Italian-Chilean Singer Franno Takes Latin Music by Storm with Heart and Soul
Equally divided between medicine and music, the artist has recently released his debut album “Historia de Amor” and is gaining a growing fanbase
Franno
For years, Dr. Camilo Cortesi has comforted patients through their most vulnerable moments. He still does. But these days, he’s also reaching people in a completely different way, under the name Franno, as one of Latin music’s most talked-about emerging artists.
The Italian-Chilean singer, with his debut album Historia de Amor, has quickly established himself as a romantic force to be reckoned with. Franno’s lush ballads, steeped in timeless orchestration and emotional storytelling, feel like echoes of another era. Yet his rise is powered by thoroughly modern momentum: viral YouTube numbers and a growing fanbase.
The background
Behind the stage name, Franno is Camilo Cortesi, a California-based doctor who has dedicated much of his life to saving others. A physician in the ICU, Cortesi often turned to music to heal the spirit. He regularly sang and played guitar for his patients, bringing comfort and hope during some of their most difficult moments. This connection between healing and music lies at the core of Franno’s identity as an artist. It’s not just about entertainment, it’s about creating something meaningful and uplifting.
His story isn’t about music or medicine but finding space for both. Born to a Chilean mother and Italian father, he was raised in a home that valued family and music. His earliest influences came from emotionally charged voices like Sandro, Nino Bravo, and Salvatore Adamo, crooners whose songs felt like stories. He often imagined himself singing with their kind of depth and drama, perhaps with a bit of Elvis or Tom Jones in the mix.
The debut album “Historia de Amor”
Historia de Amor is an 11-track Latin pop album that blends romanticism, nostalgia, and sincerity. Released in May 2025, it was produced by 19-time Grammy winner Rafa Sardina and features top-tier collaborators including bassist Carmine Rojas and drummer Victor Indrizzo. But Franno didn’t stop at just the music. He envisioned the project as a complete emotional experience. Historia de Amor: The Movie, directed by accomplished filmmaker Andrés Ibañez, premiered at the Cinelounge in Hollywood just before the album’s release. A few weeks later, El Documental, a behind-the-scenes look at his creative process, was released as well.
The title track of the album surpassed two million views on YouTube within days. Yo Te Amaré currently has well over 3 million views. Vuelve Con Él surpassed 600,000 streams on Spotify. His YouTube channel now boasts over one million subscribers. All this is no small feat for an entirely independent artist.
Franno’s voice is a tenor untouched by auto-tune, steeped in classical training. “Everything we’ve built so far has been without a label,” he says proudly. “Just a belief in the music, and a small team that believes in it, too.” He adds: “There’s no expiration date on your dreams,” he says. “You just have to keep them alive while the rest of life happens.”
Franno is now preparing for the next phase. Live performances internationally are in the works, and new songs sung in Italian will be released. And all the while, he continues to work in medicine.
