Sal Palmeri, a Sicilian from New York, has died; he was the man who invented radio for Italian Americans. The man who was an absolute reference point for the music world of Italians in the "new world," organizing big events and big concerts at Madison Square Garden, bringing Domenico Modugno, Claudio Villa to New York, meeting Pope Wojtyla and heads of state. He was the radio voice of the Italians of America.

Palmeri, left Roccamena, in the province of Palermo, in 1958 when he was 17 years old. He founded in 1983 the Italian radio station in America Icn (Italians communication network), much appreciated by Italian Americans and by Americans themselves. A medium he ran until 2006, when he decided to sell it to the company America today.

"It is with deep sadness that I share the news of the passing of our beloved Sal Palmeri. His presence in our lives was truly special and his absence leaves a void that will be deeply felt." With these words, Francesco D'Amico, a friend of the entrepreneur and radio speaker, who passed away yesterday at the age of 82 following a heart attack at a hospital in Queens County, New York.

Tony Di Piazza remembers him this way on Facebook, "New York's greatest radio personality of the last 50 years. Close early collaborator of the New York Italian Music Festival and also founder of the only Italian radio station in America. Happy travels dear friend."