Sergio Denis
Encyclopedia
Héctor Omar Hoffmann, better known as Sergio Denis (born in San José, Colony N° 2, Coronel Suárez
, Buenos Aires Province
, 16 March 1949) is an Argentine
singer-songwriter
and occasional actor
.
descent. During his childhood, he used to sing in school festivals and family meetings. When he was 16 years-old, was a member of a band named "Los Jokers", with which he toured for 4 years the neighbouring cities to his town.
In March 1969 he moved to Buenos Aires
and entered the group "Los Bambis", and together recorded for the first time for Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). The vinyl recording was named Los Bambis también cantan. CBS producers soon saw Hoffmann's potential as a solo singer; in November 1969 he recorded the songs Fui un soñador (I was a dreamer) and Te llamo para despedirme (I call you to say goodbye), produced and written by Francis Smith
.
This single began to have radio airplay in December, and on 1 January 1970 Denis first performed on TV, in the programme "Casino Philips", hosted by Andrés Percivale and broadcasted by Canal 13
de Buenos Aires. During that same month, Canal 13 hired him for another programme, Sábados Circulares hosted by Pipo Mancera. In March, Denis travelled to México D.F.
to participate in the contest "Primer Festival de la Canción Latina" (First Festival of the Latin Song), event in which he reached the 5th place with the song Yo te amo como entonces (I love you like before); curiously this song was never released. Once he returned to Argentina, he was enlisted to do the Servicio Militar Obligatorio
, and assigned to the Batallón de Comunicaciones 181 in Bahía Blanca. So, he alternated his military duties with his public performances and TV performances.
In 1972, due to the success of a song written by him, he co-starred the film Me enamoré sin darme cuenta (I fell in love without noticing it) with Alicia Bruzzo
and Luis Brandoni
, directed by Fernando Siro. On 31 July 1974 he sang in the Teatro Opera, being the first pop/ballad singer to perform in that prestigious theatre. His performance was backed up by a 36 musicians-orchesta directed by Jorge Calandrelli
.
In 1975 Denis broke free from CBS Columbia, and in mid-1976 he recorded a sole album for a small recording company named TK. The following year he was signed by PolyGram
(now Universal
); with this company Denis recorded most of his greatest hits until July 1990. In 1991 he signed a contract with EMI Odeón, where recorded four more albums until 1995.
Denis has recorded duets with well-known artists such as Julia Zenko and the Cuarteto Zupay, among others. He was guest vocalist in an album by the folklore group Los Cantores de Quilla-Huasi; they performed with Eduardo Falú
the song Río de Tigre in that CD. He also recorded cover versions of two songs from the Misa Criolla by Ariel Ramírez
for a Christmas album
.
Some of his most popular ballad and romantic songs are: Yo nunca supe más de ti (I never knew anything else about you) from the homonymous album in 1973, Cada vez que sale el sol (Every time the sun rises) from the album of the same name (1977), Cómo estás, querida (How are you, darling) from the album Afectos (1985), Te quiero tanto (I love you so much) included in the album Imágenes (1986), and Un poco loco (A little crazy) from the homonymous album in 1991. He also has recorded cover versions in Spanish
of songs originally recorded in English
, such as: California somnolienta (California dreamin', by The Mamas and the Papas) from the album Al Estilo de... Sergio Denis II (1981), Pipas de la paz (Pipes of peace
, by Paul McCartney
) included in the album La Humanidad (1984), Nada cambiará mi amor por ti (Nothing's gonna change my love for you
, by Glenn Medeiros
) and Así fue nuestro amor (Annie's song
, by John Denver
), both included in his album Afectos. He has won many awards, being the best-selling Argentine singer-songwriter between 1985 and 1994.
and actress/producer Cris Morena
. He was married once, and now is divorced. His son Iván helped him designing his official website.
En 2007, Sergio Denis was dating a girl named Melisa Durán, when she was selected to participate in the TV programme Gran Hermano 2007 broadcasted by Telefe
. Just a week after entering the house, Durán cheated on Denis with another contester of the reality show. Her infidelity caused both the breaking up of the couple and her expulsion from the house, with more than 80% of votes against her.
On 14 May 2007, while on tour in Asunción, Paraguay, he suffered a decompensation that caused him a cardiopulmonary arrest. Denis was admitted in the Sanatorio San Roque of that city unconscious and without vital signs, but he was resuscitated by the physicians. The following day, the doctors disconnected him from the artificial respirator, and after a period of observation, he returned to his normal life.
Coronel Suárez
Coronel Suárez is a town in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It is also the capital of Coronel Suárez Partido.The partido was created in 1882 by the government of Buenos Aires Province in Argentina who divided the territory of Tres Arroyos into the partidos of Tres Arroyos, Coronel Pringles and...
