Manuel Buzón

Manuel Buzón led a tango orchestra in which he served as leader, pianist and singer. He presented it at the Cine Villa Crespo in May 1928 ^[1]. Before forming his own orchestra, he worked as a pianist and singer at the radio station LOY Radio Nacional Flores. He later became the station's artistic director ^[1].

The orchestra toured Spain from 1929 to 1930 and recorded for Victor during that tour ^[1]. Back in Buenos Aires, it played in theatres, bars and on several radio stations through the 1930s ^[1]. In 1942 it recorded "Al verla pasar" for Odeon with the singer Amadeo Mandarino ^[1]. A calendar listing also records a session by the orchestra on 12 May 1942 ^[4]. By 1947 the orchestra played only occasional dates ^[1]. Buzón died in Buenos Aires in 1954 ^[2].

Early life and radio work

Manuel Buzón was born on 18 December 1904 ^[3]. In 1915, as a child, he sang at a Club Social América show at the Cine Teatro Excelsior ^[1].

In 1925 he joined LOY Radio Nacional Flores as a pianist and singer ^[1]. In October of that year his orchestra accompanied Rosita Quiroga on a Victor record. That record included his composition "Calla corazón" ^[1].

In 1927 Jaime Yankelevich bought LOY, which later became Radio Belgrano. Buzón was the station's artistic director at the time ^[1]. That same year Azucena Maizani premiered his "Cancionero" ^[1].

History: debut and Spanish tour (1928–1930)

In May 1928 Buzón debuted his orchestra at the Cine Villa Crespo, appearing as leader, pianist and singer ^[1].

On 29 May 1929 the orchestra sailed for a tour of Spain ^[1]. It played the Principal Palace in Barcelona and Maipú Pigall's in Madrid, and it recorded for Victor during the tour ^[1]. The tour ended in 1930, when the orchestra opened the Salón Moderno at the Seville Exposition ^[1]. In August 1930 it played the Teatro Rívoli in Villa Crespo ^[1].

History: Buenos Aires in the 1930s

In 1931 the orchestra played the Teatro Marconi with Teófilo Ibáñez ^[1]. It also played daily at the Bar-Billares Río de la Plata and joined Radio Prieto's Vino Toro programme ^[1].

In March 1932 the orchestra represented current tango in the show "El Tango Porteño" at the Teatro Nacional ^[1]. In 1933 Buzón's tango "Después hablamos" won third prize in Crítica's tango contest at Luna Park ^[1].

In 1936 Amadeo Mandarino joined as singer, and the orchestra was heard on Radio Callao and Radio Municipal ^[1]. In 1938 it played the bank employees' carnival dances in Bahía Blanca and then toured the interior of the country ^[1].

History: later years (1942–1954)

On 10 February 1942 the orchestra returned to Radio El Mundo ^[1]. On that date it also recorded "Al verla pasar" for Odeon with Mandarino ^[1]. A calendar listing records a further recording by the orchestra on 12 May 1942 ^[4].

In 1947 the orchestra played the carnival at Club Haedo Juniors, one of its occasional later engagements ^[1]. Buzón died in Buenos Aires in 1954 ^[2].

Singers

Buzón himself sang with his orchestra from its 1928 debut, as well as leading it and playing piano ^[1]. Amadeo Mandarino joined as singer in 1936 ^[1]. He sang on the 1942 Odeon recording of "Al verla pasar" ^[1].

Other singers worked with Buzón outside his own vocal role. In 1925 his orchestra accompanied Rosita Quiroga on a Victor record ^[1]. In 1927 Azucena Maizani premiered his "Cancionero" ^[1]. In 1931 the orchestra appeared with Teófilo Ibáñez at the Teatro Marconi ^[1].

Recordings

The orchestra's documented recordings include the following ^[1][4]:

- 1925: Victor record accompanying Rosita Quiroga, including Buzón's "Calla corazón" ^[1]. - 1929–1930: Victor recordings made during the Spanish tour ^[1]. - 10 February 1942: "Al verla pasar" for Odeon, with Amadeo Mandarino ^[1]. - 12 May 1942: a recording listed in a 1942 calendar; the title is not given ^[4].

Repertoire and compositions

Several works by Buzón are named in the sources ^[1]. "Calla corazón" appeared on the 1925 Victor record with Rosita Quiroga ^[1]. "Cancionero" was premiered by Azucena Maizani in 1927 ^[1]. "Después hablamos" took third prize in Crítica's tango contest at Luna Park in 1933 ^[1].

Dance notes

The orchestra played dance engagements, but the sources do not describe its style for dancing ^[1]. In 1938 it played the bank employees' carnival dances in Bahía Blanca ^[1]. In 1947 it played the carnival at Club Haedo Juniors ^[1].