Federico l'Olandese Volante, iconic radio host, dies at 76

Federico l'Olandese Volante, born Frederik Matthijs Van Stegeren, has died at the age of 76. The veteran radio host and record producer passed away following a period in intensive care at a hospital in Monopoli, Puglia.

Born in Deventer, Netherlands, in 1950, he became a prominent figure in Italian broadcasting. He rose to fame at Radio Monte Carlo in the early 1970s with the ‘Federico Show’, a nickname bestowed upon him by the station's founder, Noel Coutisson. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he worked for several major stations, including Rai Radio 2, Radio 105, RTL 102.5, R101, and Radio Norba.

He was noted not only for his energetic broadcasting style but also for his independent approach, occasionally offering blunt critiques of the radio industry during his tenure at various stations.