Sergio Franchi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sergio Franchi
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Sergio Franchi in 1970
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Sergio Franci Galli |
| Born | April 6, 1926 Codogno, Province of Lodi, Italy |
| Died | May 1, 1990 (aged 64) Stonington, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Genres | Traditional pop, Neapolitan and Italian songs, show tunes, opera, operatic pop, soft-rock |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments | Voice, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 1953–1989 |
| Labels | RCA Victor, Columbia Records, United Artists Records, Metromedia, Durium Records |
Sergio Franchi (born Sergio Franci Galli; April 6, 1926 – May 1, 1990) was a famous Italian-American singer and actor. He was a tenor, which means he had a high male singing voice. Sergio became very successful in the United States and around the world.
In the early 1960s, he became well-known in Britain. In 1962, a big music company called RCA Victor signed him to a seven-year contract. That same year, Sergio appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and performed at Carnegie Hall, a very famous concert venue.
Sergio Franchi became a top performer in Las Vegas. He also starred in concerts and shows on many different continents. He first wanted to be an opera singer, but he found his true calling in popular and romantic music. Sergio performed in musicals on stage, appeared on many TV shows, and even starred in a major movie. He became an American citizen in 1972.
After becoming successful, Sergio was very generous. He gave his time and talent to many good causes. The Italian Government honored him after his death for his long support of Boys' and Girls' Towns of Italy. He was given the title of cavaliere in the Order of Merit.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Sergio Franci Galli was one of three children. His father was from Naples, and his mother was from Genoa. Sergio, his older sister Mirella, and his younger sister Fausta (who later became singer Dana Valery) were all born in the Lombardy region of Italy. Sergio was born in a small village called Codogno.
When Sergio was a child, he loved to sing with his father, who played the piano and guitar. At age ten, he sang a funny role in a school play. When he was sixteen, Sergio started a small band to earn some money. Later, he sang with a group in local jazz clubs.
Even though he loved music, his father wanted him to study engineering. Sergio started this training but did not finish it. His father had been a successful businessman, but he lost everything during World War II. After the war, the family moved to Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1947. Sergio was 21 years old at the time.
Starting His Career in South Africa
When the family arrived in Johannesburg, Sergio's father had started a successful furniture factory. Sergio used his skills to design interiors for his father's business. He also began singing in informal concerts of Italian music. People started to notice his voice.
He was offered the main role in a musical called The Gypsy Baron. Sergio learned the role by listening to the sounds, as he spoke little English then. His first performance was a success. He then got leading roles in other musicals like Pink Champagne (1953), The New Moon (1954), and The Vagabond King (1955).
In 1955, a famous opera singer named Alessandro Rota helped start The National Opera Association in Johannesburg. Under Rota's guidance, Sergio's voice grew stronger. He performed in leading tenor roles in operas like Puccini's Madama Butterfly in 1957 and Verdi's La traviata in 1959.
After these experiences, Sergio returned to Italy. He hoped to become a full-time opera singer. A famous tenor, Beniamino Gigli, had heard Sergio sing and encouraged him. In 1959, Sergio met an English agent, James Gilmore, who told him to visit if he came to London.
Journey to European Success
Sergio had some good moments when he left Italy in 1959. He was one of 10 finalists in a big competition at La Scala, a famous opera house. He also played a role in the opera Tosca. However, finding steady work in Italian opera was hard, and within a year, Sergio ran out of money.
He started recording popular songs with Durium Records. His songs "more mio" and "I tuoi occhi verde" became hits. He released an album of Italian songs and several smaller records in Italy, London, and Canada. These recordings eventually came out for American audiences.
In early 1960, Sergio performed in a London musical called The Golden Touch. His singing got good reviews. His agent, James Gilmore, arranged for him to appear on several TV shows. This work allowed him to bring his family to London.
