The Cabeceo

We've caught your eye across the milonga. Like any good tango, this starts with consent — nothing optional runs until you say so. What we store.

Skip to content

Singer

Francisco Fiorentino

Francisco Fiorentino (1905–1955) was a tango bandoneonist and singer. He worked with the orchestras of Francisco Canaro, Juan Carlos Cobián, Juan D'Arienzo and Roberto Zerrillo before singing with Aníbal Troilo's orchestra until 1944. [1][4][6][18] He later fronted his own orchestra, led and arranged by Astor Piazzolla, and died in a road accident after performing in Mendoza in September 1955. [1][3]

Francisco Fiorentino was born on 23 September 1905, according to Tangopedia staff records. [18] He began as a bandoneonist who sometimes sang the refrain and later worked mainly as a singer. [1] His longest documented association was with Aníbal Troilo's orchestra, with which he recorded for RCA Victor from 1941. [1][2]

Sources differ on two dates in his career: when his work with Canaro's orchestra began and when his association with Troilo began. [1][5][13][14]

History

According to Todo Tango, Fiorentino joined Francisco Canaro's orchestra in 1928 as a bandoneonist, sometimes singing the refrain. [1] tango.info dates his work with Canaro's orchestra to 7 August 1929, so sources differ on the date. [5]

Recording lists on el-recodo.com connect him with Juan Carlos Cobián's orchestra in 1928. These lists cover the titles El unico lunar, Rey de copas, Lamento pampeano, Charlatan, Ladrón, Me querés and Vení vení. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12]

Todo Tango's chronicle of Juan D'Arienzo's orchestra names Fiorentino, together with Carlos Dante, among the orchestra's estribillistas (refrain singers). This association is dated 1928–1929. [4] tango.info also places him with D'Arienzo in 1929. [5]

In 1934 he sang with Roberto Zerrillo's orchestra. On that orchestra's record of Serenata de amor he sang a full lyric rather than only the refrain. [1]

Todo Tango's biography states that Fiorentino debuted as a singer with Aníbal Troilo's orchestra on 1 July 1937, at the cabaret Marabú. [1] Other sources date his work with Troilo from 1938. These are tango.info's 1938 calendar and Néstor Pinsón's Todo Tango chronicle of the orchestra, which gives 1938–1939. Sources therefore differ on when the association began. [13][14]

His first RCA Victor session with Troilo took place in 1941 and included Yo soy el tango and Mano brava. [2] Further sources document his work with the orchestra in 1940–1942 and on several dates in 1942. [15][16] A Todo Tango profile of Alberto Marino also records him with the orchestra on 4 August 1943. [17] Fiorentino eventually left Troilo's orchestra. [15] Todo Tango's biography dates his departure to March 1944. [1]

After leaving Troilo, he fronted his own orchestra, which was led and arranged by Astor Piazzolla. [1] In 1951 he joined pianist José Puglia and bandoneonist Edgardo Pedroza in Uruguay. In November of that year he made his last three recordings. [1]

On 10 September 1955 he sang at a benefit dance in Los Árboles, Rivadavia, Mendoza. [3] He died on 11 September 1955, when the car carrying him back from the dance overturned on a bridge over the Tunuyán river. [1]

Recordings

The TangoCloud public recording catalogue lists one Odeon recording sung by Fiorentino, dated 7 August 1929. tango.info gives the same date for his work with Canaro's orchestra. [5]

The same catalogue lists RCA Victor recordings sung by Fiorentino from 4 March 1941 to 30 March 1944. They are dated as follows:

  • 1941: 4 March, 16 April, 28 May, 17 June, 18 July, 8 September, 9 October, 23 October and 21 November.
  • 1942: 8 January, 16 April, 15 June, 23 July, 1 September, 18 September, 9 October, 30 October, 14 December and 29 December.
  • 1943: 11 March, 25 March, 5 April, 2 June, 20 October, 5 November and 17 December.
  • 1944: 30 March.

