Historical Review of Carlos Gardel
His real name was Charles Romuald Gardes, he was a singer, composer and movie actor nationalized Argentine. The actual documentation proves that he was born on December 11, 1890 in Toulouse (France), natural son of Mrs. Berta Gardes, of his father Paul Lasserre.
His prestigious voice immortalized tango in the world. Today, Gardel is definitely universal and exceeds the time elapse and era. He began his vocation for singing in the historic neighborhood of Abasto where he took his first artistic steps (Bar Café O'Rondeman of the Traverso brothers). Here he became popular as "Zorzal", an appellative baptized by the legendary José Betinotti in honor of the bird of the pampas.
Around 1910 he made a national tour as a duo with the singer and dancer Francisco "Pancho" Martino "his first guitarist". In the early 1911, at a friend's house located on “Guardia Vieja Street” today call “Pasaje Carlos Gardel” he met the Uruguayan José Razzano for first time.
Then around 1912 they performed as a trio Gardel - Razzano - Martino and later a quartet was formed and the cuyano Saúl Salinas joined them. It is worth mentioning that the Gardel-Razzano duo suffered a separation due to problems of his partner with his vocal cords, who years later gave up singing.
On April 2, 1912 Gardel signed a contract at Casa Tagini. This would be one of the most culminating moments of his career, here he made a series of his first recordings for the Columbia Record label. History marks a before and after; when in 1917 the composer Pascual Contursi adapted his verses of "Percanta que me amuraste" to the music of the instrumental tango "Lita" by the pianist Samuel Castriota, fusion that gave the first argumental and emblematic tango of the history, titled "Mi noche triste".
The tango song was interpreted and recorded by Carlos Gardel for the Nacional Discography Odeon in 1917 and years later in 1930.
1917 would be a transcendental year for the singer; he would film for the first time for silent movies in his artistic career. "Flor de Durazno" filmed between the provinces of Córdoba and Buenos Aires. Directed by the director Francisco Defilippis Novoa, based on the novel by the writer Hugo Wast.
In 1930 in the film studios of Italian director and producer Federico Valle, Carlos Gardel debuts in Argentine sound films and becomes the precursor of "videoclips". Under the direction of Eduardo Morera, a compilation of ten (out of fifteen) musical shorts is filmed.
He also successfully achieved worldwide recognition in different films (France and the United States).
Between 1931 and 1932 Gardel had made four films with the Paramount company in their European studios (located in France), where he films: "Las Luces de Buenos Aires", "Espérame", "La casa es seria" and "Melodía de arrabal".
His performances for the NBC network in New York were a real success. In that city, he films in the Kaufman studios the movies "Cuesta abajo", "El tango en Broadway", "El día que me quieras" and "Tango bar". He records for RCA Victor the songs of the films and the first versions of the musical numbers of "Cazadores de estrellas".
He shared friendships with world celebrities such as Charles Chaplin, Maurice Chevalier, Frank Sinatra, Enrico Caruso.
While on tour in America, he died in a plane crash in Medellin (Colombia) along with most of his entourage on June 24, 1935. Today his remains rest next to those of his beloved mother in the mausoleum of the Chacarita Cemetery in Buenos Aires (Argentina). In her mausoleum there is a bust in her name. There, thousands and thousands of faithful honor her memory year after year.
On September 18, 1991, the National Congress of the Argentine Republic established by law 23.976 the "National Singer's Day" to be commemorated every June 24 in memory of the death of the popular tango idol.
The day Gardel was nicknamed "Zorzal"
José Luis Betinotti (1878 - 1915). He was a famous Argentine folk singer, guitarist and composer. Creator of many emblematic compositions such as "Pobre mi madre querida" which Gardel recorded with great success. He was known as "el cantor de las madres" (the singer of mothers). His musical style was influenced by notable folk singer afro-porteños such of Gabino Ezeiza, a legendary master and mentor of Betinotti, who can be considered as an artist that marks the transition between the old folk singer and the new popular singer.
Betinotti, in his beginnings as a folk singer and guitar player, had gained a great popularity that he had been able to earn. In the Abasto neighborhood his name was often mentioned with admiration. Among his first friends in the neighborhood we mention "Yiyo", one of the Traverso brothers, owners of the bar "O'Rondeman". Yiyo was the one who always talked to Betinotti about that young Gardel and referred to his relevant gifts. But it happened that every time Betinotti arrived at the bar "O'Rondeman", the young Gardel was not there. -Until one night the legendary meeting took place and between dialogue and dialogue, the night is nice for a payada - and the chorus of people insisted. Gardel said: -You know that I don't know how to payar. That's for tattooed people like Pepe... (José Betinottti) - It was true. Gardel had never known how to improvise and felt the deepest respect for those who possessed that gift. But it was then decreed that Gardel would sing the pieces of his repertoire and Betinotti would improvise on the theme of those songs. And that was how that particular and memorable payada took place “Happy those friends who were able to attend a show that was never to be repeated! Gardel began the counterpoint with "Pobre, mi madre querida", as a tribute to the payador”.
As the years went by, the witnesses of that payada were moved when they remembered how sensitive that night was when Betinotti nicknamed Carlos Gardel "Zorzal", one of the nicknames that would identify him forever. Comparing and with affection (Zorzal) in comparative term with a bird that in its twittering emits a captivating and melodious sound and whistle.
From the book (Gardel in the Abasto) for Rodolfo Omar Zatti.
Design: Hugo Biglia
Artists of different genres dedicate a few words to author
Gabriel Chula Clausi
Bandoneonist, director, arranger and composer.
"I want to thank the artist for her work, perhaps one of the most faithful and real works on the figure of Carlos Gardel"....
In one of his phrases he comments: "It was 1929 and I personally met Carlos Gardel at the Palermo racetrack. We always went there with my friend Juan Maglio (Pacho) and since then we always met Carlitos. He was like a little children, with a strong character".
In one of his great poems I quote: "When Tito Lusiardo met Gardel on the heights, he asked him about Pascual Contursi and they remembered "Mi Noche Triste" in that Teatro Esmeralda...
Alberto Mosquera Montaña
Poet and writer (Illustrious Citizen of the city of Buenos Aires)
"Thank you for your works distant Friend, self-taught of life".
Nelly Omar
Singer and composer
"I see so much youth and it is incredible the magnitude of Saide's work. The way she defends the cultural legacy and her art is unique".
(Excerpt from an interview on Radio Nacional)
Bruno Cespi
Collector
"Who would have imagined the stature of this great collection dedicated to the greatest exponent of Argentine popular music"....
Oscar del Priore
Poet and writer
"I notice in our artist a singular admiration for the work of our great singer, in addition to his artistic conditions.
Related Notes
Documentary dedicated to Carlos Gardel. Oils exhibited in the Carlos Gardel House Museum.