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Orchestra

Juan Carlos Cobián

Juan Carlos Cobián (born 31 May 1896, died 10 December 1953) was a pianist, composer and bandleader who led sextets and orchestras in Buenos Aires and New York [1][2][4]. In 1928 his orchestra recorded for Victor with the singers Francisco Fiorentino and Genaro Veiga [1][5][12].

Juan Carlos Cobian recordings indexed 1923–1944

Juan Carlos Cobián was born on 31 May 1896 [4]. He moved to Buenos Aires in 1913 and worked there as a pianist in a beer hall and in silent-film cinemas [1]. He later played with Eduardo Arolas at the cabaret Montmartre, although the two Todo Tango biographies date this association differently [1][2].

In 1922 he led his own sextet at the Abdullah Club, and in 1923 he led a band at the McAlpin Hotel in New York [1]. In 1928, back in Buenos Aires, he led an orchestra with the singer Francisco Fiorentino and recorded again for Victor [1]. He led later orchestras at the cabaret Charleston and on Radio El Mundo, and he died in Buenos Aires on 10 December 1953 [1][2].

History

Cobián moved to Buenos Aires in 1913, where he played piano in a beer hall and in silent-film cinemas, among them the Buckingham and Las Familias [1].

1923: 2 · danced 10 times1928: 15 · danced 53 times1944: 6 · danced 96 times
1923’30’401944
records madedanced on film, by the record’s year· our catalogue

1923: 2, 10; 1928: 15, 53; 1944: 6, 96

Recordings per year, and the filmed Dances to them · 23 recordings, 1923–1944 · read Nov 1, 2026

One biography states that in 1914 he released his first tango, El motivo, and met Carlos Gardel while playing with Eduardo Arolas at the Montmartre [2]. Another states that in 1916 he played in a trio with Eduardo Arolas and Tito Roccatagliata at the cabaret Montmartre [1]. The sources therefore differ on when his association with Arolas at the Montmartre took place [1][2].

In 1919 he did his military service in the 2nd Infantry Regiment, much of it under arrest [1]. In 1922 he joined Osvaldo Fresedo's sextet at the Abdullah Club and then led his own sextet there with Pedro Maffia and Julio De Caro [1].

In 1923 he left for the United States, where he led a band at the McAlpin Hotel in New York [1]. By 1928 he was back in Buenos Aires, leading an orchestra with singer Francisco Fiorentino and recording again for Victor [1].

In 1936 he formed a new orchestra for the cabaret Charleston, at Florida and Paraguay [1]. In 1937 he returned to the United States and later moved on to Mexico [2]. In 1943, back in Argentina, he led his orchestra on Radio El Mundo before retiring [1]. He died in Buenos Aires on 10 December 1953 [2].

Musicians

Computed from the catalogue, not yet written by anyone

The sources place these musicians in the orchestra, year by year.

Line-up by year

The musicians the sources place in the orchestra each year. Someone with no end year is shown only in the year they joined.

  1. 1todotango.com/creadores/biografia/30/Juan-Carlos-Cobian/
  2. 2es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopoldo_Federico

Singers

Francisco Fiorentino sang with the orchestra in 1928 [1]. Genaro Veiga also sang with the orchestra in 1928.

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

19281944
  1. Francisco Fiorentino1928 · 10
  2. José Balbi1944 · 2
  3. Jorge Cardozo1944 · 3
  4. Genaro Veiga1928 · 4
Singers by year, first to last recording together · 4 singers · read Nov 1, 2026

Recordings

The orchestra recorded for Victor in 1928 [1]. Recording listings for the orchestra from 1928 include the following titles:

Most danced

12 of 23 recordings

From TangoTube dances

  1. La casita de mis viejosJuan Carlos CobianJosé Balbi
  2. El motivoJuan Carlos Cobiansinger unknown
  3. RubíJuan Carlos CobianJorge Cardozo
  4. Rey de copasJuan Carlos CobianFrancisco Fiorentino
  5. El unico lunarJuan Carlos CobianFrancisco Fiorentino
  6. ShushetaJuan Carlos Cobiansinger unknown
  7. Lamento pampeanoJuan Carlos CobianFrancisco Fiorentino
  8. CharlatanJuan Carlos CobianFrancisco Fiorentino
  9. MariónJuan Carlos CobianJosé Balbi
  10. LadrónJuan Carlos CobianFrancisco Fiorentino
  11. Rosa carminJuan Carlos CobianJorge Cardozo
  12. Me querésJuan Carlos CobianFrancisco Fiorentino
Explore Juan Carlos Cobian's recordings by year

