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Sergio Bruni

Sergio Bruni (stage name of Guglielmo Chianese, 15 September 1921 – 22 June 2003) was a popular Italian singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He was often called "The Voice of Naples".

He was born in the commune of Villaricca, near Naples, Italy. At nine years of age he started attending a school of music. Two years later he was playing clarinet in a local band, which was his first experience as a musician. In 1938 the family moved to Chiaiano, where he started work as a labourer.

In September 1943, while convalescing from the army at home, he heard of the uprising against German troops in Naples. With a number of acquaintances he joined a group of volunteers to oppose the German army in the vicinity. While returning from an action he was seriously injured in a fire-fight with German soldiers, which left him with a permanent limp. After his release from hospital he returned to studying music under Vittorio Parisi and had his singing debut at the Royal Theater in Naples on 14 May 1944.

In October 1944 he won a singing competition which resulted in a contract with Radio Naples, where he worked under the guidance of Gino Campese.

In 1948, he married Maria Cerulli. They had four daughters.

Over the following years he had many successes, both live and recordings. In 1960, he returned to his home in Naples to concentrate on Neapolitan songs. He had a big hit with Carmela (1975), which has since become a classic of the Neapolitan genre, and this was followed up by the album 'a maschera Pulecenella, which led to major television and stage appearances the following year.

In March 2000, he left Naples to join his daughters in Rome. In 2001, he recorded his last song, sung with Lino Blandizzi. He died in hospital in Rome on 22 June 2003.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 15, 1921 (Villaricca), Died June 22, 2003 (Rome)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1949 - 1952

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Gramophone 0BA6693 10-in. before 11/15/1949 Nun 'a penzo proprio cchiu' Sergio Bruni ; Gian Mario Guarino Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Gramophone 0BA7574 10-in. 1/17/1951 Passione Sergio Bruni Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Gramophone 0BA7584 10-in. 1/19/1951 Scetate Sergio Bruni Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Gramophone 0BA8087 10-in. 7/10/1952 'O rammariello Sergio Bruni ; Dino Olivieri Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Bruni, Sergio," accessed November 10, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/352317.

Bruni, Sergio. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 10, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/352317.

"Bruni, Sergio." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 10 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/352317

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