Biomusical
Chrono
the life and work of Astor Piazzolla.
1921
Born in Mar del Plata
Astor Pantaleón Piazzolla is born on March 11 in Mar del Plata (Argentina), in the family home at 2527 Rivadavia Street. He is the only child of Vicente Nonino Piazzolla and Asunta Manetti. His father names him after his friend, Astor Bolognini, a motorcycle racer and cellist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
1923
Pied-Bot
Being born with clubfoot, he has to be operated on his right leg several times. A slight difference with the other leg would remain as a sequel.
1931
First Recording
He studies bandoneon with Andrés D’Aquila, who has played in tango orchestras in Buenos Aires. Among his incipient performances in different local venues, universities and on the radio, he makes his first recording ever: Marionette Espanol. This non-commercial aluminium record was the result of a radio intervention at the Radio Recording Studio at 1619 Broadway St., New York.
1932
First media appearance
He participates in festivals and concerts. He is first documented publicly for his performance in the Roerich Society in New York. He gives performances at “El Gaucho”, a restaurant frequented by Vicente—Astor’s father—and other Argentines. He occasionally plays with singer and guitarist Agustín Cornejo.
1934
Newspaper boy with Gardel
He meets Gardel in New York, who has travelled there to shoot the film El día que me quieras. Since Vicente was an admirer of the singer, a friendship with the family develops. Astor plays his bandoneon for Gardel and serves him as bilingual guide in the city; he even takes part in a scene from the film (the one that has become an emblem in the history of tango); he plays the role of a random canillita (paperboy). As a result of his closeness with Gardel, he meets and takes harmony lessons with Terig Tucci, an Argentine musician and the musical director of Gardel’s films in New York.
1937
Listening to Vardaro in Mar del Plata
The Piazzollas move back to Mar del Plata for good. During a radio audition, he discovers violinist Elvino Vardaro and finally puts together the original triad of his musical preference: the Bach of his New York teacher, Bela Wilda; the jazz milieu of New York during those years and now the tango of the Vardaro Sextet. He takes part in some small unknown groups in Mar del Plata.