When his song "Nel blu dipinto di blu" (aka "Volare") hit the #1 slot on the US charts in 1958, it became the only Italian song ever to do so. It went on to win the very first "Record of the Year" and "Song of the Year" categories at the Grammys when the recording industry's awards show premiered that year. When English lyrics were later added, artists such as Dean Martin, Nelson Riddle, Bobby Rydell, Al Martino, The McGuire Sisters, Alan Dale, Barry White, Linda Ross, Jesse Belvin each released their own covers of the song.
