None of
the World's Resorts Can Compare to World famous singer and actor Enzo Stuarti, an Applehead Island resident, is 70 years old, has lost none of his vocal power, is still in demand and is still going strong. The story of this amazing man's rise to fame reads like a story book. When he was a boy of 18 he ran away from home, joined the Merchant Marines, twice escaped death on the high seas, and, by a fluke, won an audition for a part in a Broadway musical when he was 25 — a part that, as it turned out, launched a career that has spanned 45 years. Stuarti was born in Rome, the only child of a baker. When he was 7, his parents moved to America and left him behind with an aunt. Shortly thereafter she sent him to Monte Cassino Abbey, located between Rome and Naples. There, he lived with a group of monks in the 1400-year-old abbey, where he received an education that included carpentry, gardening and religion. He was there during the beginnings of WWII, but in 1941, when the Allied forces were advancing through Italy, the monks allowed him to join his family in New Jersey. Less than four years later the historical abbey was completed destroyed, a casualty of war. Before he was even out of his teens, Stuarti escaped the possibility of death on two other occasions. Soon after his arrival in New Jersey, Stuarti the young adventurer ran away from home and joined the Merchant Marines. During one of his trips with the marines, the ship carrying him and 38 other men was torpedoed, and Stuarti, seriously injured, was the lone survivor. After a fisherman rescued him 15 miles off the shore of the Azores Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, he spent 26 months recovering from the disaster. But fate was to save the youngster on yet one other occasion. Still yearning for the high seas, after his recovery the young Italian found duty on another Merchant Marines ship. It, too, was destroyed, but once again Stuarti escaped death. By then Stuarti, who had always had a love and an appreciation for music, had saved enough money to attend the Conservatory of Saint Cecilia in Rome. While there, in order to earn additional money, he became a test driver for Ferrari racing cars, and when he returned to the United States he continued to race and test cars, even though he had studied music. A change, however, was soon to come — one that would catapult him directly into the world of music. It happened this way: In 1952, at age 25, Stuarti grudgingly accompanied a friend to an audition for the original production of Cole Porter's musical, "Around the World in 80 Days." His friend tried out for the role, and as the audition drew to a close, the director, Orson Wells, turned to Stuarti, who had just been observing the proceedings, and asked, "What about you?" Stuarti refused to audition, explaining, "I'm not a singer; I just race cars." That's when his friend intervened and told Wells that Stuarti's statement was simply not true. "He sings!" the friend insisted. After a certain amount of persuasion, Stuarti gave in and sang for Wells. Stuarti's performance was so exceptional that Wells cast him in the lead role — the same role to which his friend had aspired! The rest is history. Since that day in 1952, Stuarti has appeared in 12 other Broadway productions, including such famous musicals as "Kiss Me Kate," "Fanny," Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Me and Juliet," and "South Pacific." Stuarti also performed in a revival of "South Pacific" on Broadway in the lead role which Ezio Pinza originally made famous. Nor did royalty overlook his magnificent voice. He was privileged to present a command performance for Prince Ranier and Princess Grace of Monaco. The public fell in love with the handsome, swarthy Italian's looks and his commanding voice. His dizzying successes came one after the other, a career that sprang to amazing life seemingly overnight. Recording contracts and personal appearance opportunities came quickly, and soon he was appearing on television. He has appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, Merv Griffin and the Mike Douglas Show many times. His appearances in the television series, Mannix, Ironside and Playhouse 90 featured the singer/actor in more serious roles. In addition, Stuarti once performed in his own TV special entitled, "Enzo in Rome" — which he wrote. A public relations writer, Judi Wolfe, once wrote of Stuarti, "(He) is a handsome man whose face looks like it belongs before footlights. Rugged in appearance, he has an endearing smile, warm eyes, and, of course, a magnificent voice which all combine to give him the special charisma that make people get to their feet to applaud his talents." Syndicated entertainment columnist Dan Lewis wrote, "Stuarti has a towering voice which can carry to the back of the theatre without the mike." Today, at age 70, the dark-complexioned, silver-headed Italian is still in demand, and he says his voice hasn't lost an iota of its towering force. He spends a large part of his time presenting concerts in symphony halls and night clubs across the country, and in appearances in television guest spots, but he is choosy, he says, in the offers he accepts. A versatile performer, he says his repertoire of songs includes everything from pop to opera, and everything from his own creation, "I, Pagliacci" to "MacArthur Park" to a medley from the musical, "Man of La Mancha." Recently Stuarti and his charming wife Thelma completed construction of their magnificent waterfront, all-white home on Applehead Island, which is affectionately known in Horseshoe Bay as "The Horseshoe Bay White House." Full-time residents, they are captivated by Horseshoe Bay's excellence. "Horseshoe Bay is a dream come true," Stuarti said recently, "because of its serenity, because of its geolographical location, but most of all, because of the fellowship of the people. "Thelma and I heard about Horseshoe Bay from friends in Midland who had homes here, so we visited here about five years ago. We checked into the inn and stayed 10 days. We loved it! The food, the restaurants and the attitude of the people. "I've been to most of the famous resorts of the world, and there are none anywhere in the world that I have seen that can compare to Horseshoe Bay. The care put into every amenity of this resort is consistent; it's kept the same every day the year around." Stuarti adds with a big smile, "The main meeting places at Horseshoe Bay are the post office and the two churches. Pastor Long and Father Scott — I love them both! And the people are so friendly here! Everyone always asks how your health is and not how much money you made on your last concert. I like that." Stuarti sobers for a moment and adds, "To have all this beauty, to be surrounded by the wonderful things that we have, we are so blessed of God to have it. I appreciate it all." The writer Wolfe expressed another telling side of Stuarti when she quoted a statement he once made: "When you have been very poor once, it makes you care a little more. I've been blessed with a voice, so I share." To share that voice — and to express his patriotism, as well — Stuarti recently presented a free concert at the Church at Horseshoe Bay in celebration of the Fourth of July. One work he sang was his own creation expressing what America meant to him. |
