so-so. As an adult, I discovered that my father went to talk to the teachers every Monday. I thought he didn’t care.”
In the film Champagne – Peppino di Capri author: Cinzia T.H. Torrini has a difficult relationship with her father Bernardo.
“Old-fashioned Southerner, we called each other first names.” He was the first person I called when I won the Sanremo festival. His answer was “yeah.” How to say, so what?
Did this affect his character?
“My shyness and outbursts of bravado are the result of this upbringing.”
Love episode?
“One day, returning from school, I no longer found my piano: my father had dug up wood for the fire. But then he noticed that I was in pain and bought me another one.”
He discovered himself as a singer by accident.
“The singer of the club where I played fell ill. Shy and bold, I said, “I can try.” And I sang a Johnny Ray song.”
His family was modest. Yet he forced her to take piano lessons.
“More from a work perspective. Then my German piano teacher discovered that I was performing in nightclubs. And he kicked me out.”
His extra equipment.
“Perfect pitch. I only had to listen to the song once to play it.”
His first song.
“There were vacationers in Capri. They inspired me By the sea: how sad, how sad when my love is gone. I composed it for two sisters, we were meeting with a friend.”
His first real success?
“It’s not a sin. Hugo Calise wrote it, and I played it that same evening: it took third place in the hit parade.”
Great opportunity.
“In Ischia I played with The Rockers and we were noticed by some record companies from Milan. Mina performed there, under the name Baby Gate: we were called together.”
How did you manage to combine success with shyness?
“In Rome, on Via Bissolati, there was a record store. I dressed up in a duffle coat to avoid being recognized and went out and bought a few copies of my first 45s to give to my parents; they were always out of stock. One day he recognized me: “Is that you on the cover?” He added: “This record will be a first.”
Her last name is Faiella. Is it true that she was prevented from using it because of luck?
“It was Mario Cenci who changed that. He told me: since you are from Capri, you will be called Peppino di Capri. Faiella made him think of bad luck.”
Have you ever played for Jacqueline Kennedy?
“Of course, she was very beautiful and kind. He always smiled. Usually there were six of them. I didn’t know who Onassis was: he rested his elbow on the piano and looked at me with his big glasses. I said to my uncle Ciro, the owner of this place: “Will you take this owl away from me?” And he: “I took six bottles of champagne, shut up and play.” He invited us to have breakfast on his yacht, Christina.
What if he wasn’t a singer?
“I would do something related to engineering. I wish I could invent the mobile phone.”
What did you do with your first earnings?
“I helped my parents and opened Splash, the first nightclub in Capri: Valentino came there too. My wife Roberta ran it and my sister Carola played the records.”
Roberta.
“We met in Ischia and soon got married. She was a former model, charismatic: today she would be an influential person. Even if Arianna Di Claudio, who played her in the film, is much more beautiful than her..!”
In the film “Champagne” she is described as a gambling addict.
“Sometimes the proceeds from my performances were lost that same evening in some casino. He organized parties with porchetta brought from Rome on board a helicopter. Mariah Carey would do it today.”
The divorce was painful.
“I would say sweaty. In a short period of reconciliation, Igor was born, but I had already met Giuliana, my second wife, with whom I had Dario and Edoardo.”
However, he dedicated one of his most famous songs to her.
“At first it was called You know itone night I decided to call her Roberta. And I woke her up to tell her. Today he calls me and scolds me: “You never call me.”
Along with it, the men’s lamé jacket was born.
“It was Roberta’s idea. But Juliana destroyed them all for me.”
Champagne.
“My brother-in-law wrote a song Glass of champagne. He wanted Aznavour to sing it. I told him: “I’m singing this!”
His wife Juliana recently passed away.
“It was a column. Biologist, daughter of doctors. The opposite of Roberta: one day in Santa Margherita Ligure she showed me the school and said: “I studied there.” But from the mistakes she made, I realized that she had achieved little in school.”
What kind of father was he?
“Ready. I’m bad with words (he gets emotional, ed.).”
His friends today.
“Renato Zero, one of the most expensive. Al Bano is trying to bring me to Russia to sing. And our friends from Capri: we wrote with Paolo Fiorillo Capri Songwith Mughal text.”
Is Joliet his creative heir?
“Very good, but he’s a rapper. Young people are looking for me: Fedez came to San Remo to congratulate me.”
Greatest artist?
“Lucio Dalla: he made me listen to the preview Caruso to make sure your pronunciation is correct. I cried with excitement.”
Among women?
“Gianna Nannini. I go to his concerts.”
Do you believe in an afterlife?
“Maybe I’ll take a little trip to Purgatory.”
Regrets? Regrets?
“Nobody, I always did everything with conviction. I am an accomplished person.”
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July 11, 2026 (modified July 11, 2026 | 09:28)
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