Sergio Franchi

Sergio Franchi
1969 MGM promotional photo of Sergio Franchi
Background information
Birth name	Sergio Franci Galli
Born	April 6, 1926(1926-04-06) Codogno, Province of Lodi, Italy
Died	May 1, 1990(1990-05-01) (Age 64) Stonington, CT
Genres	Traditional pop music, Neapolitan & Italian songs, Show tunes, Opera
Occupations	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 (born Sergio Franci Galli; April 6, 1926 – May 1, 1990) was an Italian-born tenor and actor who enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame as a multi-media star and recording artist after being discovered on British television in 1962. Subsequent to a trans-Atlantic taped audition, RCA Victor signed him to an exclusive seven-year contract. Sol Hurok managed Franchi's initial American concert tour with a debut performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Sergio Franchi was a favorite headliner in Las Vegas, and his cabaret and concert appearances filled the largest venues on four continents. His earliest ambitions and studies were directed toward an operatic career, but fate intervened as opportunities opened instead in popular and romantic music. Franchi performed musical comedies on stage, appeared on numerous television variety shows, and starred in a major motion picture. Throughout his career, Sergio Franchi was a generous benefactor and philanthropist, donating his time and talent to many causes. He became an American citizen in 1972. His performing career spanned thirty six years before his untimely death at age 64 due to cancer. After his death, a foundation was formed in his name to award scholarships to talented young singers.

Early life in Italy

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 the family lived. Some geographical over-simplifications resulted in listing Sergio's birthplace as Cremona, and Fausta's (Dana Valery) birthplace as "near Milan." Sergio Franchi stated for the record several times in later life that his birth place 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.

As a child, Sergio would sing for the family with his father, who played the piano and guitar. At age ten, he sang a comic role as a hunchback in a school play. Young Franchi formed a three-piece band at age sixteen to earn pocket money, and then later sang with a male vocal group in local jazz clubs. But,in spite of his musical talents, he soon followed his father's wishes that he pursue a career in engineering. Franchi pursued, but did not finish this training. The senior Galli had been a successful businessman who owned several shops, but lost all of his assets during World War II and the German occupation. After the war, he became friendly with a Captain in the South African medical corps who was stationed nearby. He soon followed the officer's suggestion that South Africa would be a land of more opportunity, and he immigrated to Johannesburg. The family followed when Sergio completed his compulsory military service at age twenty-one and when Fausta (Dana Valery) was four years old (1947).

Career

Early career in South Africa

When the family arrived in Johannesburg, they found that the senior Galli (skillful as a craftsman in wood) had established a successful furniture factory. Young Sergio Franci Galli began using his skills as an architectural draftsman and worked for his father as a designer of commercial and industrial interiors. He also began singing in informal concerts of Italian music. His powerful voice attracted growing attention; one of the principals of the Johannesburg Operatic and Dramatic Society (JODS) tracked him down and offered him the leading role in The Gypsy Baron. (Franchi's sister, Dana Valery, played one of the children in this 1953 production.) Speaking little English at the time, he learned the role phonetically. Franchi's enthusiastically received debut was followed by leading roles in Pink Champagne (1953), The New Moon (1954), and The Vagabond King (1955). Unfortunately, Johannesburg's once-thriving local opera season had collapsed after WWII, and it was not possible at this time to earn a full-time wage as a singer.

Alessandro Rota, a successful operatic tenor in the Southern Hemisphere, came from Cape Town to Johannesburg in 1955 and helped form The National Opera Association. Rota began making a difference by producing operatic concerts, full acts from operas, and then full opera productions. Under Rota's tutelage, Sergio Galli's voice matured, and he expanded his vocal range and technique. About his first experience with the fledgling opera company in a production of Carmen, Franchi later stated it was a disaster: He sang the tenor part in Italian, the baritone sang in Russian, but thankfully the soprano could sing her role in French! But the company quickly matured and Rota placed Franchi in leading tenor roles in at least two successful full opera productions - Puccini's Madama Butterfly in 1957, and then Verdi's La Traviata in 1959. Sometime after the 1956 London production of Grab Me a Gondola premiered (1956 in music), Franchi performed in a Johannesburg stage production of the musical, and made his very first recording with the cast. During 1959 Franchi made an important contact with an English agent, James Gilmore, who encouraged Franchi to meet with him if he came to London. With these years of performing experiences, and aspiring to a career in opera, Franchi decided he would return to Italy. Beniamino Gigli, on a performing tour of South Africa, heard Franchi sing and encouraged him and his family in this regard.

