Sergio Denis

Héctor Omar Hoffmann, known as Sergio Denis (Coronel Suárez, Buenos Aires province, March 16, 1949-Buenos Aires, May 15, 2020) was an Argentine singer, actor, composer, record producer and singer-songwriter of melodic and pop songs in Spanish, author of songs like "Nunca supe más de ti", "Te quiero tanto", "Un poco loco", "Gigante chiquito", " Only love can give us" and "Cerca del cielo", among others.

Biography

The son of Feliciano Hoffmann and María Esther Fenzel, he was born into an Argentine family of German descent on his father's side and Spanish and German on his mother's side. He began singing at a very young age at school parties and family gatherings and at the age of 16 he joined the musical group Los Jokers, with which he toured the neighboring towns of his city for four years.

In March 1969, he settled in the city of Buenos Aires and joined the group Los Bambis, with which he recorded for the first time for a record label: CBS. The album was called Los Bambis also sing. The CBS producers saw the potential in him, and gave him the opportunity to start his solo career, and in November 1969 he recorded the songs "I was a dreamer" and "I call you to say goodbye", written and produced by Francis Smith.

This record began to be broadcast in the month of December, and on January 1, 1970 it made its first performance on television, in the program Casino Philips, hosted by Andrés Percivale and broadcast by Channel 13 from Buenos Aires. During that month he was hired by the same channel for the cycle Circular Saturdays by Pipo Mancera. In March of that year (1970) he traveled to Mexico City to participate in the First Latin Song Festival, where he ranked fifth with the song "Yo te amo como then", which was never released. Upon his return, he was incorporated into the Communications Battalion of the Bahía Blanca 181 Commando, to fulfill his mandatory military service, an activity that he alternated with his performances in public and appearances on different television programs.

In 1972, and thanks to the success of a song he wrote, he starred in the film I fell in love without realizing it, along with Alicia Bruzzo and Luis Brandoni. On July 31, 1974, he performed at the Ópera theater, being the first Argentine melodic singer to perform his show in this prestigious room in Buenos Aires. He sang accompanied by a 36-piece orchestra conducted by Jorge Calandrelli.

In 1975 he parted ways with the CBS Columbia label and recorded, in mid-1976, for a new company called TK. In this firm he only released one album, since the following year he signed a contract with PolyGram, with which he was linked until July 1990 and with which he recorded most of his greatest hits.

Sergio Denis in a promotional photo of the album "When Love comes", published in 1992.

In 1991 he became a member of the artistic staff of EMI Odeón and made, until 1995, 4 more albums. In 1995 she received a Diploma of Merit from the Konex Awards in the discipline Male Pop / Ballad Singer.

He has recorded several songs in the company of other artists such as Walter Esposito, Julia Zenko, the Zupay Quartet, among others; he was invited to participate in an album by the folk group Los Cantores de Quilla-Huasi, with whom, together with Eduardo Falú, he recorded Río de Tigre. He also made, for a Christmas album, his own version of two songs from the Misa Criolla by Ariel Ramírez.

He was always characterized by his style to compose or interpret melodic pop and romantic ballads. Among his most famous and popular songs are: "I never knew more about you" from the 1973 album of the same name, "Every time the sun comes out" from the 1977 album of the same name, "How are you dear" included in the album Afectos (1985), "Te quiero tanto" from the album Imágenes (1986), and "Un poco loco" from the 1991 album of the same name. His repertoire also includes Spanish versions of songs originally recorded in English, such as Sleepy California ('California Dreamin'' by The Mamas and the Papas) included on their album In the Style of...Sergio Denis II (1981), "Pipes of Peace" ("Pipes of peace", by Paul McCartney) from the album Humanity (1984), "Nothing will change my love for you" ("Nothing's gonna change my love for you" by Glenn Medeiros) and "Así fue nuestro amor" ("Annie's song", by John Denver), the latter two included on his album Afectos. He has won many awards, being the Argentine singer-songwriter who sold the most units between 1985 and 1994. ^{[citation needed ]}

On June 6, 2017, he received the Gardel Award for Best Melodic Romantic Artist Album. On May 30, 2018, he received the Gardel Lifetime Achievement Award from the CAPIF president. for his outstanding career of 49 years.

In March 2019, he suffered a severe fall from the stage of the Mercedes Sosa Theater in San Miguel de Tucumán during a concert in that province, which is why he remained in a vegetative state for fourteen months, dying on May 15, 2020.

