Francisco Petrônio

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Also known as

Francisco Petrone

Years Active

1961–2007

Genres

serenade, bolero, romantic music, MPB

Instruments

voice

Biography

Francisco Petrônio, artistic name of Francisco Petrone, was born in the traditional Bexiga neighborhood in São Paulo, on November 8, 1923. The son of Italian immigrants, since childhood he nurtured a dream of becoming a singer, often belting out songs encouraged by his father during gatherings with friends. The major turning point in his life occurred in 1961, when he was working as a taxi driver and, singing at the wheel, he drove the singer Nerino Silva. Impressed by his vocal talent, Nerino took him for an audition at TV Tupi, and he was hired by artistic director Cassiano Gabus Mendes.

Throughout a 46-year career dedicated to romantic music and serenades, Petrônio recorded over 750 songs and established himself as one of the great exponents of the genre in the country. In 1964, he released the mega-hit "Baile da Saudade", a song that broke sales records and profoundly marked his artistic trajectory, even inspiring the eponymous audience show that he premiered in 1966 on TV Paulista. Over the years, the artist also brought his charisma and striking voice to several other television stations, such as TV Bandeirantes, TV Gazeta, TV Cultura, TV Record, and Rede Vida, immortalizing classics alongside great names in Brazilian music, such as classical guitarist Dilermando Reis.

Affectionately known as the "King of the Baile da Saudade", Francisco Petrônio performed countless shows and dances all over Brazil, keeping alive the tradition of the serenade and traditional romantic song. Married to Rosa Petrone, with whom he had three children, the singer passed away in his hometown on January 19, 2007, at the age of 83, due to complications from an abdominal infection. His vast discography, marked by volumes of the series "Uma voz e um violão em serenata" and tributes to icons such as Francisco Alves, secured him an eternal place in Brazil's cultural memory.

Discography

• Francisco Petrônio & Dilermando Reis – Uma Voz e um Violão em Serenata (1962)
• Francisco Petrônio e Dilermando Reis – Uma Voz e um Violão em Serenata - Vol. 2 (1963)
• Francisco Petrônio, Elcio Alvarez e Sua Orquestra – Um Brasileiro na Itália (1963)
• Romance (1963)
• Recordando Francisco Alves (1964)
• O Grande Baile da Saudade (1965)
• O Grande Baile da Saudade - Vol. 2 (1965)
• Francisco Petrônio e Dilermando Reis – Uma Voz e um Violão em Serenata Volume 3 (1966)
• Para Meu Amor, com Todo Meu Amor (1968)
• O Romântico (1969)
• Chico Saudade (1969)
• Francisco Petrônio e Dilermando Reis – Uma Voz e um Violão em Serenata Vol. 4 (1970)
• Dilermando Reis, Francisco Petrônio – Uma Voz e um Violão em Serenata Vol. 5 (1971)
• Valsas Brasileiras (1971)
• Francisco Petrônio, Dilermando Reis – Uma Voz e um Violão em Serenata Vol. 7 (1973)
• Tangos (1973)
• Francisco Petrônio, Dilermando Reis – O Melhor da Seresta Brasileira (1973)
• O Real Baile da Saudade de Francisco Petronio (1974)
• Francisco Petrônio, Dilermando Reis – Uma Voz e um Violão em Serenata - Vol. 6 (1974)
• O Real Baile da Saudade (1976)
• Tempo de Seresta Vol. 1 (1976)
• Francisco Petronio (1977)
• O Baile Continua (1977)
• Francisco Petrônio Canta Boleros (1978)
• Tributo Carinhoso ao Cantor das Multidões (1978)
• Francisco Petronio - Edição Limitada (1979)
• Em Algum Lugar do Passado (1987)
• Coisas que Não Voltam Mais (1989)
• Motivos (1994)
• Lembranças (1995)
• Veramente Italiano (2001)
• Valsas Brasileiras - Bodas de Prata (2001)
• Serestas, Canções e Serenatas (2002)
• No Palco! Francisco Petrônio Ao Vivo (2005)
• No Palco!: Vol. 1 (Ao Vivo) (2005)
• No Palco! Vol. II (2006)
• Valsas Brasileiras - O Grande Baile da Saudade (2008)
• TEMPO DE SERESTA (2022)
• 1979 (2022)
• Cantando No Ponto