Return to Europe

Leaving for Italy in 1959, Sergio Franchi scored some early successes. He was among the ten finalists in a La Scala competition with 250 other singers. He was offered the role of Cavaradossi in Tosca, which he played in a minor opera house. Looking back in 1983 about hoping to make it in Italian opera, Franchi stated that he didn't think he was in his right mind: "I was a dreamer." At the time, all seemed bright, so he sent for his wife and children. Suddenly, there was no more work, and within a year Franchi was broke. A Canadian newspaper summarized this period by stating that "Good things started to happen, but only after the door-knocking and counting pennies routine." With family in London, and from his Italian base in Alassio, Franchi began recording with Durium for the popular market.. having hits with "I tuoi occhi verde" and "Amore mio." An album of Italian songs and several EPs (in both Italy and London) followed. As a result, Sergio Franchi was drawing enough attention in musical circles that some of his activity was being tracked on Billboard (Magazine). Early in 1960 Franchi had played the role of Janni in the short-lived London production of The Golden Thread. His singing performance received favorable reviews. His agent James Gilmore arranged several TV appearances for Franchi. Sergio Franchi appeared on ATV's "Startime." And then, during a two-week engagement at the London Palladium, he made two TV appearances on Sunday Night at the London Palladium; a show that launched the career of many performers, and the most popular TV show in Britian. Franchi's second televised show was a breakthrough performance, and led to a cascade of events that catapulted Sergio Franchi into American stardom. In the audience that night was Norman Luboff, who called RCA Victor about the Italian tenor. An audition was arranged via four taped selections sent to New York. With RCA approval, Luboff facilitated Franchi's signature on an exclusive seven-year recording contract. RCA Victor added the prestigious Red Seal designation. Sol Hurok was engaged to provide bookings and direction for an American tour, and (while in London) Franchi recorded his first RCA Victor album-- "Romantic Italian Songs," to be released concurrent with his American debut.

Stardom in America

The 1960s

The American debut: Ready to begin his tour, Sergio Franchi arrived in New York on September 25, 1962, and RCA had already launched an all-out saturation campaign to launch his American career. Concurrent with the release of his debut album; RCA provided the industry introductions in Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cleveland, and New York. His album was also advertised extensively. Sergio Franchi made his American television debut with an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on October 14, 1962; and his Sol Hurok concert debut at Carnegie Hall on October 21, 1962. Singing the whole concert without a microphone, a New York reviewer commented favorably upon Franchi's "big, healthy voice," his penchant for ad-libbing, and upon Franchi's ability to establish instant rapport with his audience. Ed Sullivan was in the audience that night and soon contracted for future Franchi appearances-- including a second TV appearance on his show the following week (October 28, 1962). [Sergio Franchi went on to become one of Ed Sullivan's "2 or 3 most favorite guests."] Within a week of these initial debut appearances, the feedback on sales of Franchi's first LP album proved most pleasing to RCA Victor, and it peaked on the Billboard 200 at number seventeen at the end of December. The year was concluded with successful concert appearances in Washington, D.C.'s Constitution Hall, and in Boston's Music Hall..where he played to packed audiences for four days.

1963 was a very busy year. Sergio Franchi made his night club debut at the Empire Room of the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. While he was there he met Metropolitan Opera star, Anna Moffo, with whom he was to collaborate on two albums that year. Franchi's next appearance was at Miami's Eden Roc Hotel in a double-billing with Barbra Streisand, and an American Cancer Society benefit at the Paramount Theater in West Palm Beach hosted by Bob Hope. Next, he traveled to Chicago for a concert debut at the Palmer House Empire Room. Two Ed Sullivan appearances facilitated national exposure, and Franchi made his Nevada casino debut starring in The International Follies at the Nuggett Circus Room in Sparks, NV. Franchi made his Las Vegas debut at the Sahara Hotel as the opening act for Bob Newhart. These successful performances were interspersed with three European events: one to appear on a German television production in Austria (recorded on the 1963 DVD, "Sing, aber spiel nicht mit mir"); another trip to Vienna to collaborate with Anna Moffo for his only opera recording, "Great Moments from Die Fledermaus;" and a trip to London to record another album with Wally Stott-- "Women in my Life" (released in 1964). Franchi recorded three more Red Seal albums for RCA released in 1963 - "Our Man From Italy," "The Dream Duet," and "Broadway, I Love You." All three peaked on the Billboard 200 in 1963. His debut album, "Romantic Italian Songs" continued on the Billboard 200; and with four albums on the Billboard 200, Franchi's star had truly ascended. He completed the year as the opening act for Juliet Prowse (they knew each other in Johannesburg) in an acclaimed performance at the Coconut Grove-- Los Angeles' most opulent supper club.

