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Carlos Gardel:
Facts and Trivia
Continuously
updated
Anécdotas,
Gardel trivia from carlosgardel.8m.com (in Spanish)
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Gardel
was born in the house on no.
4 rue du Canon d'Arcole in Toulouse, France. The
dedication plaque attached to the house in March 1997
states: "IN THIS BUILDING WAS BORN ON DEC 11 1890 CHARLES ROMUALD GARDES WHO
WOULD BE CELEBRATED IN THE ENTIRE WORLD BY THE NAME OF CARLOS GARDEL".
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BIRTHPLACE:
"Since he could not return to France with the name of
CHARLES ROMUALD GARDES, because he was a war deserter, he made
a passport in the name of CARLOS GARDEL, born in TACUAREMBO,
URUGUAY, on December 11, 1887" (LUIS FELDMAN, historian,
investigator and publisher of 48 videos on Gardel).
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Urugayans claim that Gardel was born in Uruguay. To this day, they have not been able to produce his birth certificate.
In fact, in 1937 when Gardel's will was and origin being
contested, Uruguayuan government acknowledged that he was born
in France. It is totally absurd that he was born in
Tacuarembó. No manuscripts exist of Gardel to his supposed
parents in that town, there are no photos of him with those
people, there is no proof that he ever visited that town. In
an intricately woven web of deception and lies, they use the
stories of people born three generations later as
"proof". They base their claim on laymen and
charlatans such as: Eduardo Paysee Gonzales (Avlis, Nelson
Bayardo and Ricardo Ostuni.
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In
1913, the celebrated musical competition took place between
Gardel and Razzano on the street Guardia Vieja in Buenos
Aires. That street is today called "calle Carlos
Gardel".
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In
the beginning of 1913, by the way of "Casa Tagini"
Gardel realized his first recordings on the acoustic system
for the Columbia seal. Of the first 15 themes registered, the
first two are: Sos mi tirador
plateado, master no.
56748, (estilo) and Yo se hacer, master no. 56749,
(cifra).
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In
1915, as a result of a bar room brawl, Gardel got shot by
Ernesto Guevara Lynch. The shooter, would be none other
than the father of
the infamous Ernesto Che
Guevara.
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Traveling
on the same ship, on his tour to Brazil in 1915, Gardel met
his idol, the great Enrico Caruso, who gave him this advice:
"Molto bene...Bella voce...I am going to give some
advice: do not let yourself be seduced by the easy successes
nor by the misunderstanding... Reject all suggestion in the
desire for change to obtain one or two higher tones in your
voice... If you do it, you will be ruined. Aside from the
voice, you have an unmistakable color, purest diction, clear,
perfect... This is most valuable, it will allow you to
faithfully reproduce any lyrics in the proper tone".
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Until
1917, Gardel did not record a single tango, only Argentinean folklore music.
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In
1924, in Buenos Aires (Estancia
El Huetel), Gardel sang for the visiting Prince of
Wales (who later became Edward
VIII)
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On
his tour of Spain in 1927, a reporter asked him as to his true
nationality. Gardel responded: "My country is the tango and
its capital is the Corrientes street".
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Gardel's
first performance in Paris was on September 30, 1928 Theatre Femina on the Champs
Elysees, in a benefit concert for the victims of the
Guadeloupe catastrophe (one of the French island colonies). It
is his performance at this benefit that catapulted Gardel in
France and on the international stage. Among the best artists
in the World at this concert was Josephine Baker (see
announcement on the right).
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Gardel
on TV in 1931: believe it or not, Gardel was first seen on
an experimental TV set in Curazú Cuatiá, Corrientes
province on August 8, 1931. The transmission was made in
co-operation of the monthly paper Radio
Revista and LR4 Radio Splendid.
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Gardel's last residence in Argentina (1927-1933) was
his house at:
Jean Jaurés
735 in Abasto, Buenos Aires. On June 24, 2003, it is
to be opened to public.
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On
December 9, 1931, Gardel was in London for a soccer match
between England and Barcelona. England won by 7:1 making
Gardel very unhappy since his friend Zamora, was the goalie
for Barcelona.
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His
last recording in Argentina was on November 6, 1933 when he
committed to disc Madame Ivonne, a tango by Eduardo
Pereyra and Enrique Cadícamo.
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On
March 20, 1935, in New York, Gardel recorded his last song Guitarra
Mía, with the guitars of Aguilar, Barbieri and Riverol,
master BS 89235-2.
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On
March 25, 1935 from the studios of RCA Victor in New York, he
records an announcement about his upcoming tour to Colombia,
Venezuela, Cuba, etc. The recording is known as Palabras de Gardel y
Le Pera (The words of Gardel & Le Pera), master BVE
89451-1.
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On
June 23, 1935, in Bogotá, Colombia, on the radio station
"La Voz de la Víctor" Gardel sings to the public
and the world for the last time with the song Tomo
y obligo.
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The last tango that Gardel
sang: June 23, 1935, Bogota, Colombia
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Gardel's
tango 'Por una Cabeza' was used in 1992-5 films including
Schindler's List, Scent Of A Woman and True Lies.
