Nek is the stage name of Italian singer/songwriter Filippo Neviani, who took to music at an early age, learning both guitar and drums at age nine. By the late '80s he was enjoying success on the Italian club circuit with two different bands, the country-influenced Winchester and the soft rock group White Lady. His solo debut, and first release under the Nek moniker, was released in 1992 and over the course of the next five years, his reputation and fan base increased with the release of two more LPs. After signing with WEA in 1997 he took part in the Sanremo Music Festival where his song "Laura non C'è" became a break-out hit. The song was included on his fourth album, Lei, Gli Amici e Tutto Il Resto, which became an international hit throughout Europe as well as Latin America thanks to his Spanish-language version. Over the next few years, Nek enjoyed continued success with the release of two more albums culminating in his first greatest-hits collection, The Best of Nek: L'anno Zero, in 2003. His success continued throughout the rest of the decade as his subsequent albums consistently reached the Top Ten in his home country. A second greatest-hits anthology arrived in 2010, and in 2013 he released the acclaimed Filippo Neviani album, which was dedicated to his deceased father, who had always wished to see his surname "Neviani" appear on an LP. The release was unique in his solo career in that he played every instrument on the recording. In February 2015, Nek returned for a third time to the prestigious Sanremo Music Festival where his song "Fatti Avanti Amore" won second prize. He released his 12th studio LP, Prima di Parlare, just one month later. Returning in October 2016, Nek released his 13th album, Unici, which reached number two on the Italian charts. ~ Timothy Monger