Osvaldo Pugliese

Osvaldo Pugliese, pianist and composer, was born in 1905 in Villa Crespo, Buenos Aires. He was one of the biggest tango authors. He studied with teachers like Vicente Scamaruzza and Pedro Rubione. He was only 15 when he made his debut with a trio in a bar called "La cueva del Chancho". In 1925 he played with Enrique Pollet and with the bandoneon player Paquita Bernardo, too. He played with Pedro Maffia from 1926 to 1929, when he associated with the violin player Elvino Vardaro to create a sextet. Pugliese formed an orchestra with his name but it was quicky broken down. He paarticipated in Gobbi's orchestra and after that, he had short participations in Daniel Alvarez's, Roberto Firpo's and Miguel Caló's orchestras. On August 1939 he performed with his orchestra at "El Nacional" cafe at Corrientes Street. In 1943 he recorded his first album acting for Odeon, Philips and Stentor companies. His first tango was "Recuerdo": one of the most important tango compositions in the tango history (1924). In 1986 he finally received the homage of his own city , when he was made an honorary citizen of Buenos Aires. In 1988 the French Ambasador in Argentina gave him the Condecoration as "Comendador de la Orden de las Letras". On August 1st, 1989 SADAIC and the Asociacion de Coleccionistas de Tango uncovered a plaque at 969 Corrientes Street to celebrate his 50th anniversary with his orchestra. He died on July 25th, 1995 when he was 89 in Buenos Aires city. After 75 years of performing.