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Carlos
Gardel Chronology
1890-1935
1890
Gardel is born in Toulouse, France, on December 11 under the name of Charles Romuald
Gardes. Son of Berthe Gardes and Paul Lasserre, his father, who does not recognize him. On
March 11, 1893, he arrives in Buenos Aires with his mother. He studies Craftsman
apprenticeship in the San Carlos school. In 1904 he completes primary school.
1905
Gardel travels to Montevideo with a friend of the same age. On his return he begins to
sing in the Abasto bowling alleys and for a radical committee.
1910
Gardel lives with his mother at 1714 Corrientes Street. He frequently visits the
"O'Rodemman" café, where he is known as "El morocho del
Abasto". During this period he changes his surname to Gardel.
1911
Gardel meets Jose Razzano in a singing match in the "El Pelado" café.
Their friendship begins here and the idea is born to form a duet that will take
take place in 1913.
1912
Gardel makes his first recordings on the Columbia label via the acoustic system. This
same year he tours the province of Buenos Aires with Francisco Martino. Later he
is united with Jose Razzano and they perform in the "Casa Suiza".
1913
Saul Salinas joins them in a trio for a few performances, but soon, Salinas decides to break
away from the group. Gardel and Martino continue the tour, but then Martino
must return to Buenos Aires. As the consequence, Gardel-Razzano duet is formed, which in December, makes
their debut in "El Armenorville" club along with Roberto Firpo, Eduardo
Arolas and David Roccatagliata.
1914
On January 8, the duet Gardel-Razzano debuts with the Ducasse-Alippi company at
the "Nacional" Theater. From here they make a series of performances in
a number of Buenos Aires theaters and begin to
connect with personalities such as Lola
Membrives, Angelina Papano and Orfilia Rico.
1915
Jose Ricardo, the concert guitarist, joins the duet, seconding Gardel. They tour
the provinces. On June 18, they make their debut
in the "Royal Theater", Montevideo, Uruguay. They also debut in "San Pedro Municipal Theater"
in Brazil. On December 11, due to an argument, after a performance in the theater
"San Martín", Gardel
receives a bullet wound at point-blank range. The bullet is lodged in the left
lung for the rest of his life. There is an interruption in his career.
1916
After the necessary rest, Gardel having recovered, he reinitiates his activity. The
duet makes a series of performances in various Argentine National theaters and
Montevideo.
1917
The duet debuts in "Esmeraldas" theater (now Maipo). It is here that Gardel sings
to the public his first tango "Mi noche triste" and is an instant hit. They also continue their performances
in the provinces. During the months of June and July, Gardel films "El
Flor De Durazno" (Peach Flower).
1918
The duet Gardel-Razzano realize a series of performances in Argentina and
Uruguay. Together with their guitarist Ricardo and maestro Roberto Firpo and his
orchestra, they make a tour of the Argentine interior to increase the sale of "National"
label records. Gardel receives the "Sociedad De Artistas De Variedades"
founding membership card Nº 8.
1919
Tours of the provinces with to Razzano and their guitarist Ricardo. They make
recordings on the acoustic system with the Odeon label, among them "Flor de
Fango" and "La vuelta de Bulin".
1920
Gardel lives with his mother at 451 Rodriguez Peña Street. The duet continues
with their auditions, but after a performance in the "Empire" Theater,
Razzano has to undergo a throat operation. The duet suspends their performances
for a time. Gardel meets his future girlfriend, Isabel del
Valle, with whom, he
maintains intimate relationship for a number of years to come.
1921
Gardel and Razzano compose a tango, the first that they sign together "Mon
Bijou", shortly after, Gardel changes the name to "Medallita de la
suerte". Gardel begins to worry about his weight problem and starts doing gymnastics. A new member
joins the duet, the second guitarist, Guillermo Barbieri, forming the quartet Gardel-Razzano-Ricardo-Barbieri.
1922
Touring of the Argentine provinces. They act in the "Maipo" theater, new
name of the old "Esmeralda" theater.
1923
First trip to Spain with the "Rivera-De Rosas" company with which they
perform in Madrid.
1924
They finish their performance in Madrid and decide to travel to France and Toulouse,
where they visit Gardel's relatives. They return to Buenos Aires on of February
13. They continue recording for the "National" label. They perform in a
private tribute to the Prince
of Piedmont, Humbert of Savoy. First radio performances on "Low Radio
Grand Splendid".
1925
They continue with tours and their performances on "Low Radio Grand
Splendid". They sing for Edward of Windsor, the Prince of Wales. Due to
health problems (his throat) Razzano
decides to break away from the pair. From this time on, Gardel sings alone. Gardel signs a
contract with Razzano, who now becomes his manager and administrator. Gardel
again travels to Barcelona with the "Rivera-De Rosas" company. In December,
he produces his
first recordings on the Odeon Spain label.
