Learn about the Argentinean Culture. Carlos Gardel, the icon of tango.

Carlos Gardel was born on December 11, 1890 in the city of Toulouse, southern France, with the name of Charles Romuald Gardes. In 1893, he arrived with his mother in Buenos Aires.

He became a singer in regular meetings and coffees. With nearly 21 years, he met José Razzano, nicknamed "El Oriental" because he was Uruguayan, with whom he formed a duo of folk songs. The pairing was known as "The Morocho and East." In 1912 he recorded fifteen songs for Columbia Records (later CBS and, later, Variety), accompanying himself with his guitar. The first of the songs, "Sos mi tirador plateao", recorded later as "El tirador plateado". The portfolio consisted of folk songs.

In 1917 he was the first official singer of tangos, to premiere the tango-song "Mi noche triste" (of Pascual Contursi and Samuel Castriota), because until then, the tango was just music without lyrics. That same year he filmed and released his first film, "Flor de durazno", and began his discs stage with José Razzano with Disco Nacional (later Odeon, now EMI) and the song of Angel Villoldo, "Cantar eterno"

In the 20s brought the tango to Europe, making it known in Spain and France. In 1925 he separated amicably from Razzano. Since returning to Argentina in 1926 he was devoted almost exclusively to the phonograph. In the 30s he was a celebrity in Argentina, Uruguay and several European countries, that was why the movie company Paramount Pictures Corporation summoned him to star in four films, shot in Joinville, France.

Between 1934 and 1935 won the U.S. market, where he recorded albums, sang on radio and filmed very successful films that spread his fame to all America, all within the genre and for his brilliance as a singer. Then came the tour of Central America in 1935: Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Aruba, Curacao and Colombia (where he died).

On June 24, 1935 the plane he was traveling in crashed near Medellin (Colombia) and ended his life at the peak of his fame. He was buried in the cemetery of Chacarita in Buenos Aires. His tomb is visited by fans from around the world. The quality of his voice and his untimely death helped to make him a popular myth.