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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZGARDEL, Carlos(b 11 December 1890, Toulouse, France; d 24 June 1935, Colombia) Singer who became the major exponent of the tango, nicknamed 'Zorzal' ('Thrush'). In 1893 his mother (Berthe Gardes) moved to Buenos Aires; he later changed the spelling of his name and was elusive about his origins. He registered as a Uruguayan national '20, became Argentine citizen '23. Sang in bars and at parties after leaving school; formed duet with José Razzano '13, made first recordings '12, first tango recordings '17: 'Mi Noche Triste' used urban slang ('lunfardo') to describe a lover's misery; the introduction of lyrics into the tango set a trend and launched him as the most important singer in the new genre. The Tango Project on Nonesuch included Gardel's 'Par una Cabeza', used in films '92-5 including Schindler's List, Scent Of A Woman, True Lies. The duo prospered, toured Europe; Gardel went solo '25, performed for the Prince of Wales in Buenos Aires that year. Peak success was '25-9: he sold 70,000 records in the first three months of a visit to Paris. A superb singer with 'a tear in his throat', ideally suited to the melancholy and yearning of tango songs; he worked hard at a superstar image with pomaded hair and sharp suits matching a wealthy lifestyle; ten films '31-5 including Tango On Broadway '34. Died in aeroplane crash en route to Cali, Colombia; when his remains reached Buenos Aires February 1936 his funeral attracted the biggest crowds in the nation's history. He is still synonymous with the tango; his complete recordings were once issued on LP and in a set of 44 cassettes. There were two dozen compilations in the mid-'90s, mostly on El Bandoneon and Capitol/EMI Latin labels. |