Jeho rodiče byli Ignazio Pappalardo a Caterina rozená Corsaro. Hudební studia začal ve svém rodném městě. Dále studoval na konzervatoři v Palermu, kde byl jeho učitelem Pietro Raimondi.
Pappalardo's work as a composer was mainly directed towards composing operas and other music for the theatre. He composed eight operas: Francesca da Rimini (1844), Il corsaro (Naples, 1846), La figlia del Doge (Catania, 1855), L'atrabiliare…
Salvatore Pappalardo (23 September 1918 – 10 December 2006) was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who was Archbishop of Palermo for over 25 years, from 1970 to 1996.