Singer
Mercedes Simone
Mercedes Simone (born 21 April 1904, died 2 October 1990) was a tango singer whose career included recordings, radio, film and revue theatre [2]. She began performing with her husband, the guitarist and singer Pablo Rodríguez, made her first recording for Victor in 1927, and sang with the orchestras of Adolfo Carabelli and Francisco Lomuto in the early 1930s [1][2][7][8].
1931: 1, 2; 1932: 2, 3; 1933: 1, 25
Mercedes Simone was a singer born on 21 April 1904 [8]. She died in Buenos Aires on 2 October 1990, aged 86 [2]. Her recorded age at death agrees with her recorded date of birth [8][2].
Her career moved through several settings. She began by touring provincial towns with her husband's guitar [2], then worked on radio from 1928 on Radio Splendid and Radio Belgrano [1]. She recorded with guitars for Victor in 1927 [2] and sang with the orchestra of Adolfo Carabelli in 1931 and 1932 [5][6]. She is also linked to the orchestra of Francisco Lomuto in 1933 [7].
From the 1930s she appeared in films, starting in 1933 with Tango, directed by Luis Moglia Barth, in which she sang her own 'Cantando' [2]. Her last film, La otra y yo, opened in 1949 [3]. In 1939 she starred in Gloria Guzmán's revue company at the Teatro Maipo [1]. In 1966 she opened her own club, named Cantando [1].
Early life and beginnings
Simone was born on 21 April 1904 [8]. On 24 November 1923 she married the guitarist and singer Pablo Rodríguez, who accompanied her early performances [1].
Around 1926 she made her debut at Los Dos Chinos in Bahía Blanca, accompanied by her husband's guitar [2]. She then toured provincial towns [2].
Radio and first recordings
Simone made her first recording for Victor on 15 December 1927 [2]. It consisted of the tangos 'Estampa rea' and 'El morito', with guitar accompaniment [2].
In 1928 she began working on radio [1]. She appeared first on Radio Splendid and then on Radio Belgrano, where she was hired by Jaime Yankelevich [1].
Work with orchestras
Simone sang with the orchestra of Adolfo Carabelli [6]. A recording listing for 'Cantando' places her with Carabelli in 1931. She is also documented with Carabelli on 26 July 1932, in a catalogue entry for 'Volvé' [5]. A recording catalogue lists a recording sung by her on that same date .
In 1931 she is recorded as having performed at the Teatro Colón [4].
A tango calendar for 1933 links her with the orchestra of Francisco Lomuto on 22 July 1933 [7].
Film and theatre
In 1933 Simone sang her own 'Cantando' in the film Tango, directed by Luis Moglia Barth [2].
The film Sombras porteñas, directed by Daniel Tinayre, opened on 25 February 1936 [3]. In 1937 she appeared in La vuelta de Rocha, directed by Manuel Romero [3]. Her last film, La otra y yo, opened on 28 January 1949 [3].
In 1939 she starred in Gloria Guzmán's revue company at the Teatro Maipo [1].
Later years
In 1966 Simone opened her own club, Cantando, where she was accompanied by Lucio Demare [1]. The club lasted two years [1].
In January 1967 she returned to Bahía Blanca for a festival in tribute to Carlos Di Sarli at Club Estudiantes [3].
She died in Buenos Aires on 2 October 1990, aged 86 [2].
Related
Entities connected to Simone include the orchestra of Adolfo Carabelli, with which she sang in 1931 and 1932 [5][6]. They also include the orchestra of Francisco Lomuto, linked to her in 1933 [7], and the Teatro Colón, where she performed in 1931 [4].
