Eugenio Bennato, born on March 16, 1948, in Naples, Italy, is a singer and musician known for his contributions to Italian folk music. In 1969, he founded the Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare (NCCP), dedicated to preserving Southern Italian musical traditions. Throughout the 1970s, NCCP gained popularity and influenced other artists. With NCCP, Bennato recorded six albums and toured extensively across Europe, the USSR, Argentina, and beyond. In 1976, he established Musicanova and began his career as a composer, drawing from traditional Southern Italian styles. Notable works include Brigante se more (1979) and Dulcinea (1984). After composing soundtracks for television, film, and ballet, he initiated the Taranta Power movement, reviving interest in traditional tarantella rhythms.
