Frankie Sardo
Frank Sardo Avianca (September 1936 – February 26, 2014), who performed as Frankie Sardo, was an Italian-born American rock and roll singer, actor and film producer. He opened the bill on the 1959 concert in Clear Lake, Iowa, the evening before the plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper.
Life
He was born in Sicily in September 1936, before moving to New York and serving in the military in Korea.[1] On his return to the US he joined a comedy group, before making his first recordings as a singer for MGM Records in 1958.[2] His second record, "Fake Out", written by his brother Johnny Sardo and released by ABC-Paramount, became a regional hit, and he was invited to join the 1959 Winter Dance Party tour starring Holly, Valens, the Big Bopper, and Dion and the Belmonts, as the opening act. 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 Holly's backing group The Crickets, while Holly, Valens, and the Big Bopper took a plane. The plane crashed and the three stars were killed.[1][3] 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.[2]
He later lived in California, England, Canada and Australia. 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 1969 hit movie Hell's Angels.[citation needed] He produced Clay Pigeon (1971);[citation needed] co-produced The 14, also known as Existence (1973); produced and acted in The 'Human' Factor (1975); and appeared in Matilda (1978).[4] He then co-wrote and co-produced the horror film Blood Song in 1982, and also co-wrote and co-produced the feature length animated film Ferretina - The Promise.[citation needed] In 2010 he was interviewed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame about his experiences on the 1959 tour which will be released later in 2014 as the documentary "Gotta Travel On: Remembering When the Music Died".[3]
He died of cancer in Somers, New York on February 26, 2014, aged 77.[5][6]
References
- ^ a b Larry Lehmer, The Day The Music Died, Music Sales Group, pp.42, 119
- ^ a b Frankie Sardo at Discogs.com. Retrieved 4 March 2014
- ^ a b Shelby Morrison, The Frankie Sardo Story, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, February 11 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2014
- ^ Frank Avianca at IMDb. Retrieved 4 March 2014
- ^ Charles D'Souza, "Frank Sardo Avianca, 77, Of Somers", Somers Daily Voice, 28 February 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014
- ^ Oldies Music News. Retrieved 4 March 2014