Carlos Gardel
Brief bio written by: Joe Yang
Carlos Gardel is probably the most well-known figure in tango music, and
had a lasting, international impact in tango history.
Also remembered as a huge soccer fan, he was once shot and wounded during a bar fight in 1915. Although the matter is still debated, many believe that the shooter was none other than the father of Che Guevarra. If that's true, one can only wonder what the two could have possibly been arguing about.
Gardel was born on December 11, somewhere between 1887 and 1890. It is widely believed that he was an illegitimate child born in Toulouse, France, to Bertha Gardes (who gave him the name Charles Romuald Gardes) and later moved with him in to Argentina where he grew up.
His passport states that he was born in Tacuarembó,
Uruguay, and there's even paperwork proving that he applied for Argentinean
citizenship in the '20s. However, many think he faked Uruguayan heritage
to avoid being drafted by the French Army to fight in the First World
War.
But enough of the administrative details.
Dropping out of high school in 1906, Carlos Gardel studied singing and
did small gigs at town meetings and other community gatherings. He soon
became a popular folk singer, and collaborating with other vocalists and
musicians, performed at festivals and prominent cafes. His earliest recording
contract was with Columbia Records, but his first few albums were all
folk songs (not tangos).
His first singing performance involving a tango came about in 1917, when
he sang a version of the song Mi Noche Triste (My Sad Night),
by Pascual Contursi and Samuel Castriota. Up until then, tango music was
about street life and had a more humorous nature.
Whether intentional or not, Carlos Gardel's interpretation of Mi Noche Triste was mournful and deeply emotional, and became a hit all over Latin America with sales exceeding 100,000 copies. It is said that Gardel's famous rendition of this song is the reason why tango music is known for its dramatic flair.
Gardel went on to perform all over Latin America and Europe, and made
appearances in the US as well. He even appeared in several films produced
by Paramount Pictures where he performed many well-known tangos. In 1935,
at the height of his career, "the King of Tango" and many of
his fellow musicians died in a plane crash over Medellín, Colombia.
Millions of worldwide fans went into mourning over the news, and he was
later buried in Buenos Aires.
Still a beloved figure among tango enthusiasts everywhere, Carlos Gardel's
recordings are often heard at milongas in all corners of the globe. Click the players below to hear samples of Gardel's music...
El día que me quieras