Salvador Merico

Salvador Merico was born on 24 December 1886 ^[6]. He first came to Buenos Aires in 1910 as part of the D'Aló orchestra, the ensemble that opened the Parque Japonés ^[1]. In 1911 he returned to Buenos Aires with his wife and settled there for good ^[2].

Merico's documented activity covers composing, bandleading and theatre work ^[1]. In 1913 he wrote his first tango, Spatola, which he dedicated to Alberico Spatola ^[1]. In 1920 he formed the Merico Jazz, described as one of the first jazz bands in Buenos Aires ^[1]. In 1922 he began leading the orchestra of the Teatro Nacional, a post he held until 1932 ^[1].

His later tango output, as recorded in the available sources, includes Por dónde andará, written in 1927 with Atilio Supparo ^[3], and two works from 1929: De todo te olvidas, with Enrique Cadícamo, and Seguí mi consejo, with Eduardo Trongé ^[4]. Merico died on 15 May 1969 ^[5].

History

Merico was born on 24 December 1886 ^[6]. His first documented connection with Buenos Aires dates from 1910, when he came to the city with the D'Aló orchestra that opened the Parque Japonés ^[1].

In 1911 he came back to Buenos Aires, this time with his wife, and settled there permanently ^[2]. Two years later, in 1913, he wrote his first tango, Spatola ^[1].

In 1920 Merico formed the Merico Jazz, which has been described as one of the first jazz bands in Buenos Aires ^[1]. From 1922 he led the orchestra of the Teatro Nacional, and he continued in that role until 1932 ^[1]. Throughout this period he also wrote tangos, among them Por dónde andará in 1927 ^[3] and De todo te olvidas and Seguí mi consejo in 1929 ^[4].

Merico died on 15 May 1969 ^[5].

Repertoire

The available sources credit Merico with the following compositions ^[1][3][4]:

- Spatola (1913), his first tango, dedicated to Alberico Spatola ^[1] - Por dónde andará (1927), written with Atilio Supparo ^[3] - De todo te olvidas (1929), written with Enrique Cadícamo ^[4] - Seguí mi consejo (1929), written with Eduardo Trongé ^[4]

Ensembles

Merico is associated with three ensembles in the available sources ^[1]:

- The D'Aló orchestra, with which he came to Buenos Aires in 1910 when it opened the Parque Japonés ^[1] - The Merico Jazz, which he formed in 1920 ^[1] - The orchestra of the Teatro Nacional, which he led from 1922 to 1932 ^[1]