Sergio Franchi

Sergio Franchi
Sergio Franchi in 1970
Background information
Birth name	Sergio Franci Galli
Born	(1926-04-06)April 6, 1926 Codogno, Province of Lodi, Italy
Died	May 1, 1990(1990-05-01) (aged 64) Stonington, Connecticut, United States
Genres	Traditional pop music, Neapolitan and Italian songs, show tunes, opera, operatic pop, soft-rock
Occupation(s)	Singer, actor, entertainer
Instruments	Voice, guitar, piano
Years active	1953–1989
Labels	RCA Victor, Columbia Records, United Artists Records, Metromedia, Durium Records
Associated acts	Dana Valery
Website	Official site

Sergio Franchi (April 6, 1926 – May 1, 1990), born Sergio Franci Galli, was an Italian-American tenor and actor who enjoyed success in the United States and internationally after gaining notice in Britain in the early 1960s. In 1962 RCA Victor signed him to a seven-year contract and in October of that year Franchi appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and performed at New York's Carnegie Hall. Sol Hurok managed Franchi's initial American concert tour.

Franchi became a headliner in Las Vegas, and starred in concerts and cabarets on several continents. His earliest ambitions and studies had been directed toward an operatic career, but he instead found his niche in popular and romantic music. Franchi performed musical comedies on stage, appeared on numerous television variety shows, and starred in a major motion picture. He became an American citizen in 1972. After gaining success, Franchi was a benefactor and philanthropist, donating his time and talent to many causes. For his longtime support of Boys' and Girls' Towns of Italy, he was posthumously awarded the title of Cavaliere in the Order of Merit (Stella al merito del lavoro) by the Italian Government.

Sergio was one of three children born to a Neapolitan father and Ligurian (Genoa) mother, Sergio, Mirella, and Fausta (born 17 years after the older two) were all born in the Lombardy District. This includes Milan, Cremona, and the smaller village of Codogno - where he was born. Some geographical over-simplifications resulted in listing Sergio's birthplace as Cremona, and Fausta's (Dana Valery) birthplace as "near Milan." Because the family also lived in Cremona, Franchi called both Codogno and Cremona his "hometown" at different periods in his life. Sergio Franchi stated for the record several times in later life that his birthplace was Codogno, in the province of Lodi, An uncle who owned a vineyard in Alassio (near Sanremo on the Italian Riviera) was instrumental in family life on various occasions.