Rocco Granata, born on August 16, 1938, in Figline Vegliaturo, Calabria, Italy, is an Italian-Belgian singer, songwriter, and accordionist. At the age of ten, Granata moved with his family to Belgium, where his father worked as a coal miner. Despite his father's profession, Granata pursued a career in music, forming a band called 'The International Quintet' and touring Belgium.

In 1959, Granata released the single "Manuela" / "Marina," with "Marina" becoming an international hit. The song reached number one in Belgium and Germany, charting across Europe and the United States, and selling over a million copies in Germany alone. It was awarded a gold disc and covered by numerous artists, including Louis Armstrong and Dalida.

Following the success of "Marina," Granata toured globally, performing at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall. He appeared at the Sanremo Festival in Italy in 1961 and later transitioned into a successful record producer, founding Cardinal Records and Granata Records. He produced music for artists such as Marva and Louis Neefs.

In 1989, a dance remix of "Marina" topped the charts in Belgium, Italy, France, and Germany. Granata has been a prominent figure on Belgian television and served as a jury member for the 2002 Flemish preliminaries for the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2000, he received the ZAMU Lifetime Achievement Award from the Belgian music industry.

Granata's life and career were depicted in the 2013 film "Marina," highlighting his journey from a miner's son to an international music star. Throughout his career, he has released around 65 singles, maintaining a lasting influence in the music industry.