Alfredo Sadel

Born Manuel Alfredo Sánchez Luna in Caracas, Venezuela, to Manuel Sánchez Benítez and Luisa Amelia Luna.

Since his early childhood, he showed interest in music, participating in the choir of the local church. His debut was singing “Ave Maria” at the Caracas’ Cathedral, where he impressed those who heard him.

He went to school at “Colegio Domingo Savio” at Los Teques, but had to leave at the age of fourteen due to his family’s financial problems. Salesian priests, Calderon and Sidi [2] contributed to his musical education.

By the time Alfredo was gaining fame in the music industry, there were already two professionals with similar names, "Alci," and "Alex Sánchez." Therefore, he decided to change his name, taking the first syllable of his last name “SA” and added “DEL” in honor to his idol, Carlos Gardel.

Sadel was affectionately called "The Favorite Tenor of Venezuela".[3]

Many different patrons sponsored his career, which started at “Escuela Superior de Música de Caracas” and continued in many different places such as Mexico City; New York City; Buenos Aires; Barcelona, Spain; Salzburg and Milan.

In 1948, he recorded the first album [4] produced in Venezuela: “Diamante Negro” quickstep. The record was a sales success [5] and the start of his upward musical career. While under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a potential successor to the cinematic tenor Mario Lanza, Sadel began a serious study of Italian opera, eventually singing full-opera productions under his birth name, Alfredo Sanchez-Luna. Among the roles he sang successfully were the Duke of Mantua in Verdi's "Rigoletto."

Sadel died in New York, USA of Hearth attack at age of 59.

• Venezuela
• Venezuelan music

• Discography
• Alfredo Sadel at IMDb
• Alfredo Sadel singing "Granada" live broadcast NBC - NY 1954
• Fundación Internacional José Guillermo Carrillo
• "Biografía de Alfredo Sadel" (in Spanish). Fundación Internacional José Guillermo Carrillo. Retrieved August 2, 2010.