Albano Carrisi, professionally known as Al Bano, is an Italian singer, songwriter, and actor born on May 20, 1943, in Cellino San Marco, in the province of Brindisi, southern Italy. He began his recording career in the 1960s and gained widespread recognition with the song Nel Sole in 1967. From the 1970s through the 1990s, he performed with American-born singer Romina Power, with whom he recorded international hits including Sharazan, Felicità, and Ci sarà. The duo represented Italy twice at the Eurovision Song Contest and won the Sanremo Music Festival in 1984. Following their separation, Carrisi continued recording and performing as a solo artist and later reunited professionally with Power.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Albano Carrisi was born into a farming family in Cellino San Marco, in the Apulia region of Italy. He developed an interest in singing during childhood and was particularly influenced by Italian singer-songwriter Domenico Modugno, who came from the nearby town of Polignano a Mare.

As a teenager, Carrisi moved to Milan to pursue a career in popular music. He initially worked various jobs while seeking opportunities in the recording industry.

He joined Clan Celentano, the musical organization established by Adriano Celentano, and gained early professional experience performing and working with musicians. During this period, he adopted the stage name Al Bano.

After signing a recording contract, he released Nel Sole in 1967. The single sold approximately 1.3 million copies and became his first major commercial success. Its popularity led to the production of a musical film of the same name, in which he appeared alongside Romina Power.

Partnership with Romina Power

Albano Carrisi met Romina Power, the daughter of American actor Tyrone Power and actress Linda Christian, while working in cinema during the late 1960s. The two began a personal relationship and subsequently developed a musical partnership.

They married on July 26, 1970, and began recording and performing together. Their musical style combined Italian melodic pop with romantic ballads, often featuring alternating vocals and harmonized choruses.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the duo performed extensively in Italy and internationally. Their recordings attracted audiences across Europe and other music markets.

In 1976, Al Bano and Romina Power represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest in The Hague, the Netherlands. They performed We'll Live It All Again (Lo rivivrei), a song incorporating English and Italian lyrics, and finished seventh with 69 points.

Their international popularity increased with Sharazan in 1981 and Felicità in 1982. The latter, whose title means *Happiness*, finished second at the 1982 Sanremo Music Festival and became one of their most widely recognized recordings.

In 1984, they won the Sanremo Music Festival with Ci sarà. The following year, they returned to Eurovision with Magic, Oh Magic, finishing seventh again, this time with 78 points.

Other recordings from their partnership included Libertà, Nostalgia canaglia, and Cara terra mia, which they performed at the 1989 Sanremo Music Festival. The latter is a separate song from their 1982 hit Felicità.

Solo Career and Later Recordings

Although widely associated with his duets with Romina Power, Albano Carrisi also maintained an independent recording career. He returned to solo performances more extensively during the 1990s and released albums that included traditional Italian songs, romantic ballads, and classical-influenced repertoire.

His 1997 album Concerto classico explored classical vocal material, while Carrisi canta Caruso (2002) paid tribute to tenor Enrico Caruso. Later albums included Canto al Sole (2001), Amara e bella (2006), and L'amore è sempre amore (2009).

He continued participating in the Sanremo Music Festival as a solo performer, presenting songs including È la mia vita in 1996, Nel perdono in 2007, Amanda è libera in 2011, and Di rose e di spine in 2017.

In addition to recording music, he appeared on Italian television as a performer and talent-show personality. He served as a coach on The Voice of Italy in 2018.

Al Bano and Romina Power resumed performing together in 2013 after many years apart, appearing at concerts and special events while maintaining their separate personal lives.

Disappearance of His Daughter Ylenia

One of the most difficult events in Albano Carrisi's personal life was the disappearance of his eldest daughter, Ylenia Carrisi, in New Orleans, Louisiana, in January 1994.

Ylenia, born in 1970, had traveled to the United States and was last in contact with her family around the beginning of January. Reports of her disappearance led to an extensive investigation and considerable media attention in Italy.

Despite searches and inquiries by authorities and her family, her whereabouts were never conclusively established. She was subsequently declared legally dead by an Italian court in 2014, although the precise circumstances of her disappearance remained unresolved.

Her disappearance placed considerable emotional strain on the family. Carrisi and Romina Power continued performing for a period but eventually separated. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1999.

Personal Life and Family

Albano Carrisi married Romina Power on July 26, 1970. They had four children: Ylenia Carrisi, Yari Carrisi, Cristel Carrisi, and Romina Carrisi-Power.

After the end of his marriage, Carrisi began a relationship with Italian television personality Loredana Lecciso around 2000. They had two children, Jasmine Carrisi, born in 2001, and Albano Carrisi Jr., also known as Bido, born in 2002.

The relationship experienced periods of separation and reconciliation. In 2026, Carrisi and Lecciso publicly discussed their continuing partnership and the possibility of marriage, although they had not formally married as of October 2026.

Carrisi has maintained strong ties to his birthplace of Cellino San Marco, where he has been involved in agricultural and hospitality businesses, including wine production.

Selected Albums

1967 – Nel Sole
1997 – Concerto classico
1999 – Il Nuovo Concerto
2001 – Canto al Sole
2001 – Grazie (Meine schönsten Lieder – Meine größten Erfolge)
2002 – Carrisi canta Caruso
2004 – Buon Natale: Italienische Weihnachten
2004 – Made in Italy
2006 – Amara e bella
2006 – Il mio Sanremo
2007 – Cercami nel cuore della gente
2008 – I grandi successi (Compilation)
2009 – L'amore è sempre amore
2009 – Personale di Albano
2010 – Cara terra mia
2010 – Natale con Al Bano
2011 – Collezione (Compilation)
2011 – Nel Sole (Reissue)
2011 – The Best of Al Bano (Compilation)

Filmography

1967 – Nel Sole
1968 – L'oro del mondo
1969 – Il ragazzo che sorride
1969 – Pensando a te
1969 – Il suo nome è Donna Rosa
1970 – Angeli senza paradiso
1970 – Mezzanotte d'amore
1983 – Champagne in paradiso

Selected Festival Results

1976 – Eurovision Song Contest, Italy, We'll Live It All Again – 7th place, 69 points
1982 – Sanremo Music Festival, Felicità with Romina Power – 2nd place
1984 – Sanremo Music Festival, Ci sarà with Romina Power – Winner
1985 – Eurovision Song Contest, Italy, Magic, Oh Magic – 7th place, 78 points

Source: Biyografiler.com