Carlos Gardel

This article is about the person. For the metro station, see Carlos Gardel (Buenos Aires Underground).

Carlos Gardel
Portrait of Gardel, 1923
Portrait of Gardel, 1923
Background information
Birth nameCharles Romuald Gardès
Born(1890-12-11)11 December 1890
Toulouse, France
OriginBuenos Aires, Argentina
Died24 June 1935(1935-06-24) (aged 44)
Medellín, Colombia
GenresTango
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Years active1917–1935

Carlos Gardel (born Charles Romuald Gardès; 11 December 1890 – 24 June 1935) was a French-born Argentine singer, songwriter, composer and actor, and the most prominent figure in the history of tango. He was one of the most influential interpreters of world popular music in the first half of the 20th century. Gardel is the most famous popular tango singer of all time and is recognized throughout the world.[1][2][3][4] Described variously as a baritone or tenor because of his wide vocal range, he was known for his rich voice and dramatic phrasing. Together with lyricist and long-time collaborator Alfredo Le Pera, Gardel wrote several classic tangos.

Gardel died in an airplane crash at the height of his career, becoming an archetypal tragic hero mourned throughout Latin America. For many, Gardel embodies the soul of the tango style. He is commonly referred to as "Carlitos", "El Zorzal" ("The Song thrush"), "The King of Tango", "El Mago" (The Wizard), "El Morocho del Abasto" (The Brunette boy from Abasto), and ironically "El Mudo" (The Mute).

In 1967, a controversial theory was published by Uruguayan writer Erasmo Silva Cabrera, asserting that Gardel was born in Tacuarembó, Uruguay. Other authors expanded upon this theory, and a museum to Gardel was established in Tacuarembó. But Gardel's friends and family all knew him as a French immigrant from Toulouse. Scholarly researchers analyzed the contradictory evidence, especially French birth and baptismal records, and confirmed his birthplace as Toulouse.[5][6]

  1. ^ "The Tango Made Flesh: Carlos Gardel | History Today".
  2. ^ Gardel – Felipe Pigna | PlanetadeLibros – via www.planetadelibros.com.ar.
  3. ^ "Proyecto". Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Carlos gardel, among the most prominent and influential Argentines of the 20th century worldwide". 8 June 2018.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Collier5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference UNESCO1986 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).