August 18, 1958 – “Volare” Takes Flight On this day in 1958, Italy’s leading male vocalist, Domenico Modugno, soared to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with his timeless classic, “Volare” (“Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu”). The song wasn’t just a hit—it was a phenomenon. With its sweeping melody and joyful chorus, “Volare” captured hearts around the world. It became the best-selling record of 1958, winning two Grammy Awards—Record of the Year and Song of the Year—at the very first Grammy ceremony. With

Volare is the popular title of the original Italian song "Nel blu dipinto di blu" (Literally: In the blue that is painted blue). This song was originally co-written and performed by Italian singer-songwriter Domenico Modugno in 1958, immediately becoming a global phenomenon. Domenico Modugno's version hit number 1 on the US charts and won the first-ever Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. In 1960, American teen idol Bobby Rydell released his cover of the song (using Englis