The catalogue also lists recordings sung by him with no label given. These are dated 7 June 1945, 10 January 1946, 20 March 1946, 21 May 1946 and 29 December 1950.

tango.info's Troilo discography places his first RCA Victor session with Troilo in 1941, including Yo soy el tango and Mano brava. [2] Todo Tango names Serenata de amor, recorded with Roberto Zerrillo's orchestra in 1934, and states that his last three recordings were made in Uruguay in November 1951. [1]

References

How Tangopedia works

  1. 1.Francisco Fiorentino · todotango.com
  2. 2.Anibal Troilo discography · tango.info
  3. 3.Francisco Fiorentino · en.wikipedia.org
  4. 4.Orquesta Típica Juan D'Arienzo · todotango.com“Los estribillistas: Carlos Dante y Francisco Fiorentino, también, la cancionista Raquel Notar.”
  5. 5.Calendar 1929 - tango.info · tango.info
  6. 6.El unico lunar: list of recordings · el-recodo.com
  7. 7.Rey de copas: list of recordings · el-recodo.com
  8. 8.Lamento pampeano: list of recordings · el-recodo.com
  9. 9.Charlatan: list of recordings · el-recodo.com
  10. 10.Ladrón: list of recordings · el-recodo.com
  11. 11.Me querés: list of recordings · el-recodo.com
  12. 12.Vení vení: list of recordings · el-recodo.com
  13. 13.Calendar - Argentine Tango - tango.info · tango.info
  14. 14.Orquesta Típica Aníbal Troilo (Néstor Pinsón) · todotango.com
  15. 15.Orquesta Típica Aníbal Troilo - Todotango.com · todotango.com
  16. 16.Calendar - Argentine Tango - tango.info · tango.info
  17. 17.Alberto Marino (ficha) · todotango.com
  18. 18.Tangopedia staff · tangopedia.app
Data: recordings, facts and sources

Also: led Francisco Fiorentino

Recordings by year

Source: TangoCloud catalogue

19281951

1928: 12, 1929: 10, 1931: 2, 1941: 19, 1942: 21, 1943: 17, 1944: 3, 1948: 2, 1949: 6, 1950: 3, 1951: 3

Orchestras over the years

First to last recording together · source: TangoCloud catalogue · tap a bar for the takes · Every singer and orchestra

19281951
  1. Aníbal Troilo1941–1944 · 60
  2. Juan Carlos Cobian1928 · 10
  3. Juan D'Arienzo1929 · 6
  4. José Basso1948–1949 · 8
  5. Alberto Mancione1950–1951 · 4
  6. Francisco Canaro1928–1929 · 5
  7. Orquesta Típica Victor1931 · 1
  8. Pedro Maffia1931 · 1
  9. Puglia-Pedroza1951 · 2
  10. Roberto Firpo1929 · 1

With Aníbal Troilo

60 recordings · 1941–1944 · source: TangoCloud catalogue

  1. Te aconsejo que me olvidesAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1941
  2. En esta tarde grisAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1941
  3. Yo soy el tangoAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1941
  4. Mano bravaAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1941
  5. El cuarteadorAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1941
  6. GricelAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1942
  7. Valsecito amigoAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1943
  8. Tu diagnósticoAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1941
  9. GarúaAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1943
  10. Una cartaAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1941
  11. El bulin de la calle AyacuchoAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1941
  12. Del tiempo guapoAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1941

With Juan Carlos Cobian

10 recordings · 1928–1928 · source: TangoCloud catalogue

  1. El unico lunarJuan Carlos Cobian · Francisco Fiorentino1928
  2. Rey de copasJuan Carlos Cobian · Francisco Fiorentino1928
  3. CharlatanJuan Carlos Cobian · Francisco Fiorentino1928
  4. Lamento pampeanoJuan Carlos Cobian · Francisco Fiorentino1928
  5. LadrónJuan Carlos Cobian · Francisco Fiorentino1928
  6. Me querésJuan Carlos Cobian · Francisco Fiorentino1928
  7. Vení veníJuan Carlos Cobian · Francisco Fiorentino1928
  8. El marcaoJuan Carlos Cobian · Francisco Fiorentino1928
  9. Por mal caminoJuan Carlos Cobian · Francisco Fiorentino1928
  10. Recostado en un farolJuan Carlos Cobian · Francisco Fiorentino1928

