SGAMBELLURI SINGS NATIONAL ANTHEM AT PADRES GAMES

By Patrick Lujan

Singing the National Anthem at a pro game is surely an honor for anyone.

Guam’s Santino Sgambelluri, a retired Navy officer settled in San Diego, performed the National Anthem before Sunday’s Padres game at Petco Park against the St. Louis Cardinals. He was back on the field to sing God Bless America in between the 7th inning.

“I’ve done so many cool things in life up to this point,” Sgambelluri said. “But this has got to be right up there. To sing in a big stadium in front of thousands of people is so surreal.”

A popular front man for vintage Guam band Renaissance, Sgambelluri retired from the Navy a year and a half ago and saw an opportunity to do the singing honors for the home team Padres.

How it Happened

“(After retirement) I started to get involved with the different various veteran organizations in and around San Diego. There are tons of veteran organizations that are willing to help other veterans secure jobs, or maximize their benefits. I started to work with some of the key leaders and some of these groups and somehow it came up that I also sing. Phil Kendro, a prominent veteran advocate here in San Diego, asked if I could sing the national anthem for the Veterans Day parade, which was a televised event here in San Diego, and attended by several thousand. A few months after that, he connected me with the Padres military rep to see if I could audition to sing the national anthem at a Padres game. I connected with them over email. I had to send in an audition tape, and then I had to wait a few months. I kind of forgot about it because it was a while. I just thought I would not get it but out of the blue, I got a email stating that they had selected me to sing a national anthem (and God Bless America) on August 3.”

NOTE: Sgambelluri is a part of the elite Father Duenas Class of 1991 (FD’s only 4-time Songfest champions)