Italian musician Franco Cassano, born in San Severo, tried his hand at various musical occupations: pianist, composer, arranger and conductor. During his career, he collaborated with Radio della Svizzera Italiana. He conducted the RAI orchestra in Milan and the orchestra of the Festival de San Remo. During the 1960s and 1970s he wrote many songs, including for a soundtrack for the film Vaghe Stelle d’Orsa. Probably his best-known song, written in 1968 with Corrado Conti, was “Melodia” sung originally by Isabella Iannetti, but made famous by Engelbert Humperdinck’s version, “The Way it Used to Be.” English lyrics to replace Gianni Argenio’s original Italian lyrics were provided by Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway. Cassano’s most influential work, however, was producing records for 27 years as director of the Italian record company, Durium.

Corrado Conti, an Italian horn-player studied music at the Conservatorio di Parma. He founded an orchestra for light music and also played for the Orchestra Teatro della Scala. In the 1960s, he entered the Casa Ricordi as a composer of popular songs, sometimes collaborating with Danele Pace and Mario Panzeri of the famous Pace-Panzeri -Pilat trio. Probably his best-known song, written in 1968 with Francesco Cassano, was “Melodia,” sung originally by Isabella Iannetti, but made famous by Engelbert Humperdinck’s version, “The Way it Used to Be.”