, Buenos Aires Province
Buenos Aires Province
The Province of Buenos Aires is the largest and most populous province of Argentina. It takes the name from the city of Buenos Aires, which used to be the provincial capital until it was federalized in 1880...
, 16 March 1949) is an Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and occasional actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Biography
Héctor Hoffmann was born in a family of descendants from Volga Germans; his father being Feliciano Hoffmann and his mother María Esther Fenzel. The only excepcion to this Volga German background was his maternal grandmother, of SpanishSpanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
descent. During his childhood, he used to sing in school festivals and family meetings. When he was 16 years-old, was a member of a band named "Los Jokers", with which he toured for 4 years the neighbouring cities to his town.
In March 1969 he moved to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
and entered the group "Los Bambis", and together recorded for the first time for Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). The vinyl recording was named Los Bambis también cantan. CBS producers soon saw Hoffmann's potential as a solo singer; in November 1969 he recorded the songs Fui un soñador (I was a dreamer) and Te llamo para despedirme (I call you to say goodbye), produced and written by Francis Smith
Francis Smith
Francis Smith may refer to:In government and politics :*Francis Smith , former Premier of Tasmania*Francis Ormand Jonathan Smith , US Representative from Maine*Francis R. Smith , U.S...
.
This single began to have radio airplay in December, and on 1 January 1970 Denis first performed on TV, in the programme "Casino Philips", hosted by Andrés Percivale and broadcasted by Canal 13
Canal 13 (Argentina)
El Trece is an Argentine television network and the flagship station of the same network, located in the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires.- Foundation :...
de Buenos Aires. During that same month, Canal 13 hired him for another programme, Sábados Circulares hosted by Pipo Mancera. In March, Denis travelled to México D.F.
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
to participate in the contest "Primer Festival de la Canción Latina" (First Festival of the Latin Song), event in which he reached the 5th place with the song Yo te amo como entonces (I love you like before); curiously this song was never released. Once he returned to Argentina, he was enlisted to do the Servicio Militar Obligatorio
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
, and assigned to the Batallón de Comunicaciones 181 in Bahía Blanca. So, he alternated his military duties with his public performances and TV performances.
In 1972, due to the success of a song written by him, he co-starred the film Me enamoré sin darme cuenta (I fell in love without noticing it) with Alicia Bruzzo
Alicia Bruzzo
Alicia Liliana Estela Bruzzo was an Argentine actress, born in Buenos Aires to a family of artists. Starting in 1972, she worked in 17 films...
and Luis Brandoni
Luis Brandoni
Luis Brandoni is an Argentine film and television actor. Politically active in the centrist Radical Civic Union , he was elected to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies in 1993, where he served until, 2001...
, directed by Fernando Siro. On 31 July 1974 he sang in the Teatro Opera, being the first pop/ballad singer to perform in that prestigious theatre. His performance was backed up by a 36 musicians-orchesta directed by Jorge Calandrelli
Jorge Calandrelli
Jorge Calandrelli is an Argentine composer, arranger and orchestrator.His truly ingenious arranging and composing techniques, especially his beautiful string writing, makes him very well recognized on many records of today's pop - jazz/ Jazz commercial record publications.Big record stars hired him...
.
In 1975 Denis broke free from CBS Columbia, and in mid-1976 he recorded a sole album for a small recording company named TK. The following year he was signed by PolyGram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
(now Universal
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
); with this company Denis recorded most of his greatest hits until July 1990. In 1991 he signed a contract with EMI Odeón, where recorded four more albums until 1995.
Denis has recorded duets with well-known artists such as Julia Zenko and the Cuarteto Zupay, among others. He was guest vocalist in an album by the folklore group Los Cantores de Quilla-Huasi; they performed with Eduardo Falú
Eduardo Falú
Eduardo Falú is a well-known Argentine folk music guitarist and composer.-Life and work:Eduardo Falú was born in El Galpón, a village near San José de Metán in the province of Salta, Argentina in 1923. His parents, Juan and Fada Falú, were Syrian immigrants...
the song Río de Tigre in that CD. He also recorded cover versions of two songs from the Misa Criolla by Ariel Ramírez
Ariel Ramirez
Ariel Ramírez was an Argentine composer, pianist and music director. He was considered "a chief exponent of Argentine folk music" and noted for his "iconic" musical compositions....
for a Christmas album
Christmas Album
Christmas Album may refer to:* Christmas Album , a 1968 album by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass* Christmas Album Christmas Album may refer to:* Christmas Album (Herb Alpert album), a 1968 album by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass* Christmas Album Christmas Album may refer to:* Christmas Album (Herb...
.
