Beloved Italian singer Milva dies aged 81

Born in 1939 as Maria Ilva Biolcati in Goro, a Po River delta town, she adopted the one-word stage name Milva

Milva (AP)

Milva, one of Italy’s most popular singers in the 1960s and 70s who was also beloved by many fans abroad, has died at her home in Milan at the age of 81.

Italy’s culture minister Dario Franceschini said Milva’s versatile voice “stirred deep emotions in entire generations”.