First artist to reach one million copies of one record sold

Following its 1902 recording, a recording of the aria Vesti la giubba from the opera I Pagliacci became the first record to sell 1 million copies. The tenor who plays Canio in the opera sings the aria as Canio, who transforms into Pagliacci the clown at the conclusion of the first act.

Canio, who is dressed as a clown and singing while wearing clown makeup, has recently learned that his wife has been unfaithful to him. Enrico Caruso sang the aria he had frequently performed on stage in the 1902 recording. Later, he released further recordings of the aria. Italian for "put on the costume," the title.

One of the most well-known melodies in musical history, the aria's theme is easily recognizable. Since Caruso, almost every notable tenor has recorded it as a result. Because of its familiarity, it has also been the subject of spoofs, most notably by the Kellogg Corporation in a television commercial. You can hear Caruso's record-breaking performance from 1902 above, and you can see and hear Kellogg's parody of the well-known aria below.