Carlos Argentino
Carlos Argentino | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Israel Vitenszteim Vurm |
| Also known as | Carlos Torres Carlos Torres Argentino |
| Born | 23 June 1929 Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Died | 20 June 1991 (aged 61) Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Genres | Pachanga, Cha-cha-cha, Bolero |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Labels | Seeco, Philips, Music Hall, Tonodisc, CBS |
Israel Vitenszteim Vurm (23 June 1929 – 20 June 1991), better known by his stage name Carlos Argentino, was an Argentine singer of pachanga, cha-cha-cha and bolero, best known for his work with Sonora Matancera. In Spanish-language music journalism, he was also billed as "The King of Pachanga".[1]
Early life and career
Argentino was born in La Paternal, Buenos Aires, to a Jewish family involved in the textile industry. Although he grew up in comfortable circumstances, he reportedly sold newspapers, magazines and coffee on trams and at racecourses while still young.[citation needed] Against his parents' wishes, he pursued a singing career under the name Carlos Torres.[citation needed]
In 1946 he travelled to Brazil with an orchestra and later returned to Buenos Aires, where he briefly pursued medical studies at the University of Buenos Aires and completed compulsory military service.[citation needed] After leaving those plans behind, he sang with the orchestras of Luis Rolero and Raúl Marengo, performing in Peru and Chile.[citation needed] He later worked in Colombia with the orchestra of Efraín Orozco; because another Colombian singer was also named Carlos Torres, he adopted the billing Carlos Torres Argentino, later shortened to Carlos Argentino.[2]
In 1952 he worked in Havana with the orchestras of Felo Bergaza, Arnoldo Nalli and Julio Cuevas.[citation needed] He also studied singing with the Italian teacher Eduardo Bonessi.[citation needed]
Sonora Matancera
In June 1954 Argentino visited Bogotá, and in December he travelled to Medellín. When Sonora Matancera toured Colombia in February 1955, he met the group at the Teatro Colombia in Bogotá.[citation needed] According to later accounts attributed to Argentino, Rogelio Martínez was struck by the Cuban flavour of his singing and invited him to join the ensemble in Havana.[citation needed] After several months of rehearsals, Argentino made his first recordings with the group in August 1955.[citation needed]
His first single with Sonora Matancera paired the bolero-tango "Una canción", written by Aníbal Troilo, with the guaracha "Las muchachas", by Billo Frómeta.[3] During his years with the group he recorded songs including "Ave María Lola", "El solterito", "Cuartito 22", "Ay cosita linda", "Un poquito de cariño", "Tu rica boca", "En el mar", "Boquita golosa", "El novio celoso", "Apambichao", "Lamento náufrago" and "La mamá y la hija", as well as boleros such as "Alma vendida", "No pidas más perdón", "El amor no existe", "Cruel indiferencia" and "Cuando tú seas mía".[3]
With Sonora Matancera he travelled widely through Latin America and remained with the ensemble until 1959.[citation needed]
Later career and death
After leaving Cuba in 1960, Argentino went to Mexico and returned to Argentina the following year, settling again in La Paternal.[citation needed] He remained active as a solo singer and also performed in other Latin American countries. Over the course of his career he lived for periods in Cuba, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela; in 1978 he sang with Los Solistas de Renato Capriles and appeared on their first two LPs.[citation needed]
A prominent horse racing enthusiast, he reportedly owned several Thoroughbred horses named after his songs, including Pachangueando, La Espumita and El Manotón.[citation needed] He was also a football supporter of both Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors, and recorded football-themed releases such as Pachanga de Boca and the album Somos la mitad más uno, as well as songs for other clubs including Racing Club, Estudiantes de La Plata and Chacarita Juniors.[citation needed]
On 1 July 1989, he reunited with Sonora Matancera in Central Park in New York City for the group's 65th-anniversary celebration.[4] The event also reportedly brought together former Sonora singers including Celia Cruz, Daniel Santos, Vicentico Valdés, Leo Marini and Nelson Pinedo.[citation needed] It appears to have been his last major public performance.[citation needed]
Argentino died in Buenos Aires on 20 June 1991 after suffering a myocardial infarction while attending horse races.[citation needed]
Discography
With Sonora Matancera
- Carlos Argentino Sings / Canta Carlos Argentino (1957)
- Yo canto para ti / I Sing for You (1958)
- El inimitable (1959)
- En el aire (1960)
Solo
- La voz triunfal (1960)
- Localidades agotadas (1962)
- Cocinando pachangas (1963)
- El Rey de la Pachanga (1964)
- Lo nuevo de Carlos Argentino (1971)
- ¡A vivir! (1977)
- Sacúdete y menéate... (1981)
- Somos la mitad más uno (1981)
- La lechita (1985)
- El Genio y la selección (1986)
Compilations
- Lo mejor de Carlos Argentino (1980)
- Carlos Argentino y sus éxitos con la Sonora Matancera (1991)
References
- ↑ Rojas, Yumber Vera (3 May 2024). "La Sonora Matancera, cien años de son, bolero, rumba y guaracha" [Sonora Matancera, one hundred years of son, bolero, rumba and guaracha]. Página/12 (in español). Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ↑ "Carlos Argentino Torres". Gran Enciclopedia de la Música (in español). Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Argentino, Carlos". The Díaz-Ayala Cuban and Latin American Popular Music Collection. Florida International University Libraries. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ↑ "La orquesta del siglo: la Sonora Matancera en Perú y más allá" [The orchestra of the century: Sonora Matancera in Peru and beyond]. El Universal (in español). 2 May 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
External links
- Carlos Argentino discography at Discogs
- Carlos Argentino at the Díaz-Ayala Cuban and Latin American Popular Music Collection
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