Horacio Pettorossi

Horacio Pettorossi was born on 21 October 1896 ^[4]. The available sources trace a career that began in theatrical companies in Buenos Aires in the mid-1910s, continued in Spain and France in the 1920s, and included periods working with Gardel in the early 1930s ^[1].

In 1915 he played in a twenty-guitar ensemble for a revival of Juan Moreira, where he met Gardel ^[1]. The following year he joined José Podestá's company, accompanying Ignacio Corsini ^[1].

During the 1920s Pettorossi worked in Europe. He debuted in Madrid at the Teatro Prince with Los de la Raza in 1923 ^[1]. In 1925 he was in Paris, where he played at the Palermo club and with the Bianco-Bachicha orchestra ^[1]. In 1930 his own orchestra recorded in Milan for Columbia with the singer Teresita Asprella ^[2].

Pettorossi returned to Buenos Aires with Gardel aboard the Giulio Cesare in December 1932 ^[1]. In January 1933 he joined Gardel's quartet of guitars and travelled with him to Barcelona, Paris and New York ^[1]. In 1934 he declined Gardel's tour of the Americas, and Aguilar replaced him ^[1]. Pettorossi died in Mar del Plata on 25 December 1960 ^[3].

History

### Early career in Buenos Aires

Pettorossi's earliest documented engagement dates from 1915, when he played in a twenty-guitar ensemble assembled for a revival of Juan Moreira ^[1]. According to his biography, this production was the occasion on which he met Gardel ^[1].

In 1916 he joined the theatrical company of José Podestá, in which he accompanied the singer Ignacio Corsini ^[1].

### Europe in the 1920s

By 1923 Pettorossi was working in Spain, where he debuted in Madrid at the Teatro Prince with Los de la Raza ^[1].

In 1925 he was active in Paris ^[1]. There he played at the Palermo club and also performed with the Bianco-Bachicha orchestra ^[1].

In 1930 an orchestra under his name recorded in Milan for the Columbia label, with Teresita Asprella as singer ^[2].

### With Gardel

In December 1932 Pettorossi sailed back to Buenos Aires with Gardel on the Giulio Cesare ^[1]. In January 1933 he joined Gardel's quartet of guitars ^[1]. In that role he went with Gardel to Barcelona, Paris and New York ^[1].

In 1934 Pettorossi declined to take part in Gardel's tour of the Americas ^[1]. His place was taken by Aguilar ^[1].

### Death

Pettorossi died in Mar del Plata on 25 December 1960 ^[3].

Singers

The only singer documented with Pettorossi's own orchestra is Teresita Asprella, who recorded with it in Milan in 1930 ^[2]. Earlier, as a member of José Podestá's company in 1916, Pettorossi accompanied Ignacio Corsini ^[1], and from 1933 he accompanied Gardel as part of his quartet of guitars ^[1].

Recordings

The orchestra led by Pettorossi recorded in Milan for Columbia in 1930, with vocals by Teresita Asprella ^[2]. The sources consulted do not list the titles or matrix details of these recordings ^[2].