page_title: Sergio Franchi
section_title: The 1970s
hierarchical_section_title: Sergio Franchi / Career / Success in America / The 1970s
caption_attribution_description: English: AP Wirephoto promoting Sergio Franchi appearance on ABC-TV show, Hollywood Palace
context_page_description: Sergio Franchi, 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 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 by the Italian Government.
context_section_description: During the 1970s, gambling was not the main attraction in Vegas. With the collapse of the musical comedy genre in movies, and the dominance of the younger generation in the recording industry—Las Vegas became a prime vacation destination for entertainment, and the place to catch live performances of stars., and Franchi was no exception to this. In 1970 Franchi  was voted Best Male Vocalist by Fabulous Las Vegas Magazine.. Franchi performed successfully in many other places outside of Las Vegas as well. By 1972, Franchi had become a United States citizen. In general, the late 60s and most of the 70s were a period of great success and wealth for Franchi. He had many performances, concerts, appearances, records produced, and tours, both international and domestic. Some of these became an integral part of his life later on. He also engaged in activities such as advertising campaigns for private companies. In 1975, Franchi was the recipient of The Mario Lanza Award for outstanding achievements in the field of music.
  1977 and 1978 were not particularly good years for Franchi because of medical problems, family problems, and the way events unfolded for him. During this period, Franchi became estranged from his wife Yvonne, and (with their children now grown) he moved back to his Manhattan apartment. Contemplating some slowdown towards a future retirement and wishing to draw his extended family closer, Franchi purchased a 240-acre estate in Stonington in September 1979.
caption: Sergio Franchi sings 'I Should Care'
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