Some of his most popular ballad and romantic songs are: Yo nunca supe más de ti (I never knew anything else about you) from the homonymous album in 1973, Cada vez que sale el sol (Every time the sun rises) from the album of the same name (1977), Cómo estás, querida (How are you, darling) from the album Afectos (1985), Te quiero tanto (I love you so much) included in the album Imágenes (1986), and Un poco loco (A little crazy) from the homonymous album in 1991. He also has recorded cover versions in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
of songs originally recorded in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, such as: California somnolienta (California dreamin', by The Mamas and the Papas) from the album Al Estilo de... Sergio Denis II (1981), Pipas de la paz (Pipes of peace
Pipes of Peace (song)
"Pipes of Peace" is a song written by Paul McCartney, which was first released on his album of the same name on 31 October 1983. It was also released as a single on 5 December 1983 and reached number one on many singles charts for two weeks....
, by Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
) included in the album La Humanidad (1984), Nada cambiará mi amor por ti (Nothing's gonna change my love for you
Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You
"Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You" is a popular song by Gerry Goffin and Michael Masser. It was originally recorded by George Benson for his 1984 album 20/20....
, by Glenn Medeiros
Glenn Medeiros
Glenn Alan Medeiros is a Hispanic Hawaiian singer and rapper who was a teenage star in the 1980s.-Biography:...
) and Así fue nuestro amor (Annie's song
Annie's Song
"Annie's Song" is a rock/country song recorded and written by singer-songwriter John Denver. It was his second number-one song in the United States, occupying that spot for two weeks in July 1974. "Annie's Song" also went to number one on the Easy Listening chart...
, by John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
), both included in his album Afectos. He has won many awards, being the best-selling Argentine singer-songwriter between 1985 and 1994.
Personal life
During most of his career, Denis has had love affaires with famous women, such as actress/TV hostess Susana GiménezSusana Giménez
Susana Giménez, née María Susana Giménez Aubert is an Argentine actress, ex-vedette and television host....
and actress/producer Cris Morena
Cris Morena
María Cristina De Giacomi is an Argentine awarded television producer, actress, television presenter, composer, musician, songwriter, writer, former fashion model and CEO of Cris Morena Group...
. He was married once, and now is divorced. His son Iván helped him designing his official website.
En 2007, Sergio Denis was dating a girl named Melisa Durán, when she was selected to participate in the TV programme Gran Hermano 2007 broadcasted by Telefe
Telefe
Televisión Federal S.A., best known as Telefe and later as TLF, is an Argentine television network. Formerly known as Canal Once , a state-run network, it was privatised and established as Telefe in 1989, when and News Corporation took over the channel...
. Just a week after entering the house, Durán cheated on Denis with another contester of the reality show. Her infidelity caused both the breaking up of the couple and her expulsion from the house, with more than 80% of votes against her.
On 14 May 2007, while on tour in Asunción, Paraguay, he suffered a decompensation that caused him a cardiopulmonary arrest. Denis was admitted in the Sanatorio San Roque of that city unconscious and without vital signs, but he was resuscitated by the physicians. The following day, the doctors disconnected him from the artificial respirator, and after a period of observation, he returned to his normal life.
Discography
- 1969 - Los Bambis También Cantan (The Bambies sing too)
- 1970 - Te Llamo para Despedirme (I call you to say goodbye)
- 1971 - Sergio Denis
- 1972 - Sergio Denis
- 1973 - Nunca Supe Más de Ti (I never knew anything else about you)
- 1974 - Sergio Denis
- 1976 - Sergio Denis
- 1977 - Cada Vez que Sale el Sol (Every time the sun rises)
- 1978 - Por Ti (For you)
- 1979 - Una Mañana Volveré (I will return one morning)
- 1980 - Al Estilo De... (I) (Sergio Denis' Style)
- 1981 - Sergio Denis
- 1981 - Al Estilo De... (II)
- 1982 - Por La Simpleza de Mi Gente (For the simplicity of my people)
- 1983 - Reflexiones (Thoughts)
- 1984 - La Humanidad (Mankind)
- 1985 - Afectos (Affections)
- 1986 - Imágenes (Images)
- 1988 - Cerca del Cielo (Close to Heaven)
- 1990 - Sólo Amor (Only love)
- 1991 - Un Poco Loco (A little crazy)
- 1992 - Cuando Llega el Amor (When love comes)
- 1994 - Natural
- 1995 - Horizonte (Horizon)
- 1995 - 25 Éxitos (25 Greatest Hits)
- 1999 - La Vida Vale la Pena (Life is worthy)
- 2000 - Esperanza (Hope)
- 2003 - Te Llevo en la Sangre (I have you in my blood)
- 2009 - Ciclos (Phases)
Miscellaneous
- His song Te quiero tanto (I love you so much) is frequently sung during football matches by the fans, with altered lyrics.
- During Football World Cup Mexico 1986, the Argentine coach Carlos BilardoCarlos BilardoCarlos Salvador Bilardo is an Argentine former football player and coach, who is currently the General Manager of the Argentina national football team....
did not allow any player of the team get off the bus until Denis' song Gigante chiquito had stopped playing in the cassette recorder.