With Juan D'Arienzo

6 recordings · 1929–1929 · source: TangoCloud catalogue

  1. VictoriaJuan D'Arienzo · Francisco Fiorentino1929
  2. MalaJuan D'Arienzo · Francisco Fiorentino1929
  3. Che caretaJuan D'Arienzo · Francisco Fiorentino1929
  4. Noche silenciosaJuan D'Arienzo · Francisco Fiorentino1929
  5. Pilchas fulerasJuan D'Arienzo · Francisco Fiorentino1929
  6. Soy un arlequínJuan D'Arienzo · Francisco Fiorentino1929

With José Basso

8 recordings · 1948–1949 · source: TangoCloud catalogue

  1. El bulin de la calle AyacuchoJosé Basso · Francisco Fiorentino1949
  2. Dos que se amanJosé Basso · Francisco Fiorentino, Ricardo Ruiz1948
  3. Mi noche tristeJosé Basso · Francisco Fiorentino1948
  4. A media luzJosé Basso · Francisco Fiorentino1949
  5. TaberneroJosé Basso · Francisco Fiorentino1949
  6. Triste comediaJosé Basso · Francisco Fiorentino1949
  7. Un placerJosé Basso · Francisco Fiorentino, Ricardo Ruiz1949
  8. Una lágrima tuyaJosé Basso · Francisco Fiorentino, Ricardo Ruiz1949

With Alberto Mancione

4 recordings · 1950–1951 · source: TangoCloud catalogue

  1. Te aconsejo que me olvidesAlberto Mancione · Francisco Fiorentino1950
  2. Mano a manoAlberto Mancione · Francisco Fiorentino1950
  3. Tinta rojaAlberto Mancione · Francisco Fiorentino1950
  4. El motivoAlberto Mancione · Francisco Fiorentino1951

With Francisco Canaro

5 recordings · 1928–1929 · source: TangoCloud catalogue

  1. Ché italianoFrancisco Canaro · Francisco Fiorentino1928
  2. Mueble viejoFrancisco Canaro · Francisco Fiorentino1928
  3. MiauFrancisco Canaro · Francisco Fiorentino1929
  4. Porque eres malaFrancisco Canaro · Francisco Fiorentino1929
  5. Vuelve amorcitoFrancisco Canaro · Francisco Fiorentino1929

With Orquesta Típica Victor

1 recordings · 1931–1931 · source: TangoCloud catalogue

  1. Organito callejeroOrquesta Típica Victor · Francisco Fiorentino1931

With Pedro Maffia

1 recordings · 1931–1931 · source: TangoCloud catalogue

  1. Una noche de amorPedro Maffia · Francisco Fiorentino1931

With Puglia-Pedroza

2 recordings · 1951–1951 · source: TangoCloud catalogue

  1. MalenaPuglia-Pedroza · Francisco Fiorentino1951
  2. ÍntimoPuglia-Pedroza · Francisco Fiorentino1951

With Roberto Firpo

1 recordings · 1929–1929 · source: TangoCloud catalogue

  1. Tal vez mi nenaRoberto Firpo · Francisco Fiorentino1929

Singers77

Te aconsejo que me olvides · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoApr 16, 1941Supported · 2

Te aconsejo que me olvides · Alberto Mancione · 1950 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoDec 29, 1950Supported · 2

En esta tarde gris · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoJul 18, 1941Supported · 2

Malena · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoJan 8, 1942Supported · 2

Toda mi vida · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoMar 4, 1941Supported · 2

Barrio de tango · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoDec 14, 1942Supported · 2

Tinta roja · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoOct 23, 1941Supported · 2

Valsecito amigo · Aníbal Troilo · 1943 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoMar 25, 1943Supported · 2

Yo soy el tango · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoMar 4, 1941Supported · 2

Pa' que bailen los muchachos · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoApr 16, 1942Supported · 2

No te apures Carablanca · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSep 18, 1942Supported · 2

Gricel · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoOct 30, 1942Supported · 2

Buenos Aires · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoDec 29, 1942Supported · 2

