While still studying , he had a role in a cinematographic version of '' Filumena Marturano '' by Eduardo De Filippo as well as some other films . In 1957 , his song " Lazzarella " , sung by Aurelio Fierro , came second in the Festival della Canzone Napoletana , bringing him his first taste of popularity . In 1958 , Modugno took part in Antonio Aniante 's comedy '' La Rosa di Zolfo '' at the Festival della Prosa in Venice . Also in 1958 , he discovered the Italian comedy duo of Franco Franchi and Ciccio Ingrassia , became their manager and got them into a long running film career . The turning point of his career came in that year , when he also participated in the Sanremo Music Festival , presenting , together with Johnny Dorelli , the song " Nel blu dipinto di blu . " Co-authored by Modugno and Franco Migliacci , the song won the contest and became an enormous success worldwide . It received two Grammy Awards with sales above 22 million copies , and represented Italy in the 1958 Eurovision Song Contest , where it came in third
1958 Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1958
Domenico Modugno