What began as a radio experiment in 1984 has become a long-running and much-loved part of the Italo-Australian broadcasting landscape. ITALMUSIC’84, the brainchild of music promoter Duane Zigliotto—better known to his listeners as Captain D.d.Z.—continues to entertain audiences with its signature blend of music, interviews, and cultural flair every Monday at 10 pm on 97.9 FM Melton.
First aired on Melbourne’s 102.7 FM (3RRR) in September 1984, ITALMUSIC’84 was the first Italian-language radio program on the FM band in the city, predating SBS’s move to FM. With its slogan “Musica al dente” (a taste of Italian music), the show pioneered the use of Italglish—a mix of Italian and English often spoken in Italian communities abroad.
Early episodes featured co-presenter Rita Bennet, a well-known Italo-Australian television and recording artist. The program quickly found a loyal audience during its late-night Saturday slot, with a lively mix of music, news, and listener requests.
The show later moved to 3ZZZ, gaining even more popularity. Captain D.d.Z., together with contributors like John Ferragu, Tina Robassa, and Giovanni Micò (of La Contadina restaurant), introduced listeners to the Italian Top 20 (sourced from Sorrisi e Canzoni TV), live artist interviews—including stars like Antonello Venditti and Eros Ramazzotti—and the beloved “Ethnic Spot,” where non-Italians sang in Italian, featuring unexpected voices like Cliff Richard, Barry Manilow, Stevie Wonder, and David Bowie.
In 1987, while reporting live from the Sanremo Music Festival, Captain D.d.Z. was the first to announce to Australian audiences the death of iconic Italian singer Claudio Villa. The program also featured annual interviews with Italy’s Eurovision contestants until the country’s withdrawal in 1997.
When Italy returned to Eurovision in 2011, the Captain resumed his coverage, celebrating Raphael Gualazzi’s impressive second-place win.
Today, ITALMUSIC’84 is produced by Virginia Freeman and remains a favourite among new generations of Italo-Australians, thanks to its evolving format which includes electronic music charts, real-time overseas interviews, and interactive listener participation. After more than forty years, ITALMUSIC’84 continues to deliver its unique brand of “musica al dente,” both in Australia and abroad.
Congratulations to Duane Zigliotto and Virginia Freeman for their commitment to promoting Italian music and culture on the airwaves. The author also fondly recalls contributing to the program with a regular ten-minute segment during a two-and-a-half-year collaboration, which included appearances on ITALMUSIC’84, EuroVision, and the International Program of Italian Music—“It was great fun to do.”