Ficha de oro · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoOct 9, 1942Supported · 2

Tabaco · Aníbal Troilo · 1944 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoMar 30, 1944Supported · 2

El encopao · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSep 1, 1942Supported · 2

Nos encontramos al pasar · Francisco Fiorentino · 1945 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoJun 7, 1945Single source

Tristezas de la calle Corrientes · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSep 18, 1942Supported · 2

Corazón no le hagas caso · Aníbal Troilo · 1943 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoMar 11, 1943Supported · 2

Gime el viento · Aníbal Troilo · 1943 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoOct 20, 1943Supported · 2

Percal · Aníbal Troilo · 1943 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoMar 25, 1943Supported · 2

No le digas que la quiero · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoOct 23, 1941Supported · 2

Tu diagnóstico · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoOct 9, 1941Supported · 2

Margarita Gauthier · Aníbal Troilo · 1943 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoMar 11, 1943Supported · 2

Volvió una noche · Francisco Fiorentino · 1946 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoMar 20, 1946Single source

El bulin de la calle Ayacucho · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoJun 17, 1941Supported · 2

Cada vez que me recuerdes · Aníbal Troilo · 1943 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoApr 5, 1943Supported · 2

Cautivo · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoOct 9, 1941Supported · 2

Sencillo y compadre · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoNov 21, 1941Supported · 2

Total pa qué sirvo · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSep 8, 1941Supported · 2

Suerte loca · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoJun 15, 1942Supported · 2

Mi castigo · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoApr 16, 1942Supported · 2

Tabernero · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoMay 28, 1941Supported · 2

Soy muchacho de la guardia · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoJun 15, 1942Supported · 2

Pa' que seguir · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoDec 14, 1942Supported · 2

Acordándome de vos · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoJul 23, 1942Supported · 2

Papá Baltasar · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoApr 16, 1942Supported · 2

A bailar · Aníbal Troilo · 1943 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoNov 5, 1943Supported · 2

Orquestas de mi ciudad · Aníbal Troilo · 1943 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoDec 17, 1943Supported · 2

Otros tiempos otros hombres · Francisco Fiorentino · 1946 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoMay 21, 1946Single source

Soy un porteño · Aníbal Troilo · 1943 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoJun 2, 1943Supported · 2

Viejo ciego · Francisco Fiorentino · 1946 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoJan 10, 1946Single source

Vuelve amorcito · Francisco Canaro · 1929 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoAug 7, 1929Supported · 2

Ché italiano · Francisco Canaro · 1928 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

Mueble viejo · Francisco Canaro · 1928 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

Miau · Francisco Canaro · 1929 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

Porque eres mala · Francisco Canaro · 1929 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

Tal vez mi nena · Roberto Firpo · 1929 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

Organito callejero · 1931 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

Mano brava · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

Con toda la voz que tengo · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

Pájaro ciego · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

Una carta · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

El cuarteador · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

Maragata · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

Del tiempo guapo · Aníbal Troilo · 1941 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

Colorao colorao · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

Fueye · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

Los mareados · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

Lejos de Buenos Aires · Aníbal Troilo · 1942 — sung by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

Notes21

Joins Francisco Canaro's orchestra as bandoneonist, sometimes singing the refrain.1928Single source

With Roberto Zerrillo's orchestra, sings a full lyric on the record of Serenata de amor rather than just the refrain.1934Single source

Debuts as singer with Aníbal Troilo's orchestra at the cabaret Marabú.Jul 1, 1937Single source

First RCA Victor session with Troilo, including Yo soy el tango and Mano brava.1941Single source

Leaves Troilo in March and fronts his own orchestra, led and arranged by Astor Piazzolla.1944Single source

Joins pianist José Puglia and bandoneonist Edgardo Pedroza in Uruguay and makes his last three recordings in November.1951Single source

Sings at a benefit dance in Los Árboles, Rivadavia, Mendoza, on the night before his death.Sep 10, 1955Single source

Dies when the car carrying him back from the dance overturns on a bridge over the Tunuyán river.Sep 11, 1955Single source