Sergio Franchi's February 1964 appearance at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas attracted the attention of Time magazine, as his performance eclipsed that of the star performer, and "he kept getting standing ovations and multiple encores." Never again a lead-in act, Franchi became the "new favorite son of Las Vegas." His Vegas appearance were now covered by Mr. Pop Culture and Mr. Pop History. His newly established stardom played a positive role in the charismatic persona that became as important to his audience as his voice. Reviewers began commenting upon his new relaxation, development of a warm persona, and noted the emergence and appreciation of an innate sense of humor. Franchi returned to Chicago's Palmer House Empire Room (teaming with Pat Cooper) for an "extended stay," and the versatility of his repertoire was duly noted. In New York he opened as a headliner at the Copacabana, and Franchi was also prominently featured on six television specials: with Victor Borge at Carnegie Hall ("the evening's major hit"), Meredith Willson's Texaco Star Parade special, a Bob Hope Special, and three appearances on "The Hollywood Palace." Franchi teamed with Jimmy Durante for a tour of the Northwest, with appearances in Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, B.C. Very notable was Sergio Franchi's appearance at the "35th Annual Chicagoland Music Festival" in August of 1964. Appearing with such stars as Pete Fountain, Johnny Cash, June Carter, and Wayne King-- all of the performers were ecstatic at their reception by an audience of 56,000 at Soldier Field. Sergio Franchi's year was capped with starring performances at the Coconut Grove, (where he recorded his "Sergio Franchi - Live! at The Coconut Grove" album on October 15, 1964). and a headlining return to Las Vegas at the Sahara Hotel with Phil Silvers. 1964 was an important year to Franchi for other professional and personal reasons. In a decisive move towards attracting a more main-stream Pop audience, he changed from the Red Seal to Black Seal label with RCA (recording "The Exciting Voice of Sergio Franchi" album), and changed his professional representation to the William Morris Agency. He moved his family from London to a Park Avenue apartment in New York City, filed the first papers in declaration of his intent to become an American citizen, and negotiations for a role in a Broadway musical were successfully concluded.

"Do I Hear a Waltz?"-- It was Meredith Willson who initially brought Sergio Franchi's name and talents to the attention of Richard Rodgers when he was casting the leading role of the romantic Venetian shopkeeper, Renato Di Rossi. But, as pointed out in a Billboard (Magazine) article, a successful show-business personality like Sergio Franchi was taking on a new importance for Broadway...especially in selling blocks of theater party tickets. (Regarding the financing for "Waltz;" Richard Rodgers provided $450,00 and Columbia Records provided about $105,640 of initial financing; with advance ticket sales of $900,000. This support indicated a lengthy run despite cool reviews.) Franchi liked the score and embraced the idea starring in a Richard Rodgers production, although it meant giving up a large portion a year's income from his concert dates. Rehearsals started in January, and would be the focus of Franchi's endeavors until the musical closed on September 25, 1965. Rodgers wrote the song "Bargaining" especially to showcase Franchi's vocal dexterity and to provide comic relief in the score. With his powerful voice, Franchi sang all of his "Waltz" performances without a microphone. Having made his mark on Broadway with acclaim for his vocal performance (and some positive ones for his acting). the demand for Sergio Franchi appearances continued...with performance at a White House luncheon; a televised Madison Square Benefit; a United Nations delegates concert; and continued activity in recording albums and singles.

In 1965 RCA released Franchi for the caster of "Waltz," which was recorded by Columbia Records; his "Live! At The Coconut Grove" album was released early in the year; he recorded "The Songs of Richard Rodgers;" and he recorded his evergreen Christmas album, "The Heart of Christmas." Franchi's Live! and Christmas albums both peaked on the Billboard 200. He also recorded two singles: one containing two selections from "Waltz," and "Moon Over Naples." For all of his successes with his albums, Sergio Franchi never had a hit single, and at least one reviewer stated that Franchi was in need of better material for the singles market. RCA appeared happy to have a successful album artist, and used their Franchi album emphasis when signing other artists (e.g. John Gary) Franchi had heard the Bert Kaempfert tune and asked to record it. The lyrics for "Moon Over Naples" were then written by Charlie Singleton. When Franchi's record did not take off right away, it was re-written as "Blue Spanish Eyes," but given to another artist. Franchi did not record another single with RCA for at least a year.