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Did
you know that Cecilia Villa who starred
with Gardel in two movies: "Cazadores de Estrellas" and
"El dia que me quieras" was the daughter of the famous
mexican revolucionary PANCHO VILLA.
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In
many of his photos, Gardel is wearing the fashionable
"trilby" hat, better known in Spain and U.S.A.
as the "fedora". This was a very popular hat of the
1930's worn by "Indiana Jones" and the gangsters of
the era.
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Gardel's
music has been interpreted by Trio
los Panchos (1986), Julio
Iglesias (1997), Marcelo
Álvarez (2000), Roberto Carlos, Héctor
Cabrera, Alberto Cortés and Plácido
Domingo.
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Antonio Sumage, alias El Aviador, was for many years and since 1915 Gardel's personal chauffer (he was at the steering wheel at the time Gardel was shot after a bar scene in 1915). He even accompanied him to France on Sept. 12, 1928 to return the 1928 Graham Paige car that the Barcelona soccer club gave him as a present.
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Eduardo
Bonessi, Gardel's song master had this to say of Gardel:
"Before leaving for his last tour, in 1935, he was
with me and told me that he did not want to sing anymore. He
had had enough, the public made him nervous and he suffocated
in sweat whenever he performed. It was a voice to last one
hundred years, but his spirit had been exhausted ",
assured the professor with sadness.
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Bing
Crosby (American singer and actor. 1933)
"Gardel is the owner of an unquestionable musical
personality, he is in possession of the fourth dimension
of the Song, that is the one of knowing how to make his
listeners feel it". "I have never heard a voice more
beautiful."
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Charles
Chaplin (1889 – 1977) (Actor, scriptwriter and director  of English cinema.
Los Angeles, 1935) eulogizing Gardel:
"I knew the great singer in Nice... in March of 1931.
Finding myself in Le
Palais de la Méditerranée, a mutual friend put to
us in contact... He had a superior presence of voice and
figure, an enormous personal sympathy that would gain him the
immediate affection of everyone. So profound was the sympathy
he inspired in me, that I remember clearly that we stayed up
until the first light of dawn, in a night of joy that
would never repeat itself... I told Gardel he would have
triumphant future and advised him to dedicate himself to
the cinema... When Gardel arrived to the United States, he
came to visit me, he was my guest which gave me the
opportunity again to listen to his cherished songs... Days
before initiating the tour he came to bid me goodbye and we
were together awhile. He already spoke correct English and
told me that he was going to make a tour of Central America,
the idea that I applauded. You can tell the public that with
Gardel I lose one of my best friends, and they should know
that the South American countries could not have a better
representative among us. As far as the cinematographic art is
concerned, it has lost a paramount figure that never could be
replaced."
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As
a kid, Gardel did not spend much time at home, never telling
his mother where he was going. She was worried sick. Upon
returning late, he would look at her concerned face and sing
to her Mi madre querida
after which she would calm down:
¡Pobre mi madre querida,
cuantos disgustos le daba! (bis)
¡Cuántas veces, escondida,
llorando lo más sentida,
en un rincón la encontraba! (bis)
My poor dear mother,
how displeased I would make her! (bis)
So many times, hidden,
crying with much emotion,
in a corner I would find her! (bis)
For the complete song lyrics, click
here.
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Here
are some words from Gardel' mother Berta recorded in 1936.
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On
March 23, 2000, a 2.4m statue of Gardel, the work of Mariano
Pagés, was dedicated in Abasto.
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Gardel
performed in Caracas, Venezuela a few days before his death.
In 1988, on the Plaza Carlos Gardel, statue
was erected of Gardel and his guitarists, the work of the
sculptor Marisol Escobar.
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According
to Jorge Luis Borges: "I never liked GARDEL and the
tendency that he represented. Because in the end of all
things, that music has contributed in saddening the Argentine
people. The first tangos were happier, valiant, moving.
And then comes that bedraggled tango, with a final sob"
(June 1975).
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89
year-old Eduardo Morera directed Carlos Gardel in 1930,
throughout fifteen cinematographic shorts, of which only ten
survive. Precursor of the talking Argentine films, he
considers that together with Gardel, they produced true video clips.
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There
is a saying in Argentina:
"It will snow again in Buenos Aires before a replacement
for Gardel is found".
(The last time snow fell in Bs. Aires was on June 22, 1918)
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The
fact that in some songs, Gardel did not pronounce the "N"
and replace it by an "R", obeyed the
mechanical rudimentary methods of recording on discs: the
energy of his own voice would vibrate a membrane that would
stimulate a needle on an endless spiral used for recording on
the first acoustic records made of paste. The voice was
conducted from a horn where the singer of those times
practically introduced the whole face and a tube took it up to
the needle. That made it necessary to produce strong
consonants, since the weak ones did not make a clear
impression on the record (Gardel would sing "Targo"
instead of "Tango"). This was not attributed to his
pronunciation defect as stated by some of his biographers. It
is curious though that with the advent of the electrical
recording system in 1925-6, Gardel continued to use the "R"
consonant in his songs until his death in 1935. It is also
worthy of note that, on some of his acoustic records, the
"N" could still be clearly
distinguished.
