Domingo Santa Cruz

Domingo Santa Cruz was born on 20 December 1884 ^[2]. A biography dates an injury to 1900: he broke his left leg while working for the Western Railway, and the resulting limp gave him the nickname El Rengo ^[1].

He is credited as the composer of Unión Cívica . The same biography dates the piece to 1904 and states that it was written down by Alfredo Bevilacqua ^[1]. Between about 1905 and 1916 he worked in cafés in the Buenos Aires neighbourhoods of Barracas and La Boca, led a quartet at Café La Morocha, played at Café Atenas, and spent about two months at Café Tupí Nambá in Montevideo ^[1]. He died at the Hospital Tornú on 5 August 1931, after colleagues had organised a radio benefit for him ^[1].

History

According to his biography, Santa Cruz broke his left leg in 1900 while working for the Western Railway ^[1]. The injury left him with a limp, and the limp gave him the nickname El Rengo ^[1].

By 1905 he had won a following in the popular cafés of Barracas and La Boca ^[1]. In 1910 he led a quartet at Café La Morocha with Juan Santa Cruz and Carlos Hernani Macchi ^[1]. In 1913 he played at Café Atenas, at the corner of Santa Fe and Canning ^[1].

In 1914 a tango and waltz contest was held at the brothers' dance academy at Gascón 1150, as the biography describes it ^[1]. In 1916 he played for about two months at Café Tupí Nambá in Montevideo ^[1].

He died at the Hospital Tornú on 5 August 1931 ^[1]. Before his death, colleagues had organised a radio benefit for him ^[1].

Repertoire

Santa Cruz is credited as the composer of Unión Cívica . His biography dates the composition to 1904 and states that it was written down by Alfredo Bevilacqua ^[1].