Personal life

Yvonne Lindsey was a South African ballerina of English extraction who married Sergio on February 14, 1953. They had two children: a daughter, Greta Teresa; and a son, Roberto Danilo. They divorced on December 31, 1981 in Clark County, Nevada.

Sergio Franchi married his second wife, Eva (née Simone), in New York City on June 14, 1982. Eva had emigrated with her family to America from Budapest after the 1956 Hungarian revolt. It was a second marriage for both.

Franchi and his sister, Dana Valery, purchased the 240-acre Farmholme property in Stonington, Connecticut in 1979. He intended it a refuge for his retirement years. The property included several residences, and Sergio was instrumental in making it a family compound. By 1982 Franchi had relocated his father, stepmother, and sister Mirella and her children to his estate. The dates of his mother's, father's, and stepmother's deaths are unknown. His sister Mirella died three months after Franchi.

Biographical bits and pieces

• Columbia Pictures talked to Franchi as early as October, 1962; and by 1964 He had already received several offers to star in films. He refused these offers because he did not wish to portray an Italian gangster. (He would have liked playing in a Western movie!).
• Sergio Franchi visited Elvis Presley on the set of Kissin' Cousins in 1964 and was made an "Honorable Colonel" by Colonel Tom Parker.
• After Franchi sang on his 1964 television special, Meredith Willson was so impressed by Franchi's interpretation of "Stella by Starlight" that he gave Franchi his framed copy of the original score presented to him (Willson) by Victor Young.
• In 1967, Sergio Franchi was photographed in a celebrity/socialite spread for a leading fashion magazine.
• Sergio Franchi had creative gifts outside of his musical accomplishments (voice, piano, & guitar). He carried a sketch book with him on all of his travels, and in later life devoted himself to painting in watercolor in his private studio.
• Franchi was an avid collector of fine art, Victorian kitchen ware, and rare pewter.
• Sergio Franchi's personal passion was collecting and restoring classic and antique automobiles. He was a long-time member of the Classic Car Club of America; won awards for his restoration work, and participated in many of their calvacades. After his death, his important collection aroused strong interest and competitive bidding at Christi's Exceptional Cars Auction in 2006.
• On April 17, 1968, Franchi sang The National Anthem for the Opening Day game (New York Mets vs. San Francisco Giants) at Shea Stadium.
• Two of his appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show featured Franchi performances with famous male choirs. He sang Rogers and Hammerstein's "You'll Never Walk Alone" with the Welsh Rhos Male Voice Choir (from Rhosllannerchrugog) on June 9, 1968. Sergio Franchi met the Texas A&M Singing Cadets in December 1970 when they were both performing at the televised Miss Teenage America Pageant. They appear together shortly thereafter on The Ed Sullivan Show (January 21, 1971) singing "No Man is an Island" - later recorded and released as a single.
• 1976 was the year Sergio Franchi was hired to do television commercials for Hills Brothers Coffee. He also signed to endorse Carpineto wines in print media because "Italy produces 90% of the grapes for wine."
• On October 10, 1977 Franchi served as Grand Marshall of the world's largest Italian-American celebration - New York City's Columbus Day Parade.
• As of 1987, Sergio Franchi still held the record for the biggest one-week attendance draw at the North Shore Music Theater.
• The lobby walls of the Westbury Music Fair are hung with memorablia from many famous performers. Among them, an 8X10 glossy photo of Sergio Franchi, and the annotated score of his big hit "Malafemmena."
• After his death, and as of 2002, more than a dozen couples have chosen to be married at Franchi's private chapel on the grounds of his Stonington estate. Some of them met at his Memorial Concerts.
• Sergio Franchi's great-grandnephew participated in the 2011 Memorial Concert playing tunes for visitors on Franchi's Steinway piano.
• While performing at the Framingham Monticetto in November 1963, Sergio Franchi was invited to attend a rally for President John F. Kennedy and to sing the The National Anthem. Several years later Franchi revealed that he had to buy a record to learn the lyrics, and that he was completely surprised when President Kennedy asked him "Well, do you know the words?" before his performance.
• In May 1965, Franchi sang at a White House luncheon at the invitation of First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson.
• And, at President Ronald Reagan's invitation, Sergio Franchi sang a solo performance at the White House Rose Garden for the State Visit of Portugal on September 15, 1983.

