Anthony Franchini

Anthony John Franchini (August 2, 1898 – September 17, 1997) was an American guitarist, most known for his Hawaiian guitar partnership with Frank Ferera, making him one of the most-recorded musicians of all time. After his time with Ferera, his career was remarkably varied, playing with symphony orchestras and country and western bands, often simultaneously, also working in additional genres, before retiring in his 90s.

Biography

Early life and career Antonio Giuseppe Franchini was born to Ercole, a fishmonger, and Genney Franchini in Naples, Italy, on August 2, 1898. His family moved to Boston, United States, in 1903. Ferera asked Franchini to be his recording partner in 1920. During their association, the duo of "Ferera and Franchini" typically recorded four to six sessions every single day. and diversely performing Spanish music in Victor's ethnic catalog. This period of activity was financially a time of great prosperity for Franchini. In-between tours with Busse he played with the Phoenix Symphony and the El Paso Symphony orchestras. He moved to Las Vegas in the 1970s, where he became an activist for the Republican Party, campaigning for Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush and volunteering at election day polls into his 90s. Franchini enjoyed robust health into his late 90s; he regularly drove until he broke a hip aged 97.