# Frankie Sardo

Frank Sardo Avianca (September 16, 1936 – February 26, 2014), who performed as Frankie Sardo, was an American rock and roll singer, actor and film producer. Known as Frankie Sardo as a recording artist, and Frank Avianca as a filmmaker.

## Life

He was born on September 16, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York, into an Italian-American family. His father, Marco Sardo Sr. was a bricklayer and his mother Anita (Avianca) Sardo, was a housewife. As a young child, Frankie and his sisters (Marie and Antonette) lived in the 1300 block of East 95th Street in Brooklyn, New York. By age five, Frankie Sardo had his first musical debut on stage of the theatre of Little Italy, in the Bronx. He continued to perform in these theatres, which catered to Italian immigrants, along with his parents, Marco and Anita, who had a comedy act. After high school graduation, Frankie attended Fork Union Military Academy (FUMA), in Fluvanna County, Virginia where he also acted in stage plays. He served in the military in Korea. On his return to the United States, Frankie joined a comedy group, before he made his first recordings as a singer.
Sardo recorded his first two records in 1958: "Class Room" released by ABC-Paramount, and "May I" released by MGM Records. The b-side of the former, a song called "Fake Out", written by his brother Johnny Sardo (born 1941), became a regional hit in the Midwest, and he was invited to join the 1959 Winter Dance Party tour starring Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson), and Dion and the Belmonts with Sardo as the opening act (most of the tour's posters mistitled his song "Fake Out" as "Take Out"). After the tour concert at Clear Lake, Iowa on February 2, 1959, Sardo traveled to the next venue by bus with Dion and the Belmonts and other performers on the tour, while Holly, Valens, and Richardson took a plane. The plane crashed in the early hours of February 3, killing the three stars and pilot Roger Peterson. Sardo continued to release singles on several different record labels until 1962; on some, he performed with his brother as a duo, Frankie and Johnny. On September 7, 1960, Frankie Sardo appeared on American Bandstand, where he performed his single, "When The Bells Stop Ringing".
Using the name Frank Avianca, he worked as a film actor and producer. His film credits included co-writing the lyrics of several songs for the movie Hell's Angels '69 (1969). He produced Clay Pigeon (1971), co-produced The 14, also known as Existence (1973); produced and acted in The Human Factor (1975); and appeared in Matilda (1978). He then co-wrote and co-produced the horror film Blood Song (1982), and also co-wrote and co-produced the feature-length animated film Ferretina - The Promise.
He lived in many places including England, Canada and California. In 1982, after wrapping up his horror film Blood Song, Sardo returned to California and married his young love, Hedda Britt, in a civil ceremony at their home in Chatsworth.
In 2010, Frank was interviewed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame about his experiences on the 1959 tour.
Frankie Sardo died of cancer in Somers, New York on February 26, 2014, aged 77.

## Filmography

Under the name Frank Avianca.
| Year | Title | Credit | Notes |
| 1970 | Hell's Angels '69 | Songwriter | First film. |
| 1971 | Clay Pigeon | Executive Producer | |
| 1973 | The 14 | Producer | |
| 1975 | The 'Human' Factor | Actor, Producer | Character: Kamal. |
| 1978 | Matilda | Actor | Character: Hood No. 2. Final film role. |
| 1982 | Blood Song | Writer, Producer | |
| 1999 | The Survival Club | Producer | |
| 2000 | Blame It on the Moon | Producer | |
| 2010 | The Undertaker | Actor, Director, Producer | Character: Uncle Chickie (acting role uncredited). Directing role credited under the name Franco Steffanino. |
| 2013 | Ferretina - The Promise | Writer, Producer | Final film. |

## Discography

Under the name Frankie Sardo.

### Singles
#### 1950s

1958 - “Class Room”/“Fake Out”
1958 - “May I”/“My Story Of Love”
1959 - “The Girl I’m Gonna Dream About”/“Kiss And Make Up”
1959 - “No Love Like Mine”/“Oh Linda”

#### 1960s

1960 - “Bonnie, Bonnie”/“Dream Lover”
1960 - “When The Bells Stop Ringing”/“I Know Why And So Do You”
1961 - “I’m Sittin’ At Home”/“Just You Watch Me”
1962 - “She Taught Me How To Cry”/“Ring Of Love”
1962 - “Mister Make Believe”/“I Got You Where I Want You”