Queen Of Italian Song

Today, thirteen years after her Italian debut which brought her to fame and success almost immediately, Nilla Pizzi is more than ever the Queen of Italian Song. What is the secret of her never-ending popularity in the pop music field where successes are fast made and fast gone? What has her throaty, warm voice got, that people swarm to see her and listen to her singing wherever she appears? Nilla Pizzi was born in the lush Emilian plains in northern Italy, a place of boisterous, fun-loving people, of opulent, dark-eyed women. She grew up in the green countryside around Bologna, a spirited, restless girl, learning the art of dressmaking — and hating needlework. On the job, she sang all day long. And on Saturday nights she went to one or the other of the numerous open-air balls. Then came her first break. She was invited to sing at a soldiers' show — during World War II—held right at a barracks. When she finished singing, her audience was enthusiastic. Encouraged by this success, she participated in a singing contest sponsored by the Italian Broadcasting Company, and came out first, on top of 3,000 contestants. And she has stayed on top ever since.