References
- 1.Mercedes Simone · es.wikipedia.org
- 2.Mercedes Simone · todotango.com
- 3.Mercedes Simone, la dama del tango · lanueva.com
- 4.El tango y el Teatro Colón - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre · es.wikipedia.org
- 5.Volvé - tango.info · tango.info
- 6.Biography of Adolfo Carabelli by Héctor Ángel Benedetti - Todotango.com · todotango.com
- 7.Calendar - Argentine Tango - tango.info · tango.info
- 8.Tangopedia staff · tangopedia.app
Tours
1926Debuts at Los Dos Chinos in Bahía Blanca with her husband's guitar, then tours provincial towns.†
Data: recordings, facts and sources
As an orchestra leader
As a composer
Orchestras over the years
First to last recording together · source: TangoCloud catalogue · tap a bar for the takes · Every singer and orchestra
- Francisco Lomuto1933 · 1
- Adolfo Carabelli1931–1932 · 3
With Francisco Lomuto
1 recordings · 1933–1933 · source: TangoCloud catalogue
With Adolfo Carabelli
3 recordings · 1931–1932 · source: TangoCloud catalogue
Composer1
Cantando — composed by Mercedes Simone
Supported · 2Singers3
Volvé · Adolfo Carabelli · 1932 — sung by Mercedes SimoneJul 26, 1932
Supported · 2Cantando · Adolfo Carabelli · 1931 — sung by Mercedes Simone
Single sourceNo le quiero mirar · Adolfo Carabelli · 1932 — sung by Mercedes Simone
Single sourceNotes26
Marries the guitarist and singer Pablo Rodríguez, who accompanies her early performances.Nov 24, 1923
Single sourceDebuts at Los Dos Chinos in Bahía Blanca with her husband's guitar, then tours provincial towns.1926
Single sourceFirst recording, for Victor: the tangos 'Estampa rea' and 'El morito', with guitars.Dec 15, 1927
Single sourceBegins on radio, first on Radio Splendid and then on Radio Belgrano, hired by Jaime Yankelevich.1928
Single sourceSings her own 'Cantando' in the film Tango, directed by Luis Moglia Barth.1933
Single sourceSombras porteñas, directed by Daniel Tinayre, opens.Feb 25, 1936
Single sourceAppears in La vuelta de Rocha, directed by Manuel Romero.1937
Single sourceStars in Gloria Guzmán's revue company at the Teatro Maipo.1939
Single sourceLa otra y yo, her last film, opens.Jan 28, 1949
Single sourceOpens her own club, Cantando, accompanied by Lucio Demare; it lasts two years.1966
Single sourceReturns to Bahía Blanca in January for a festival in tribute to Carlos Di Sarli at Club Estudiantes.1967
Single sourceDies in Buenos Aires, aged 86.Oct 2, 1990
Single sourceMercedes Simone — described as Mercedes Simone (Cancionista, letrista y compositora.)
Single sourceMercedes Simone made only a handful of recordings with dance orchestras; her voice is darker than most of tango's other women singers.
Single sourceSimone is credited with making Milonga Sentimental well known before bringing it to Canaro's attention; without her, his famous recording of it would not have happened.
Single sourceOiga, agente is Simone's own song, whose bleak lyric may be why it never became famous; her signature song she wrote is Cantando.
Single sourceBy 1938 the era of the soloist had passed and the Orquesta Típica with its cantor de orquesta was the public taste; singing the whole lyric was thought incompatible with singing for dancers.
Single sourceKnown as «La Dama del Tango»
Single sourceReal name Mercedes Celia Simone
Single sourceAround 1930, a competition crowned Libertad Lamarque the best woman singer and 'queen of tango'; accepting the award on stage, she said the real queen was Mercedes Simone, who could not attend that night.
Single sourceNickname "La Dama del Tango"
Single sourceMezzo-soprano register
Single sourceGreat intonation, perfect diction and unmistakable phrasing
Single sourceRecorded more than 240 pieces
Single sourceRelease “La Mujer en el Tango” (1983) on EMI POPS POP-123, MX1983source
Single sourceRelease “Sentir el tango: Milonga triste” (1998) on Altaya T.A. 0511998source
Single sourcePerformed at1
Not Performed at Teatro Colón1931
Single sourceSang with3
Sang with Adolfo CarabelliJul 26, 1932
Supported · 2Sang with Francisco LomutoJul 22, 1933
Single sourceMercedes Simone — sang with Mercedes Simone
Single sourceBorn2
Born on April 21, 1904
Supported · 2Mercedes Simone — born on Mercedes Simone (April 21, 1904)
Single sourceIn other catalogues5
Mercedes Simone — external id Mercedes Simone (todotango:creador/135)
Single sourcetango.info · MerceSimon
Single sourceMusicBrainz · d68124ba-d495-460a-913e-edda5d0f0994source
Single sourceDiscogs · 997528
Single sourceDied2
Mercedes Simone — died on Mercedes Simone (October 2, 1990)
Single sourceDied on October 2, 1990
Single sourceBirthplace1
Mercedes Simone — born in Mercedes Simone (Villa Elisa (Buenos Aires) Argentina)
Single sourceLyricist1
Cantando — lyrics by Mercedes Simone
Single sourcePlayed in1
Played in Teatro Maipo1927
Single sourcePlace of death2
Died in Buenos Aires
Single sourceMercedes Simone — died in Mercedes Simone
Single sourceListen
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