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Orchestra

José Libertella

José Libertella was a tango musician and orchestra leader, born on 9 July 1933, who grew up in Villa Lugano after arriving in Argentina as a baby [4][1]. After working in several orchestras, he led his own orchestra, recording for Odeon from 1959, and in 1973 co-founded the Sexteto Mayor with Luis Stazo [2][1]. He won a Latin Grammy with the sextet in 2003 and died in Paris on 8 December 2004 while on tour [3][1].

José Libertella was born on 9 July 1933 [4]. He arrived in Argentina as a baby and grew up in the Buenos Aires neighbourhood of Villa Lugano [1].

His career began in other musicians' orchestras: from 1948 he played with Alberto Suárez Villanueva, and from 1950 with Osmar Maderna and in the Orquesta Símbolo under Aquiles Roggero [1]. In 1959 he conducted Ángel Vargas's orchestra on RCA Victor and started his own orchestra, recording for Odeon with the singer Miguel Montero [2].

He is best documented through the Sexteto Mayor, which he founded with Luis Stazo in 1973 [1]. The sextet played the opening of the show Trottoirs de Buenos Aires in Paris in 1981, was part of the creation of the show Tango Pasión in 1992, and won the Latin Grammy for best tango album in 2003 [1][3]. Libertella died in Paris on 8 December 2004 while on tour, hours before a concert [1].

Early life

According to the dossier, Libertella was born on 9 July 1933 [4]. A biography states that he arrived in Argentina as a baby, dated to 1934 in the source data, and grew up in Villa Lugano [1]. The available sources do not say where he was born or how he began his musical training [1][4].

History

In 1948 Libertella joined the orchestra of Alberto Suárez Villanueva, which his biography describes as short-lived [1].

In 1950 he joined Osmar Maderna's orchestra, where he met Luis Stazo, his later partner in the Sexteto Mayor [1]. He then stayed in the Orquesta Símbolo under the direction of Aquiles Roggero until 1955 [1].

In 1959 he conducted the orchestra accompanying Ángel Vargas on recordings for RCA Victor [2]. In the same year he started his own orchestra, which recorded for the Odeon label with the singer Miguel Montero [2].

In 1967 he formed a quartet to accompany the singer Edmundo Rivero on a tour of Japan [1].

Sexteto Mayor

In 1973 Libertella founded the Sexteto Mayor together with Luis Stazo [1]. The group made its debut at La Casa de Carlos Gardel [1].

In 1981 the sextet played the opening of the show Trottoirs de Buenos Aires in Paris [1]. In 1992 the show Tango Pasión was created with the sextet [1].

In 2003 Libertella and the Sexteto Mayor won the Latin Grammy for best tango album [3]. The source does not name the winning album [3].

Singers

Several singers appear in the record of Libertella's career [1][2]:

  • Ángel Vargas, whose orchestra on RCA Victor Libertella conducted in 1959 [2].
  • Miguel Montero, who recorded with Libertella's own orchestra for Odeon from 1959 [2].
  • Edmundo Rivero, whom Libertella accompanied with a quartet on a 1967 tour of Japan [1].

Recordings

The sources name two labels in connection with Libertella. In 1959 he recorded on RCA Victor as conductor for Ángel Vargas, and on Odeon with his own orchestra and the singer Miguel Montero [2]. With the Sexteto Mayor he received the 2003 Latin Grammy for best tango album [3]. No titles of individual recordings are given in the available sources [2][3].

Death

Libertella died in Paris on 8 December 2004 while on tour, hours before a scheduled concert [1].

References

  1. 1.José Libertella · todotango.com
  2. 2.José Libertella · todotango.com
  3. 3.José Libertella · es.wikipedia.org
  4. 4.Tangopedia staff · tangopedia.app

Tours

  1. 1967Forms a quartet to accompany Edmundo Rivero on a tour of Japan.†

    Places named: Japan

  2. 2004Dies in Paris on tour, hours before a concert.†

    Places named: Paris

What we don't know yet5 of 6 known

Its singers.

Data: recordings, facts and sources

Recordings by year

Source: TangoCloud catalogue

19591967

1959: 2, 1967: 2

Singers over the years

First to last recording together · source: TangoCloud catalogue · tap a bar for the takes · Every singer and orchestra

19591967
  1. Ángel Vargas1959 · 2
  2. Adalberto Perazo1967 · 1
  3. Roberto Florio1967 · 1

Singers

Notes9

Arrives in Argentina as a baby and grows up in Villa Lugano.1934Single source

Joins Alberto Suárez Villanueva's short-lived orchestra.1948Single source

Joins Osmar Maderna's orchestra, where he meets Luis Stazo; stays in the Orquesta Símbolo under Aquiles Roggero until 1955.1950Single source

Conducts Ángel Vargas's orchestra on RCA Victor and starts his own orchestra, recording for Odeon with Miguel Montero.1959Single source

Forms a quartet to accompany Edmundo Rivero on a tour of Japan.1967Single source

Founds the Sexteto Mayor with Luis Stazo; it debuts at La Casa de Carlos Gardel.1973Single source

The sextet plays the opening of Trottoirs de Buenos Aires in Paris.1981Single source

The show Tango Pasión is created with the sextet.1992Single source

Dies in Paris on tour, hours before a concert.2004-12-08Single source

Won1

Won Wins the Latin Grammy for best tango album with the Sexteto Mayor.2003Single source

Leader born1

Its leader was born on 1933-07-09Single source

External id1

External id tango_info:JoseaLiberSingle source

Listen

  1. La cieguitaJosé Libertella · Ángel Vargas · no clip yet1959
  2. La porteñitaJosé Libertella · Ángel Vargas · no clip yet1959
  3. TantoJosé Libertella · Roberto Florio · no clip yet1967
  4. Morocha tristeJosé Libertella · Adalberto Perazo · no clip yet1967

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