Graciano de Leone

Graciano de Leone was born on 16 July 1890 ^[3]. He began playing the bandoneon in 1909, after Eduardo Arolas urged him to take up the instrument ^[1].

During the 1910s he played in a series of cafés and venues ^[1]. These included the Bar Argentino in La Boca, the Café La Buseca in Avellaneda, the Café Domínguez on Corrientes, the Tigre Hotel and the Armenonville ^[1]. His musical partners in these years included Roccatagliata, Macchi, Bardi, Juan Carlos Cobián and Roberto Firpo ^[1]. In 1924 he played in Julio De Caro's large orchestra at the Salón L'Aiglon ^[1].

He also composed tangos ^[1][4]. His first tango, Q.E.P.D., dates from 1912, and he is credited as the composer of Reliquias porteñas ^[1][4]. He died in Burzaco on 21 June 1945 ^[2].

Early career

De Leone took up the bandoneon in 1909 at Eduardo Arolas's urging ^[1].

In 1911 he played at the Bar Argentino in La Boca alongside Roccatagliata, Macchi and Bardi ^[1]. In 1912 he played at the Café La Buseca in Avellaneda, and in the same year he wrote his first tango, Q.E.P.D. ^[1].

Café Domínguez and other engagements

From 1914 de Leone led his own quartet at the Café Domínguez on Corrientes, an engagement that a biography dates as lasting until 1919 ^[1].

In 1915, while this engagement was under way, he formed a trio with Juan Carlos Cobián at the Tigre Hotel ^[1]. In 1916 he stood in for Roberto Firpo at the Armenonville ^[1].

With Julio De Caro

In 1924 de Leone played in Julio De Caro's large orchestra at the Salón L'Aiglon ^[1]. The dossier records no later engagements.

Death

De Leone died in Burzaco on 21 June 1945 ^[2].

Repertoire

Two compositions are attributed to de Leone. Q.E.P.D. was his first tango, written in 1912 ^[1]. Reliquias porteñas is also credited to him as composer ^[4].