Rocco Granata composer

Rocco Granata (* 16 August 1938 in Figline Vegliaturo) is an Italian pop singer, entertainer and actor. His most famous play is Marina from 1959.

Rocco Granata was born in 1938 in Figline Vegliaturo, Calabria. His parents moved from southern Italy to the Belgian coal mining area in Genk. Granata worked there as a car mechanic and devoted himself to music as a hobby, playing with friends at fairs in the surrounding area. In 1957 they played a samba, the melody of which was particularly well received by the public, and shortly afterwards Granata also wrote an Italian lyric for the song. He named it Marina (supposedly inspired by an Italian cigarette brand called 'Marina') and began to market the song himself. The EMI Columbia label became aware of the song and the artist and released the song in 1959. Not only in Germany, but also in the USA, Italy and other European countries Marina became a great success.

Granata had further hit successes and in the 1960s appeared with its own show in New York's Carnegie Hall. He also appeared in movies and acted as an actor and singer in several music films. Today he lives with his wife in Antwerp, plays golf and occasionally appears in nostalgic music shows.