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Miguel
Angel Morena, "Historia Artística de Carlos Gardel":
Carlos Gardel, the Maestro, the greatest Tango singer in
history. Many ask, what is the phenomenom of his continuing
relevance?... It's easy to notice that, amongst other valid
reasons, it's fundamentally rooted in the real fact - not myth
- of his Voice: so warm, expressive and full of shades; a
voice that conveys every emotional state, which continues,
thanks to the magic of records, to attract legions of
admirers. We shouldn't then find it strange that after all
this time the Great Singer has not been surpassed and
continues to move with his art: here and now, relevant,
universal...
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Gardel's
favourite singing and eating spots were: Café
O´Rondeman, (Agüero and Humahuaca) Abasto, owned by
five Traverso brothers, cabaret Armenonville (where
Garde's professional carrer was launched in 1914), El Guaraní (Corrientes y
Esmeralda), Café
Tortoni (Avenida de Mayo 825), restaurant and
El
Valussi, in the same area, Café
de los Angelitos, (Rivadavia and Rincón). It is in
Café de los Angelitos where Gardel & Razzano signed their
contract for Odeon in 1917. The NEW cafe is to be built there
under the same name but the original one was demolished
in 2000. Gardel frequented the restaurant El Chanta Cuatro
(demolished) in which exact spot is now the restaurant "Esquina
Carlos Gardel". Another of Gardel's favourite spots
was Chantecler Cabaret, located on 400 Paraná
Street, between Corrientes and Lavalle. It opened at the end
of 1924 and was demolished in 1960, after years of inactivity.
Gardel frequented this place, where his friend, Madame Ritana
worked. It is rumoured that Gardel and Madame Ritana were more
than just friends (as Gardel's long-time girlfriend, Isabel
del Valle would insinuate). It is even rumoured that one of
the reasons why Gardel got shot in 1915 was because of Madame
Ritana's jealous husband. It is possible since in June 1929
Gardel sends Razzano this letter: "Another important
thing: Five months ago, I have received a menacing letter from
the father of a blond girl working in Chantecler. You can
imagine that I have to protect myself, for this reason I
bought a revolver to be sure, but you better go and see the
girl as soon as possible and find out what impressions she has
of her father. The threat in the letter simply says "We
will meet some day". I have the letters in case there is
any doubt. Well, I leave this matter in your hands and at
the same time, take care of another woman,
"la figurita", who slept with me.
Carta a Razzano, junio 1928.
Otra cosa importante: he recibido una carta hace cinco
meses del padre de una muchacha rubia del cabaret Chantecler
como amenazandome. Te imaginarás que tengo que ir prevenido,
por esto he comprado un revólver para asegurarlo, pero por de
pronto vos tenés que ir a ver a la muchacha a ver que
impresiones tiene del padre. La amenaza de la carta es
simplemente 'que algún día nos vamos a encontrar'. Yo tengo
las cartas por las dudas. Bueno, te encargo esto y al mismo
tiempo vela por la otra mujer que se encamó conmigo, 'la
figurita'.
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The
famous Mercado del Abasto, a historical landmark, was
there for 50 years. It opened in the year 1893, the same year
that Gardel and his mother came to Argentina from France. The last time it "appeared in
public", so to speak, was back in 1987 when Luciano
Pavarotti recorded there a special program for the RAI, sang
"Canción de Buenos Aires", and danced tango with
the late Beba Bidart, a key tango dancer, singer and actress.
At present, and after being recycled, it is a modern mall with
hundreds of stores, a large food plaza and movie theatres. One
of the most famous characters in this neighborhood was the
"Morocho del Abasto". This is what Carlos Gardel, an
all-time great, was called. He lived with his mother at 137
Rincon St. Carlos Gardel´s House is located at 735 Jean
Jaures St.
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The
CD "Carlos Gardel, The King of Tango", from Nimbus
Records (NI 7896) is oriented to the English speaking public.
The tangos do not lose anything in translation:
-SYNOPSIS
-MALEVAJE:
Good God! What have you done to me? The underworld gives me
strange looks, it sees me losing my grip - me! And only
yesterday my daring deeds were famous! Your love has trapped me. I
don't know who I am any more.
-SEGUI
MI CONSEJO: Live like a swell. Avoid overwork. Get by on
champagne. Always live your life at night. Ogle the girls who
are already fixed up and it won't cost your money. Avoid milk,
its bad for the heart. Make whisky your friend instead. Take
my advice!
-CHE
PAPUSA OÍ: Great-looking cabaret girl, with your
picaresque "crème de menthe" eyes, your frenchified
chatter, your wicked look, your sinful mouth, the smoky
cabaret may claim your attention tonight, but Ill be seeing
you tomorrow!
-TOMO
Y OBLIGO: I drink, and you must drink too. Order a drink!
Its no good talking about women, none of them give any reward.
Don't fall in love, but if it happens, have courage! Suffer it,
don't cry. A truly macho man must never cry.
(Information provided by David Fernández Martín <davidfm_@eresmas.com>
on Aug. 28, 2002)
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