Enzo Gusman
{{Short description|Maltese singer (1947–2021)}}{{Infobox person
| name = Enzo Gusman
| image = Enzo Gusman.jpg
| caption = Gusman in 2006
| birth_name = Laurence Enzo Gusman
| birth_date = 9 August 1947
| birth_place = Sliema, Crown Colony of Malta
| death_date = 18 December 2021
| spouse = Carmen Schembri
| children = 2
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
Laurence Enzo Gusman (9 August 1947 – 18 December 2021) was a Maltese singer born in Sliema, Crown Colony of Malta.Maltese Biographies Of The Twentieth Century, Albert G. Storace, Malta 1997, p. 341
It was Malta's late comic actor Johnnie Navarro who discovered him and invited him as a resident singer on a programme called "TIC TAC" transmitted on the now-defunct Malta's Cable Radio system run by Rediffusion.M3P On-Line: http://www.m3p.com.mt/wiki/Enzo_Gusman Retrieved: 19 January 2019 In 1964, Gusman was the vocalist of the Maltese pop-group "The Boys".The Boys In A Class Of Their Own by Albert Anastasi, MALTEEN 31 October 1964, page 9. In 1965, Gusman pursued a career in banking, even when he emigrated to Canada in 1979. In later years, he would again spend several years living in Malta.
Career
As a singer, Gusman participated in several international song festivals, such as World Popular Song Festival, Tokyo, Japan; Festival Internacional De la Canción, Viña del Mar, Chile; Olympiad De La Chanson, Athens, Greece; Alexandria International Song Festival, Alexandria, Egypt; Castlebar International Song Festival, Castlebar, Ireland; Cavan International Song Festival Cavan, Ireland; Istanbul International Song Festival, Istanbul, Turkey; Festival Menschen und meer Rostock, East Germany; and Festival Golden Orpheus, Slantchev Bryag, Bulgaria. His major achievement was when he won the coveted ‘First Prize’ at the Golden Orpheus Festival in Bulgaria. In Ireland, he was awarded the Best Foreign Artist at The Cavan International Song Festival, and in Turkey he was declared as the Best Interpreter in the Istanbul International Song Festival.The Journal Of The Maltese Diaspora, Maltese Newsletter 103, November 2015, p. 10
Gusman wrote and composed several of his own songs, many of which are still very popular in Malta and in the Maltese diaspora. Gusman won the Malta Song Festival five times.
In Malta he was also a well known radio and television personality.
Personal life
Gusman was married to Carmen Schembri, a well-known singer in the Maltese light music scene and they had two daughters, Johanna and Greta.
On 13 December 2011 President George Abela awarded Enzo the "Midalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika" (Service to the Republic) in recognition for his sterling work as a singer, composer and broadcaster.Malta Today:Republic Day honours | Journalists and artists feature prominently
National honours list for Republic Day 2011 13 December 2011. On-Line: https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/14467/republic-day-honours-journalists-and-artists-feature-prominently. Retrieved : 18 November 2024.
In August 2020, Enzo's family members denied rumours that he had died, albeit they declared that he was in intensive care, following a fall.Rumours that Enzo Gusman has passed away are false. The Malta Independent 19 August 2020. On-Line:https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2020-08-19/local-news/Legendary-Maltese-singer-Enzo-Gusman-passes-away-6736226258 Accessed: 10 August 2021
On 7 August 2021, during the festival L-Għanja tal-Poplu, Gusman was awarded a special recognition for his great contribution to the Maltese music scene. During the festival, which was televised on Television Malta (TVM), Gusman delivered a short video-message from his recovery bed in Canada.TVM 8 August 2021. Enzo pays tribute to the Maltese during l-Għanja tal-Poplu – tomorrow he celebrates his 74th birthday. On-Line:https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/watch-enzo-pays-tribute-to-the-maltese-during-l-ghanja-tal-poplu-tomorrow-he-celebrates-his-74th-birthday/ Accessed 10 August 2021
= Death =
He died in his home in Canada on 18 December 2021, at the age of 74.{{Cite web|title=Enzo Gusman dies aged 74|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/enzo-gusman-dies-aged-74.922327|access-date=18 December 2021|website=Times of Malta|language=en-gb}} His funeral was held 10 days later on 28 December.{{Cite web |last=Zammit |first=Frederick |date=2021-12-28 |title=Filmat: Il-funeral ta’ Enzo Gusman |url=https://newsbook.com.mt/live-dalwaqt-il-funeral-ta-enzo-gusman/ |website=Newsbook.mt}}
On 15 March 2023 a monument for Enzo was inaugurated in St. Mary Street in Sliema where Enzo was born and raised. Mario Borg. Lovin Malta 15 March 2023 :Monument For Popular Maltese Singer Enzo Gusman Inaugurated In Sliema. On-Line:https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/monument-for-popular-maltese-singer-enzo-gusman-inaugurated-in-sliema/ Retrieved: 18 November 2024
References
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External links
- {{Discogs artist|Enzo Gusman}}
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Category:20th-century Maltese male singers