[2] Del Monaco was born in the city of Sulmona in Abruzzo, Italy.
[1] He started in show business as an actor, appearing in the 1961 musical comedy L'adorabile Giulio (The adorable Julio), starring Carlo Dapporto and Delia Scala.
In 1967, he participated in the Sanremo Festival with "È più forte di me" ("It's stronger than me"), paired with Betty Curtis, and released "Una spina e una rosa" ("A thorn and a rose") the same year.
[1] Del Monaco competed in Sanremo again in 1968, paired with Dionne Warwick, with the song "La voce del silenzio " ("The voice of silence"); in 1969, with "Un'ora fa" ("An hour ago") paired with Fausto Leali; and in 1970, with the Claudio Villa song "Serenata".
In the 1960s and 1970s, Del Monaco composed many songs that were covered by star singers of that era, such as "L'ultima occasione" (as "Once There Was A Time") by Mina[1] and Tom Jones.