Michele Zarrillo, born on June 13, 1957, in Rome, is an Italian singer, songwriter, and musician. He started his musical career in the 1970s as a guitarist for the band Semiramis. Zarrillo's solo debut came at the Sanremo Music Festival in 1982 with "Su quel pianeta libero" and again in 1983 with "Una rosa blu". He attracted controversy when he won the newcomers' category at Sanremo in 1987 with "La notte dei pensieri", as he had previously participated in the festival and been a professional musician. Throughout his career, he released albums such as Sarabanda (1981), Soltanto amici (1988), and L'elefante e la farfalla (1996). Notable songs include "Cinque giorni" and "L'acrobata". Throughout his career, Zarillo has sold over 4 million records.