Italian singer Peppino Di Capri dies at 86

Peppino Di Capri, the Italian singer and pianist known for hits like 'Champagne' and 'Saint Tropez Twist', has died at age 86 on the island of Capri after a long illness. Born Giuseppe Faiella on Capri, he began playing piano as a child and reportedly performed for Allied troops in 1943. He won the Sanremo Music Festival twice, in 1973 with 'Un grande amore e niente più' and in 1976 with 'Non lo faccio più'. Di Capri was a key figure in popularizing the twist in Italy and was known for performing in Neapolitan dialect, Italian, and English. His most famous song, 'Champagne' (1973), became popular internationally, especially in South America. He made his last public appearance at Sanremo in 2023, performing 'Champagne' and receiving a career award. He participated in the festival 15 times overall.