Repertoire

Cobián's compositions mentioned in the sources include the following [1][2][3]:

  • El motivo, described as his first tango, released in 1914 [2]
  • Salomé, written in 1917 and described as an early tango-romanza [1]
  • A pan y agua, written during his military service in 1919 [1]
  • Los mareados, composed in 1922 [3]

Periods

Explore19231944Explore Juan Carlos Cobian's known recording years, 1923–1944, by period.Explore periods

Connections

ExploreFrancisco FiorentinoJosé BalbiJuan Carlos CobianFollow the cited people around Juan Carlos Cobian, year by year.Explore connections
Compare with…Who played with Juan Carlos Cobian, year by year

In their words

  • una versión de «Amor y nostalgia», que me pareció que era un tango que se podía adaptar muy bien al inglés, porque su música es medio blues, hecha por Juan Carlos Cobián

    Guillermo Fernández · GUILLERMO FERNÁNDEZ Tengo una pregunta para vos (por Pepa Palazón) with ENGLISH subtitles.

    open at 28:12

Read more

References

How Tangopedia works

  1. 1.Biografía de Juan Carlos Cobián · todotango.com
  2. 2.Biografía de Juan Carlos Cobián · todotango.com
  3. 3.www.wikidata.org · wikidata.org
  4. 4.Tangopedia staff · tangopedia.app

What we don't know yet5 of 6 known

Its singers.

Data: recordings, facts and sources

Also: its leader, Juan Carlos Cobian

Notes15

Moves to Buenos Aires and plays piano in a beer hall and silent-film cinemas, among them the Buckingham and Las Familias.1913

Releases his first tango, El motivo, and meets Carlos Gardel while playing with Eduardo Arolas at the Montmartre.1914

Plays in a trio with Eduardo Arolas and Tito Roccatagliata at the cabaret Montmartre.1916

Writes Salomé, an early tango-romanza.1917

Does his military service in the 2nd Infantry Regiment, much of it under arrest, and writes A pan y agua.1919

Joins Osvaldo Fresedo's sextet at the Abdullah Club, then leads his own sextet there with Pedro Maffia and Julio De Caro.1922

Leaves for the United States; in New York he leads a band at the McAlpin Hotel.1923

Back in Buenos Aires, leads an orchestra with singer Francisco Fiorentino and records again for Victor.1928

Forms a new orchestra for the cabaret Charleston, at Florida and Paraguay.1936

Returns to the United States, later moving on to Mexico.1937

Back in Argentina, leads his orchestra on Radio El Mundo before retiring.1943

Dies in Buenos Aires.Dec 10, 1953

Composed “Los mareados” (1922).May 4, 1922

El Chopin del tango

First pianist to fill the bass silences of the melody with ornaments

Sang with8

José Balbi — sang with Juan Carlos CobianMay 3, 1944

Francisco Fiorentino — sang with Juan Carlos Cobian1928

Antonio Rodríguez Lesende — sang with Juan Carlos Cobian1936

Miguel Montero — sang with Juan Carlos Cobian1943

Santiago Devincenzi — sang with Juan Carlos Cobian

Alberto Lago — sang with Juan Carlos Cobian

Jorge Cardozo — sang with Juan Carlos Cobian1944

Genaro Veiga — sang with Juan Carlos Cobian1927

Leader's place of death1

Its leader died in Buenos AiresDec 10, 1953

Known for1

Is known for Una droga; Shusheta; Piropos; Viaje al norte1922

Played in2

Ciriaco Ortiz — played in Juan Carlos Cobian1936

Leopoldo Federico — played in Juan Carlos Cobian1944

Listen

  1. ShushetaJuan Carlos Cobiansinger unknowntango
  2. PololaJuan Carlos Cobiansinger unknowntango
  3. El marcaoJuan Carlos CobianFrancisco Fiorentinotango
  4. Lamento pampeanoJuan Carlos CobianFrancisco Fiorentinotango
  5. LadrónJuan Carlos CobianFrancisco Fiorentinotango
  6. Me querésJuan Carlos CobianFrancisco Fiorentinotango
  7. Mujer de fuegoJuan Carlos CobianGenaro Veigatango
  8. CharlatanJuan Carlos CobianFrancisco Fiorentinotango
  9. El unico lunarJuan Carlos CobianFrancisco Fiorentinotango
  10. Recostado en un farolJuan Carlos CobianFrancisco Fiorentinotango
  11. Rey de copasJuan Carlos CobianFrancisco Fiorentinotango
  12. Pinta bravaJuan Carlos CobianGenaro Veigatango

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