Philanthropy and benefit concerts

Sergio Franchi in Concert, 1974

Very early in his American career, Sergio Franchi possessed the star power to be in demand as a draw for major charity and benefit shows. During his dual-billing cabaret show with Barbra Streisand at the Eden Roc Hotel, that were both recruited for the American Cancer Society Benefit (MC, Bob Hope) at the Paramount Theater in Palm Beach, Florida on March 17, 1963. Along with other stars, they performed before a capacity audience at what was called "the highlight of the season." In 1965, Franchi (with Itzhak Perlman, Richard Tucker, & Vivienne della Chiesa) performed at Madison Square Garden-- raising $150,000 for the annual "Music Under the Stars" benefiting the American-Israeli Cultural Foundation. Later that year Sergio Franchi joined MC Jack Benny and other stars (John Browning, concert pianist; Yoel Sharr, Israeli comedian; and Phyllis Curtin, Metropolitan Opera star) for a United Nations Delegates Concert on September 10. Then, in 1967, New York City's WDNT held their annual fundraising (more than $125,000 anticipated) show, "13 Stars for Channel 13." Franchi joined Itzak Perlman, Shirley Verrett, & Buffy Sainte-Marie in the event hosted by Tony Randall. Some notable benefits at which Franchi performed during the 1970s include Milwaukee's "Fight for Sight" benefit hosted by Bob Hope at Philharmonic Hall (1971); and a star-filled Easter Seals telethon from Las Vegas at the enormous Sahara Hotel convention hall in 1972 (Raised a million dollars: Franchi performed and made a personal donation) On June 3, 1984, Franchi was a featured performer at the "7th Annual Lions Sight & Hearing Telethon" on New Orleans' WGNO-TV.In October of 1979 while performing in Ohio, Franchi visited the Villa Serena Seniors and sang a program for them.

Perhaps Franchi's largest fund-raising benefit of all (a political event), in 1982 he single-handedly raised over $600,000 during a three-day concert tour of Massachusetts on behalf of the re-election campaign of Governor King. Again the Franchi-fete was referred to as "the social event of the season." But Franchi also responded to smaller local requests. In 1982 he performed at the Pawcatuck VFW in Stonington, CT to benefit the Jimmy Fund; and performed in 1985 to raise funds to place a fountain in Garibaldi Square in New London, CT. He also donated time to help the group find a suitable fountain for the site. In 1987 Sergio Franchi and his sister, Dana Valery, performed at the Pierre Hotel in NYC to support research for the Scleroderma Society. In later life, Franchi donated prints of some of his watercolors for charitable sales. When (in 1988) asked about his up-coming performance at Ninigret Park to benefit the Rhode Island chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Franchi stated; "When you've been as fortunate as I have, you have to do something for other people." Franchi cancelled a paid performance to assist the charity, and the show was expected to net over $100,000 for the MDA.

Though extremely proud to have become an American citizen on October 13, 1972, Franchi was a strong supporter of his Italian heritage. He became active very early with the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), and regularly performed in benefit of the Boys' Towns of Italy and the Girls' Towns of Italy. The first Boys' Town facility was founded in Civitavecchia, Italy in 1945 by Irish Monseigneur John Patrick Carroll-Abbing... as a result of seeing the plight of Italy's destitute children after WWII. Subsequent facilities have been built by Americans of all faiths through benefit activities. As of 1977 these Towns organizations had assisted more than 200,000 children by building nurseries and day-care centers in poverty-stricken areas of Southern Italy; and by building facilities to house, school, and give vocational training to orphaned and abandoned children.

Some highlights of Franchi's support for these children's organizations include a 1967 sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall. When Sergio Franchi performed for a benefit at the Civic Auditorium in Chicago, the Italian-American organizing committee arranged for Mayor Richard J. Daley and Governor Richard B. Ogilvie to proclaim May 13, 1969 as "Boys Towns of Italy Day." As part of the 1970 celebrations of the Silver Jubilee of Boys' Towns of Italy, Franchi performed in benefits at New York's Philharmonic Hall, and at New Orleans' Municipal Auditorium. In 1975 he drew a full house of 2,300 in Milwaukee at the Performing Arts Center to benefit Boys' Towns of Italy. In Pittsburgh, Franchi performed benefits in 1975 and 1977 at Heinz Hall in support of Boys' Towns. Sergio Franchi performed in New Orleans for a Boys' Towns Benefit with Dana Valery in 1974; for the 30th Anniversary Benefit (1975) at the Theater for the Performing Arts; and for a Boys' Towns Benefit Gala on November 4, 1977. Franchi performed in New York at the Waldorf Hotel on March 17, 1980 on the occasion of the 35th Anniversary of the founding of Boys' Towns of Italy. But many of these children's benefits throughout his career were in local concert halls. (Larry King likes to tell a funny story about how he was recruited by a local organizer to MC one of these Franchi Boys' Towns benefits.)

