Osvlado Pugliese
Brief bio written by: Joe Yang
Osvaldo Pugliese (December 12, 1906 - July 25, 1995) was born in Buenos
Aires, and started with the violin before switching to the piano.
After studying at several conservatories, he began playing in tango bands. When he was a teenager, he composed his first hit, Recuerdo, which remains a popular tango song today.
With a distinctive, dramatic sound, Pugliese's tango music is a departure from the steady-beat pattern of songs commonly performed by his peers. Because of their flair, his songs are often used during stage performances.
Rhythmically, his tangos
are more challenging to interpret, and at milongas it's common to hear
his works later in the evening (at around 2:30 am) when the more experienced
(and sober) dancers are still present.
For a time, Osvaldo Pugliese was blacklisted for being a communist, and
even jailed at one point. But nonetheless, he had a successful career
and secured a distinguished place in tango history.
Click the player below to hear a sample of Pugliese's style...