Francesco Napolitano, known professionally as Francesco Napoli, was born on February 26, 1962, in Italy. He is a singer and pianist who gained prominence primarily in Germany. The son of an opera singer, Napoli began playing the guitar and piano at a young age. He initially studied law but soon turned to music, gaining early experience performing with a group before winning a music festival in Naples. Napoli's breakthrough came in 1986 with the release of "Balla... Balla!", a medley of traditional Italian songs remixed in the disco style. This album was released in 44 countries and sold over 12 million copies, propelling him to international stardom. In 1987, he released his debut albums Ma Quale Idea and Balla... Balla!. Napoli participated in the German selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 1989 with "Viva l'amore", finishing eighth out of ten entries. He has since released numerous albums, including Ciao – Balla Italia! (1990), and Italian Hit Collection (2002), returning in 2010 with Esistere – le mie Emozioni. Napoli has collaborated with producers and songwriters such as Hanne Haller and Bernd Meinunger, and his music spans multiple languages including English, French, Spanish, and Italian.