Awards

As a result of the many charitable benefits performed by him in New Orleans, The Greater New Orleans Cultural Society honored Sergio Franchi with a special banquet (held March 12, 1982) and presented him the "16th Annual Italian American of the Year Award." In recognition of his support for them, the Boys' Towns of Italy presented Sergio Franchi with their prestigious "Michelangelo Award." and in 2001 he was posthumously awarded the title of Cavaliere in the "Order of Merit" (Stella al merito del lavoro) by the Italian Government.

Broadway and theater credits

• 1957 "Grab Me A Gondola" – Johannesburg, South Africa
• 1960 "The Golden Touch" – Original London Production – Westend Picadilly Theatre – 12 performances – (as Yanni)
• 1965 "Do I Hear a Waltz?" – Broadway 46th Street Theater – March 18, 1965 to September 25, 1965 – 220 performances (As Renato Di Rossi)
• 1983 "Nine" – Broadway 46th Street Theater – May 9, 1983 to February 4, 1984 – @ 333 performances – (Replacement as Guido Contini)
• 1984 "Nine" – National Tour – (Starring as Guido Contini)

Washington DC – Kennedy Center Opera House – April 4, 1984 through April 21, 1984

Miami Beach FL – Miami Beach Theater of Performing Arts – May 4, 1984 through May 17, 1984

Los Angeles CA – Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Music Center - May 23, 1984 through June 1, 1984

Dallas TX – Majestic Theater – June 5, 1984 through June 17, 1984

San Diego, CA - Fox Theater - July 2, 1984 through July 7, 1984

Seattle, WA - 5th Avenue Theater - July 10, 1984 through July 15, 1984

San Francisco, CA - (There during week of August 24, 1984)

Chicago IL – Aerie Crown Theater of McCormick Place – December 4, 1984 through December 23, 1984

Discography

Main article: Sergio Franchi discography

Filmography

Main article: Sergio Franchi filmography

Further reading

• Balboni, Alan (1996). Beyond the Mafia: Italian Americans and the Development of Las Vegas. Shepperson Series in History Humanities (Ed. Jerome E. Edwards). (Reno, NV). ISBN 0874172438.
• Bessette, Roland L (1999). Mario Lanza: Tenor in Exile (New Ed.). (Hal Leonard Corporation). ISBN 9781574670448.
• Brooks, Tim & Earl Marsh (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows. (Ballantine Books, NY). ISBN 9780345497734.
• Cooper, Pat (2011). "The Yankee Franchi." In How Dare You Say How Dare Me! as told to Rich Hereschlag and Steve Garrin, pp 163–177. (Square One Publishers; Garden City Park, NY). ISBN 9780757003639.
• D'Acierno, Pellegrinio (1998). The Italian American Heritage: A Companion to Literature and Arts. Garland Reference Library of the Humanities. (Routledge, NY). ISBN 0875303807.
• Kirk, Elise Kuhl (1986). Music at the White House: A History of the Human Spirit. (University of Illinois Press). ISBN 025201233X.
• Roos, Hilde (2010). Opera Production in the Western Cape: Strategies in Search of Indigenization. Doctoral Dissertation. (Stellenbosch University, South Africa).
• Sani, Gabrielle (1992). History of the Italians in South Africa, 1498-1989. (Zonderwater Block, South Africa).
• Sheward, David (1994). It's a Hit!: The Back Stage Book of the Longest-Running Broadway Shows, 1884 to the Present. (Watson-Guptil, New York). ISBN 0823076369.
• Woolfson, Malcolm (1992). But the Melody Lingers On: The "Inside Story" of the Johannesburg Operatic and Dramatic Society-its Shows, Personalities, Triumphs, and Tribulations. (Perskor, Johannesburg). ISBN 0628033931.

See also

• List of notable brain tumor patients

External links

• Sergio Franchi Official website
• Sergio Franchi at Internet Movie Database
• Sergio Franchi at Internet Broadway Database
• Sergio Franchi at Discogs.com
• Sergio Franchi at Allrovi.com
• Sergio Franchi at Find a Grave