The 1957 Italian participant at the Eurovision Song Contest passed away one month before his 80th birtday. Nunzio Gallo represented Italy in the second contest ever, held in Frankfurt, with the longest recorded song ever to be performed on a Eurovision stage.

Born in Napoli in March 1928, the "voice of Napoli", Nunzio Gallo , was a popular singer as well as an actor having taken part in over 20 films, the last one in 2005. Nunzio Gallo represented Italy in the 1957 Eurovision Song Contest with Corde della mia chitarra, the longest Eurovision entry ever, running a full 5.09 minutes, before the three minute maximum rule was established. He placed sixth among ten entries. The song, performed by Claudio Villa and Nunzio Gallo, had won the SanRemo festival before embarking for Frankfurt.

Nunzio Gallo suffered severe brain haemorrhage last September from which he never fully recovered. He passed away one month before his 80th birthday on 22nd February.

Special thanks to Alessandro Banti and Marco for the information.