Sergio appeared on ATV's Startime and then on Sunday Night at the London Palladium. This show was very popular in Britain and helped many performers become famous. Sergio's second appearance on the Palladium show led to his big break in America. Norman Luboff, a music director, saw him perform and told RCA Victor about him. Sergio sent two taped songs to New York for an audition.
RCA Victor approved and signed Sergio to a special seven-year recording contract. They released his records on their important Red Seal label. He soon recorded his first RCA Victor album in London. Plans for an American tour quickly followed.
Becoming a Star in America
The 1960s: Rise to Fame
Sergio Franchi arrived in New York on September 25, 1962. RCA Victor started a big campaign to make him famous in America. His first album was released at the same time. Sergio made his American TV debut on The Ed Sullivan Show on October 14, 1962. A week later, he performed his first concert at Carnegie Hall.
A New York reviewer praised Sergio's "big, healthy voice" and his ability to connect with the audience. Ed Sullivan was in the audience and quickly booked Sergio for more shows. Sergio became one of Sullivan's favorite guests, appearing 24 times! His first album sold very well, reaching number 17 on the Billboard 200 charts.
Sergio made his nightclub debut at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. He met opera singer Anna Moffo there, and they recorded two albums together. Sergio continued to perform successfully at many big venues, including one with Barbra Streisand.
He made his Las Vegas debut at the Sahara Hotel. These successful shows were mixed with many performances in Europe. Sergio recorded three more albums for RCA Victor in 1963, all of which were popular.
In February 1964, Sergio's performance in Las Vegas got the attention of Time magazine. His singing, dancing, and comedy were featured on six TV specials. He also starred in a performance at the Cocoanut Grove, where he recorded his album Sergio Franchi - Live! at The Cocoanut Grove.
In 1964, RCA Victor moved Sergio from their classical Red Seal label to their regular pop label to reach more people. He also changed his management to the William Morris Agency. Sergio moved his family from London to New York City. He also began the process to become an American citizen.
Composer Meredith Willson suggested Sergio for the main role in the musical "Do I Hear a Waltz". Sergio liked the music and agreed to do the show, even though it meant giving up other concerts. The Broadway show was a big part of Sergio's life until it closed in September 1965. Reviewers generally liked his singing. A song called "Bargaining" was written especially for him to show off his voice and add humor.
In 1965, Sergio released his Live! at the Cocoanut Grove album and a Christmas album called The Heart of Christmas. Both albums were popular. He recorded several more albums for RCA Victor but did not renew his contract in 1969. Instead, he signed with United Artists Records. As music changed, Sergio and other singers like him found their biggest audiences in supper clubs.
The 1970s: Continued Success
In the 1970s, Las Vegas became a top place for entertainment, and Sergio was a big star there. In 1970, Fabulous Las Vegas Magazine voted him Best Male Vocalist. Sergio also performed successfully in many other places. By 1972, he had become a United States citizen.
The late 1960s and most of the 1970s were a time of great success for Sergio. He had many performances, concerts, and tours both in America and other countries. He also appeared in advertising campaigns for companies. In 1975, Sergio received The Mario Lanza Award for his great achievements in music.
Towards the end of the 1970s, Sergio faced some personal and health challenges. In 1979, he bought a large 240-acre property in Stonington, Connecticut. He planned for it to be a peaceful place for his retirement.
The 1980s: Later Career
Through the 1980s, Sergio's past successes allowed him to work closer to home and choose shorter engagements. Even as he got older, people said he was still in great physical and vocal shape. He continued to have successful concerts and tours. He also received the Italian American of the Year Award in New Orleans.
Starting in May 1983, he starred in the musical Nine for 18 months, receiving good reviews. He had planned to retire after Nine, but he continued to perform for his many fans in Chicago in 1985 and 1986, and in other places until 1988. His last show in Atlantic City was in October 1987.
In 1988, RCA re-released a collection of his songs on CD. That same year, he visited the Sanremo Music Festival in Italy. The festival inspired him to create his own 1989 album, Encore. This album included the 1988 Festival winner, "Perdere l'amore," and four other songs he had never recorded before.
