74-year-old Francisco Giron, Known As "Frankie Sabath", The Frank Sinatra Of Milwaukee Passed Away

Giron, a popular romantic singer was known as the Frank Sinatra on Milwaukee.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

August 13, 2025

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Wednesday, Victor Huyke, the publisher of El Conquistador Latino Newspaper announced that Francisco Giron, 74, also known as Frankie Sabath on stage performances, and the Frank Sinatra of Milwaukee had passed away. 

Giron, a Puerto Rican entertainer was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1951.

Huyke wrote via text message, "It's with a heavy heart that I report to you that our friend Francisco Giron, "Frankie Sabath," passed away on Monday from natural causes. 

As many of you know, Frankie was exceptional and talented. He will be greatly missed.

Rest in peace, brother."

Sabath passed away on Monday, August 11, 2025 at 12:39 p.m. of natural causes, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office Reported.

According to Wikipedia, Sabath began his career as an entertainer in the 1960s, aged 16, performing with Puerto Rican singing group The Kids From Ponce.

The group disbanded after three years, and three of its members continued as soloists: Jose Manuel, Ednita Nazario, and Sabath.

Sabath made numerous TV appearances and released two hit singles: "Se Te Hizo Tarde" (You're Late) and "Cuando Me Pidas Perdon" (When You Ask For Forgiveness). He moved to the United States and made his American debut in 1985, performing at the request of his friend Ernesto Tarre for the Hispanic-American "Queen of the Flowers" pageant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In 1986, Sabath founded The Milwaukee Sound, including local musicians, some from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, and the musician and conductor Carol Klose.

Sabath headlined at Fiesta Mexicana in 1986 with Johnny Rodriguez and in 1987 with Freddy Fender. He also appeared at the Rainbow Summer festival sponsored by the Milwaukee Journal and held at the Performing Arts Center. He made his acting debut in Studs Terkel's musical Working.

In 1988, while Sabath was promoting the release of his first record in the U.S., his father died, leading him to take two years off entertainment work. In 1991, he was profiled for an article about his career and comeback in the Milwaukee Sentinel but his mother, now living in Milwaukee, also died unexpectedly. It was another fifteen years before he accepted an invitation to perform at a concert, accompanied by a hand-picked orchestra under the direction of Sergio Poventud at Milwaukee's United Community Center for Latino Arts.

Sabath headlined Fiesta Boricua each year from 2004 to 2007, alongside Alex D'Castro and Wichy Camacho in 2004, La India in 2005, Olga Tañon in 2006, and Gilberto Santa Rosa in 2007.

In 2010, Sabath had the lead in Isla y Tierra, a play written and produced by Christine Almeida, author, entertainer, and entrepreneur, and directed by David M. Molthen, professor emeritus of theater at Carroll college. The comedy musical was performed at the Waukesha Civic Theatre and was the first Latino production in the history of the theater.

Also in 1987, Sabath and his group Milwaukee Sound performed lived at the Student Union Ballroom-UWM for La Colectiva's 10th Anniversary celebration as a Hispanic student organization at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

In his private life, Sabath born as Francisco Giron was the co-founder of the Milwaukee Spanish Journal, he also worked as a journalist, (writer: El Zorro, controversail community critic column) and computer graphic designs for the Black owned Milwaukee Spanish Journal, since it was created in 1979, 46th years ago under Victor Welch, owner and publisher of the Spanish Journal. The Milwaukee Spanish Journal stop publishing its paper back news publication in 2024 and went digital on the internet.

Giron left the Spanish Journal and later helped create El Conquistador Latino Newspaper in 1998.

Giron, Victor Huyke, H. Nelson Goodson, Cecil Negron, the late, Henry R. Sifuentes, Carlos Arsiniega and Thomas Longoria on July 4, 1998 co-founded El Conquistador Latino Newspaper in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Video of Sabath performing  at La Colectiva's Hispanic Student Organization 10th Anniversary at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1987:  https://youtu.be/IvQ9tabuGOA

Sabath's video of performance at Tosca Flowers, Queen of the Flowers Pageant in 1985 at the Eagle's Ballroom in Milwaukee: https://youtu.be/v54JdtzNr40