1926
He continues recording in Barcelona. He returns to Buenos Aires on March 25th
and resumes recording with the Buenos Aires Odeon label. His horse Lunático
wins a race for the first time. On November 8, he begins recording for the
"Nacional Odeon" label via the new, electrical recording process.
1927
Gardel and his mother are living in an apartment on Rincon 137 Street. Gardel often
performs in "Café De Los Angelitos" which is a block away from his
home. During this year, he buys a house at 735 Jean Jaurés
Street. He travels again to Barcelona and
appears in several Barcelona and Madrid theaters. This has been a very fruitful year with
regard to his song recordings.
1928
He continues to record discs in Barcelona, accompanied by his guitarists Ricardo
and Barbieri. He visits Paris and signs a contract to perform in this city. On June
14, he return to Buenos Aires. He continues recording for the Odeon label. He
again travels to Paris accompanied by his three guitarists Ricardo, Barbieri and
Aguilar. On Sept. 11, he makes a debut in Paris with great success and on October 11, he
produces the first
disc recordings for "Paris Odeon" label.
1929
Gardel continues his performances in Paris and his recordings for the Odeon label. After a series of performances in Spain,
and after having accompanied Gardel
during little more than 13 years, his guitarist Ricardo decides
to break away from the group. On June 17, Gardel return to Buenos Aires. Upon his
return, he will live in his house, that he had purchased two years ago,
on Jean Jaurés 735 Street. He begins to record again for the "Nacional
Odeon" label. In December, he reunites as a duet with Razzano for one last
time, producing the songs "Claveles Mendocinos" and "Serrana
Impia". He sings on "Radio LR5 Radio Excelsior" and "LR7
Radio La Razon" in Montevideo, Uruguay.
1930
Touring the provinces. Guitarist, Angel Domingo Riverol, joins the group. They
perform on "Radio Nacional". He makes recordings with his guitarists and
the orchestra of Francisco Canaro with the Biaggi-Rodio pair on piano and violin.
Debuts on "LR Radio Splendid" and "LS Radio Rivadavia". During the months of
October and November Gardel starts recording the songs for and shooting the
"Diez Cortometrajes" (Ten Short Films). He again travels to Europe.
1931
His performances in Paris finish. He goes to the Riviera and sings in Nice, where he befriends
Charlie Chaplin. Due to a disagreement with Gardel, his guitarist Aguilar leaves the tour and returns to Buenos Aires. During the month of May,
Gardel stars in the film "Luces de Buenos Aires" (Buenos Aires Lights) which is produced for the Paramount
in Joinville, near
Paris. He continues recording songs in Paris, accompanied with the guitars of Barbieri and
Riverol. On August 20, they return to Buenos Aires. Radio performances on "LP6
Radio Casa America" now with a new guitarist, Domingo Jose Vivas. He records
some French songs.
1932
Recordings in Barcelona. He makes contact with Alfredo Le Pera, who works for "The
Paramount". Le Pera becomes his film producer and prepares the scripts for the
upcoming Paris films. During September and November, a series
of films is produced in Paramount studios: "Espérame" (Wait for Me), "La
Casa es Seria" (The House is Somber) and "Melodia De Arrabal"
(Melody of the Suburb). On December 30, he return to Buenos Aires.
1933
This it is the last year that Gardel remains in Argentina, doing some of his best
work: singing in cinemas, theaters, radio programs, making disc recordings and
touring the Uruguayan countryside. Another guitarist, Horacio Pettorossi, joins the group.
On January 16, Gardel brakes his contract with Razzano and signs up with his new
manager Armando Defino. On November 7, he makes out and signs his last will and testament. He travels to Barcelona.
On December 22, he travels to the United States. On December 31, Gardel makes
his New York debut via N.B.C. radio.
1934
Gardel continues his performances for the N.B.C. On March 5, together with
"LR4 Radio Splendid" in Buenos Aires, an extraordinary transmission
from New York to Buenos Aires is made, with the guitarists Barbieri, Riverol and Vivas
accompanying Gardel from Buenos Aires. During the month of May, he films
"Cuesta Abajo" (Downhill). On June 28, he begins to film "El
Tango En Broadway" (The Tango on Broadway). Music recordings in New York for RCA Victor
label. On August 25, he travels
back to
Europe and on October 15, he returns to New York. On December 15, he begins to
film the scenes for "Cazadores De Estrellas" (Hunters of Stars), the rest of this film is
produced in Hollywood.
1935
In January of this year, Gardel films "El Día Que Me Quieras" (The
Day You Will Love Me) in
New York. In
For the
Spanish version, click here.
Para la versión en Español, oprimir
aquí.
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