Pino D’Angiò, famed Italo disco artist, dies at 71

Pino D’Angiò, the famed Italian songwriter of the 1980s, has died at 71 years old.

The world has lost another legend as Pino D’Angiò, the Italo disco pioneer, died at the age of 71 after a short stent with what was first referred to as a “serious illness” but is now officially stated as lung cancer. According to his wife and son, D’Angiò died on July 6th after being sick for a few weeks.

“Unfortunately today Dad left us, struck by a serious illness that took him away in a few weeks. He has endured so much, as he always has.”

Son of D’Angiò, Francesco, ANSA

Born in Pompeii, D’Angiò (real name Giuseppe Chierchia) went on to become one of the most beloved songwriters and singers in the history of Italian music and the world. After moving back to his home country at 11, D’Angiò stumbled into a life of music and ultimately released his first single in 1979, ‘È libero, scusi?.’ It was only one year later in 1980 that he released his biggest solo hit to date, ‘Ma quale idea,’ which now has generated over 57 million streams on Spotify. The song sold two million copies and dominated the European charts.

“There are no words to describe the darkness of this moment… You were the most beautiful gift to those who had the privilege of knowing you. Your soul danced through joys and sorrows, always with the gentle strength of a smiling lion. Everything, beyond imagination. This is who you were, are, and always will be”

D’Angiò Family, Instagram

In 1990, D’Angiò solidified his legend by helping in the composition of the iconic early trance song ‘The Age of Love,’ which just recently got a remix from Charlotte de Witte and Enrico Sangiuliano in 2021. D’Angeliò stayed active in the final days of his life as he became a known face on TikTok and, in 2024, composed an alternative version of ‘Mas quale idea’ with Bnkr44, which earned a platinum certification.

D’Angiò had a history of disease, including throat cancer, sarcoma and cardiac arrest. Listen to his classic single from 1980, ‘Ma quale idea,’ below.