Francisco Fiorentino — described as Francisco Fiorentino (Cantor, bandoneonista y compositor)Single source

Fiorentino sang with Troilo for seven years until March 1944, then went solo but never again reached that level of success: he quit José Basso's band even though Basso loved the sound, and quit a two-year contract with the Mancione orchestra after a year, lured by a lucrative South American tour that then fell through, leaving him with nothing.Single source

Fiorentino's last three recordings were made in Uruguay in November 1951 with the little-known Pulía Pedrosa orchestra; he died in a car accident in 1955, just after Troilo had asked him to rejoin for a comeback.Single source

Mancione told an interviewer that Fiorentino was late for a recording session of Te aconsejo que me olvides because he had missed a flight from Mar del Plata that crashed after takeoff, killing everyone on board except a small child.Single source

Away from Troilo, Fiorentino's phrasing is freer and he sits more at the front of an orchestra less flexible than Troilo's.Single source

Fiorentino was not Troilo's first choice (he wanted Antonio Rodríguez Lesende, and the second edition has new research on why that failed); Lavocah calls Troilo-Fiorentino perhaps the greatest orchestra-singer combination in tango.Single source

Fiorentino's last solo recordings are from 1951; he died in a car accident in 1955, just as he was about to return to Troilo.Single source

Fiorentino created the template of the orchestra singer: the synthesis with the orchestra is perfect, with neither dominating, giving the dancer freedom between melody and rhythm.Single source

Known as «El Gordo Fiorentino»Single source

Known as «El Tano Fiore»Single source

Archetype of the orchestra singerSingle source

Small voice, unclear dictionSingle source

Voz de tango, fraseo bien porteño y gran emotividadSingle source

Sang with7

Sang with Juan Carlos Cobian1928Supported · 9

Sang with Juan D'Arienzo1928–1929, 1929Supported · 4

Sang with Francisco CanaroAug 7, 1929Supported · 2

Francisco Fiorentino — sang with Francisco Fiorentino1936, Jul 1, 1937Single source

Sang with Aníbal Troilo1937–1944Supported · 9

Sang with José Basso1949, Mar 10, 1949Supported · 3

Sang with Roberto Zerrillo1934Single source

Left1

Left Aníbal TroiloSingle source

Born2

Born on September 23, 1905Supported · 3

Francisco Fiorentino — born on Francisco Fiorentino (September 23, 1905)Single source

External id5

Francisco Fiorentino — external id Francisco Fiorentino (todotango:creador/157)Single source

External id tango_info:FrancFioreSingle source

External id wikidata:Q2917655source

External id musicbrainz:ad2bc208-e4b3-4c8f-8084-0db7561225efsource

External id discogs:1296665Single source

Died2

Francisco Fiorentino — died on Francisco Fiorentino (September 11, 1955)Single source

Died on September 11, 1955Supported · 2

Birthplace3

Francisco Fiorentino — born in Francisco Fiorentino (Buenos Aires Argentina)Single source

Born in Buenos Aires1905Single source

Born in San Telmo, Buenos AiresSep 23, 1905Single source

Composer2

Pa' que seguir — composed by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

Orquestas de mi ciudad — composed by Francisco FiorentinoSingle source

Place of death1

Died in MendozaSep 11, 1955Single source

Known for1

Is known for Gricel; Garúa; De barro; Tu diagnóstico (vals); Mano brava (milonga)Single source

Arranged for1

Arranged for Astor Piazzolla as director and arranger of Fiorentino's own orchestraSingle source

Listen

  1. Te aconsejo que me olvidesAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1941
  2. En esta tarde grisAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1941
  3. Yo soy el tangoAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1941
  4. Mano bravaAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1941
  5. El cuarteadorAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1941
  6. GricelAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1942
  7. Valsecito amigoAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1943
  8. Tu diagnósticoAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1941
  9. GarúaAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1943
  10. Una cartaAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1941
  11. El bulin de la calle AyacuchoAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1941
  12. Del tiempo guapoAníbal Troilo · Francisco Fiorentino1941

Ask Tangopedia

Answers only from cited facts, each with its source.