Personal life

Sergio Denis in a presentation at the Teatro Gran Rex in Buenos Aires, 2009.

Throughout his life, he had romantic relationships with several women in the artistic environment, including the actress and presenter Susana Giménez. He was married once, then divorced.

In January 2007, he was in a relationship with Melisa Durán, when she was chosen to participate in the television program Big Brother 2007 that was broadcast on Telefe. Just a week after entering the house, Durán committed infidelity with another of the reality television participants. Her attitude not only forced the breakup of the relationship, but also her expulsion from the house with more than 80% of the votes against her.

Football passion

Sergio Denis, recognized for his fanaticism by Racing Club, was always dressed in a light blue or white pashmina. His melodies were appropriated by various fans and were even cabal of the Argentine soccer team in 1986.

"Te quiero tanto" was the first hit that slipped into the soccer stands, with a melody that transcended the local sphere, to break borders and settle in the stands of Spain, Germany, Israel and even Russia. His song "Gigante chiquito" was the cabal of Carlos Bilardo's team, champion of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, playing his chords every time the delegation left the hotel to go to the stadium.

Decompensation in Paraguay

On Monday, May 14, 2007, he suffered an important decompensation in Asunción (Paraguay) that led to cardiorespiratory arrest. He was admitted unconscious to the San Roque sanatorium in that city but managed to be revived by the doctors after being clinically dead for 17 minutes.The next day the professionals removed the artificial respirator and after being observed he returned to his usual life.

Accident in Tucumán

On March 11, 2019, Sergio Denis, 70, was giving a recital for Women's Day at the Mercedes Sosa theater in San Miguel de Tucumán, when he fell off the stage into a pit almost 3 meters deep. height, and at 9:45 p.m. he was urgently transferred to the Ángel C. Padilla hospital, where he remained in an induced coma, in a very serious condition and with a reserved prognosis. The fall caused severe trauma to his skull and thorax, with bilateral pulmonary contusion, brain hematomas, multiple contusions, significant cerebral edema, temporal bone fracture, and a fracture at the level of the clavicle and shoulder blade, reported the doctor who treated him in Hospital. At 11:30 p.m., he entered the operating room, where he underwent surgery and applied a catheter to measure his intracranial pressure.

"The male patient enters the hospital guard Padilla at 21:45 hours in grave condition, after suffering a fall with multiple contusions.

Income process is carried out and hemodynamically stabilizes. Brain, neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis were immediately performed. Examinations showed cerebral edema, multiple hemorrhagic contusions, traumatic subaracnoid bleeding, left temporal fracture and pneumocenephal, bilateral hemotórax with coastal fractures. It also has fractured collarbone and scapula. Monitoring placement is decided in the operating room where the patient is presently present and will later be transferred to the Intensive Therapy Unit. At this time the patient has a reserved prognosis. The address of the Hospital Padilla informs that the next medical part will be performed according to the patient's evolution. The current status of the patient was reported to his family by telephone."

Hospital Angel C. Padilla

He gradually recovered and after hours in which the outlook was absolutely grim, he showed a slight improvement although his condition remained critical.

"The address of Padilla Hospital informs that patient Héctor Omar Hoffmann continues in critical condition. Hemodynamic instability persists, in the face of the therapeutic response, the dose of vasoactive drugs could be slightly reduced. It continues in mechanical respiratory assistance under sedoanalgesia.

The current status of the patient was reported to his direct relatives.

The next medical part will be issued according to the patient's evolution."

Part of Press No. 7

On March 16, five days after the fall, he turned 70, hospitalized in a coma and recovering from the damage caused by the accident, in the company of his relatives. On March 27, the medical report indicated that he could be stabilized.

"The address of Padilla Hospital informs that the patient Héctor Omar Hoffmann persists stable at the cardiorespiratory level.

On the day of the date, a transcheotomy was carried out in accordance with the usual protocol of practice with good tolerance.

From the neurological point of view, the evacuation of a subdural collection on the left side was already detected in initial studies. That procedure had no complications. Neurological status unchanged.

It continues in mechanical respiratory assistance without sedation.

You persist in critical condition, moderate gravity.

The current status of the patient was reported to his direct relatives.

The next medical part will be issued according to the patient's evolution."

Part of the Press No. 14

As the recovery progressed, Sergio Denis was transferred by medical plane to the Los Arcos Sanatorium located in CABA, on April 13.