Personal Life and Hobbies
Sergio Franchi loved the arts. He could play several instruments, including the piano and guitar. He always carried a sketch book with him on his travels. Later in life, he spent time painting watercolors in his private studio.
Sergio was also a big collector and restorer of classic and antique cars. His collection included 25 beautiful British, American, and Italian cars.
On February 14, 1953, he married Yvonne Lindsey, a ballerina from South Africa. They had two children, a daughter named Greta Teresa and a son named Roberto Danilo. They divorced on December 31, 1981. Sergio married his second wife, Eva E. Simon, on June 14, 1982, in New York City. Eva had moved to America from Budapest after the 1956 Hungarian revolt.
Eva and Sergio bought the Farmholme property in Stonington, Connecticut, in 1979. He wanted it to be a peaceful place for his retirement. The property had several homes, and Sergio worked to make it a family place. By 1982, he had moved his father, stepmother, and sister Mirella and her children to his estate.
Final Illness and Passing
Sergio's last TV appearance was on Live! with Regis & Kathie Lee on July 4, 1989. His last concert was on July 29, 1989. On August 3, 1989, while practicing for a concert, Sergio collapsed. He was taken to the hospital, and his remaining summer concerts were cancelled. Doctors found a brain tumor. Despite treatment, Sergio passed away on May 1, 1990, less than a month after his 64th birthday.
Helping Others: Philanthropy and Benefits
Early in his American career, Sergio Franchi's popularity helped him raise money for many charities. In 1963, he performed with Barbra Streisand at a benefit for the American Cancer Society.
In 1965, Sergio performed at Madison Square Garden to raise $150,000 for the American-Israeli Cultural Foundation. Later that year, he joined other stars for a United Nations Delegates Concert.
During the 1970s, Sergio performed at benefits like Milwaukee's "Fight for Sight" (1971) and an Easter Seals telethon in Las Vegas (1972). In 1984, he was a featured performer at the "7th Annual Lions Sight & Hearing Telethon" in New Orleans.
One of Sergio's biggest fundraising efforts was a political event in 1982. He helped raise over $600,000 during a three-day concert tour for Governor King's re-election campaign. Later in life, Sergio donated prints of his watercolor paintings to be sold for charity.
Sergio was a longtime supporter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). He often performed on the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. In 1988, when asked about an upcoming MDA benefit, Sergio said, "When you've been as fortunate as I have, you have to do something for other people." He cancelled a paid performance to help the charity, and the show was expected to raise over $100,000 for the MDA.
Sergio was proud of both his American citizenship and his Italian heritage. He was very active with the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF). He regularly performed to help the Boys' Towns of Italy and the Girls' Towns of Italy. He performed many benefit concerts for these children's organizations, including a sold-out show at Carnegie Hall in 1967.
Awards and Honors
- In 1982, The Greater New Orleans Cultural Society honored Sergio with the 16th Annual Italian American of the Year Award.
- In 1984, he received the Il Leone di San Marco Award for his work in the performing arts.
- The Boys' Towns of Italy gave Sergio their important Michelangelo Award.
- In 2001, after his death, the Italian Government awarded him the title of cavaliere in the Order of Merit.
Performances for Presidents
- In 1963, Sergio was invited to sing the national anthem at a rally for President John F. Kennedy. Sergio later said he had to buy a record to learn the words!
- In May 1965, Sergio went to Washington, D.C., to sing at a big luncheon honoring Lady Bird Johnson, the First Lady.
- On September 15, 1983, President Ronald Reagan invited Sergio to sing at the White House Rose Garden for a special visit from Portugal.
Discography
Filmography
See also
- List of Operatic pop artists
- RCA Red Seal Records
- List of RCA Records artists
- List of Italian-American actors
- List of Italian-American entertainers
- List of songs recorded by Sergio Franchi
- List of notable brain tumor patients
