Aniello Michele Califano was born on January 19, 1870, in Sorrento, Italy, to Alfonso Califano, a prominent landowner of Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino, and Rosa Rispoli, a noblewoman associated with the Fiorentino family. He spent his early years in his father's villa in Sant'Egidio until he was 18. Califano pursued studies at a technical institute for surveyors in Naples, where he began writing verses in Neapolitan. He excelled in Italian and history, and his early poetic endeavors were influenced by Ferdinando Russo.

Califano's career as a lyricist took off as he became involved in Naples' social scene, where he met influential figures like Russo, Rocco Pagliare, and Salvatore Di Giacomo. His poem "O surdatiello" was set to music by Salvatore Gambardella in 1894, marking the beginning of his prolific songwriting career. Califano collaborated with various composers, including Vincenzo Valente, Salvatore Gambardella, and Enrico Cannio, producing numerous popular Neapolitan songs. His most famous work, "'O surdato 'nnammurato," remains a celebrated piece in Neapolitan music.

In his personal life, Califano had a relationship with Stella Pepe, with whom he had four children. He spent his later years at his family's villa, where he continued to write and host fellow poets and musicians. Califano passed away on February 20, 1919, in Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino, after contracting smallpox. On his deathbed, he recognized his children with Stella Pepe, and his descendants carry the double surname Pepe Califano. His legacy endures through his contributions to Neapolitan music and poetry.