"Patient Héctor Omar Hoffmann is located in the Intensive Therapy Unit of Los Arcos Sanatorium with mechanical respiratory assistance and drugs to maintain vascular functioning. A septic picture also receives several broad-spectrum antibiotics. It has been performed in these 48 hours a chest surgery to evacuate a complex pleural effusion that compresses part of the right lung and abdominal surgery for a severe intestinal infectious process. Its neurological commitment is of considerable magnitude and its overall picture is critical.

This communication is requested and delivered with the consensus of its relatives."

Medical Directorate
Sanatorium of Los Arcos

In the Los Arcos Sanatorium, he underwent surgery twice, and then was transferred to the ALCLA Integral Rehabilitation Clinic, on May 7, 2019, the same center where Gustavo Cerati had been hospitalized since October 2010. In this Last hospital, the singer continued in a stable, but fragile and vulnerable state.

"Patient Héctor Omar Hoffmann remains in Alcla Clinic since May 7. Its clinical state remains stable, hemodynamically compensated, without acute intercurrence and with spontaneous breathing. His neurological condition does not present significant changes.

He continues to be assisted with the interdisciplinary care and treatment scheme according to his current state of health.

The present report is extended at the request and in consensus of its relatives."

Dr. Gustavo Barbalace
Medical Director

He had already suffered a similar accident in 1972, while singing on a glass platform in a bar in Rosario called "Tunelmanía", where he fell when he was dazzled by the lights, from a height of four meters. At that time Sergio had a concussion that caused him temporary amnesia for a few hours but from which he was able to recover quickly, since he was around 23 years old.

Four months after the accident, the brother, Carlos Hoffmann, assured that he was still motionless and asleep, just like the first day he was admitted to the Ángel C. Padilla hospital. & # 34; He is physically perfect, but does not react. There's nothing to do".

A few days after the first anniversary of the accident, his close friend and lawyer, Diego Colombo, gave details about the singer's state of health: "First I would like to clarify, because there are many people who wonder how Sergio is there and the truth is that there is no progress. His eyes are open, which of course he closes to sleep, but he is totally disconnected from reality, his body does not give answers.

Death

He passed away on May 15, 2020 at the age of 71, after spending a year and two months in a vegetative state. He was admitted to the ALCLA clinic. The last medical report reads as follows:

We report that on the day of the day, at 09:00 (local time) (12:00 GMT) Mr. Hector Omar Hoffmann as a result of having suffered a ventricular arrhythmia followed by cardiac arrest.

The patient was hospitalized since May 2019 with a diagnosis of permanent vegetative syndrome, following severe brain injury.

The present communiqué is extended at the request and in consensus of its relatives."

Clínica ALCLA

The day after his death, his remains were fired at noon at the Parque Memorial de Pilar Cemetery, where only a handful of direct relatives were able to fire him due to prevention measures due to the covid-19 pandemic.

The farewell took place at 1:00 p.m. in the solitude of an empty cemetery. Only his children Barbara, Victoria and Federico, his brothers Carlos and Nora, and his ex-wife Mirta Messi were present. From the place, some of them shared with other loved ones who could not attend the emotional moment through video calls.

Tributes

After the death of singer Sergio Denis, residents of Bahía Blanca paid tribute to him by dancing and singing his hits from their balconies and sidewalks. They shared videos on the social network Twitter and it had 299,000 views, 3,000 retweets and 15,000 likes in a few hours, becoming viral.

At the 2020 Gardel Awards ceremony, the night was closed by the electronic trio PONCHO, who together with Valeria Lynch and Mariano Martínez paid homage to Sergio Denis, with a disco version of the eighties, of his most acclaimed song 'I love you so much'. Poncho achieved a fusion in the best style of Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder.

As part of the “Füllsen Fest” on November 7, 2021 in Pueblo San José, Coronel Suárez district, a monument to the artist who was born in that town was inaugurated. The work of Escobar's artist, Eduardo Noe, was installed in the square that bears his name, in the same place where the singer-songwriter gave his last recital in his beloved town.

Discography

Filmography

• Widows and children of rock and roll (telecomedia, 2014)
• Cheese face — my first ghetto— (film, 2006)
• Glasses (telecomedia, 1998)
• Chiquititas (telenovela, 1996)
• Great, pa! (telecomedia, 1992)
• I fell in love without realizing (film, 1972)