Rodolfo Biagi

Led by Rodolfo Biagi1938–1959[1][4][8][10][12][3][27][2]

Aged thirteen, starts playing piano for silent films at a neighbourhood cinema without his parents knowing.1919[2]

Records with Carlos Gardel for Odeon as part of his accompanying group.Apr 1, 1930[2]

Joins Juan D'Arienzo's orchestra at the Chantecler cabaret, replacing pianist Lidio Fasoli.1935[2]

First recording with D'Arienzo, Orillas de plata; with him he also plays on LR1 Radio El Mundo.Dec 31, 1935[3]

Last recording with D'Arienzo, Champagne tango, after 71 sides together.Jun 22, 1938[3]

Debuts his own orchestra at the Marabú cabaret.Sep 16, 1938[2]

Tours Chile with great success.1942[2]

In the early 1950s is a lead act on Radio El Mundo's Glostora Tango Club and the first orchestra on Argentine television.1950[2]

Gives his last performance, at the Hurlingham Club.Aug 2, 1969[2]

Dies suddenly in Buenos Aires.Sep 24, 1969[2]

Biagi's 1942 instrumentals, like Bélgica, still keep the choppy, sharply syncopated beat of his earlier style, even as orchestras generally slow down and gain more space; that fuller change in Biagi's own sound comes more in 1943.[32]

Biagi took the surprise element he had developed as D'Arienzo's pianist and applied it to his own orchestra as a whole, rather than featuring himself as a soloist.[33]

Biagi favoured comic, abruptly rhythmic endings, both on 'Sueño de juventud' and on 'Lisón' from the main 1944 show.[34]

Biagi, who started his own band in 1938 after leaving D'Arienzo (fired, or mutually), moves the surprising offbeat from his piano to the whole band; its beat is the shortest, sharpest ever recorded in tango.[35]

Biagi recorded only six or seven milongas in his whole career, and in Campo afuera the lyric by Homero Manzi is sad, as Manzi's milongas usually are.[35]

Biagi's orchestra is one of extremes: very slow legato bandoneón and very choppy backbeat, with strong contrast but not much colour in between.[35]

Biagi's milongas put the accent on the beat before the one, making an upward feeling; listen to Campo afuera for the idea carried all the way through.[36]

In the Biagi orchestra a single bandoneón sometimes plays very quietly with a lot of tremolo (shaking the instrument), adding a spooky atmosphere under the vocal.[37]

Biagi split from D'Arienzo in 1938, a break Lavocah thinks Biagi expected, and immediately started his own orchestra.[38]

Biagi takes the surprise he had as D'Arienzo's pianist and applies it to the whole orchestra; 'surprise' is the orchestra in one word.[38]

Known as «Manos brujas»[3]

Manos brujas[3]

Release “Lagrimas y sonrisas” (1993), AR1993source

Release “Reliquias: Sus éxitos con Jorge Ortiz” (1998) on EMI–Odeon S.A.I.C. 4 95365 2, AR1998source

Release “Sentir el tango: Malena” (1998) on Altaya T.A. 052, AR1998source

Release “Reliquias: Sus éxitos con Alberto Amor” (1999) on EMI–Odeon S.A.I.C. 7243 499968 2 3, AR1999source

Release “Reliquias: Sus éxitos con Jorge Ortiz, vol. 2” (1999) on EMI–Odeon S.A.I.C. 724349996724, AR1999source

Release “Reliquias: Sus éxitos con Andrés Falgás y Teófilo Ibáñez” (1999) on EMI–Odeon S.A.I.C. 7243 499966 2 5, AR1999source

Release “Pura clase” (1999) on Maestros del Tango Argentino BMT 021, ES1999source

Release “Caricias y Los No. 1” (November 9, 1999) on Emily Records 821593Nov 9, 1999source

Andrés Falgás — joined Rodolfo BiagiJul 1939–Apr 1940[4]

Jorge Ortiz — joined Rodolfo Biagi1940[8]

Teófilo Ibáñez — joined Rodolfo Biagi1938[11]

Andrés Falgás — sang with Rodolfo BiagiJul 1939–Apr 1940[4]

Jorge Ortiz — sang with Rodolfo Biagi1940, Sep 10, 1942, Jan 2, 1945[9][14][3][45][8]

Teófilo Ibáñez — sang with Rodolfo Biagi1938–1939[10][11][12][3][42]

Alberto Lago — sang with Rodolfo BiagiDec 3, 1941, Dec 3, 1941–May 22, 1942, May 22, 1942[13][14][51][52]

Alberto Amor — sang with Rodolfo Biagi1943–1947[15][16][24][46]

Carlos Saavedra — sang with Rodolfo BiagiMay 23, 1946–Jul 22, 1948, 1946–1950, Jul 22, 1948[17][49]

Carlos Acuña — sang with Rodolfo Biagi1942–1944, Aug 11, 1944[18][3][47]

Carlos Heredia — sang with Rodolfo Biagi1950–1953[19][21][22][48]

Hugo Duval — sang with Rodolfo Biagi1950–1961[19][20][25][26][27][28][3][43][44]

Carlos Almagro — sang with Rodolfo Biagi1962[30]

Juan Alessio — sang with Rodolfo Biagi1940–1945[50]

Jorge Garré — sang with Rodolfo Biagi1959–1960[53]

Teófilo Ibáñez — left Rodolfo BiagiJul 1939[4]

Andrés Falgás — left Rodolfo BiagiApr 1940[4]

Dichas que viví · Rodolfo Biagi · 1939 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiJul 13, 1939[5][6]

El Yaguarón · Rodolfo Biagi · 1940 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiJun 19, 1940[7]

Por un beso de amor · Rodolfo Biagi · 1940 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiOct 4, 1940[7]

Son cosas del bandoneón · Rodolfo Biagi · 1939 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiSep 22, 1939[5]

Dejame amarte aunque sea un dia · Rodolfo Biagi · 1939 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiSep 22, 1939[5]

Cielo · Rodolfo Biagi · 1939 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiSep 18, 1939[5]

El último adiós · Rodolfo Biagi · 1940 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiMar 27, 1940[7]

Griseta · Rodolfo Biagi · 1939 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiOct 26, 1939[5]

Queja indiana · Rodolfo Biagi · 1939 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiOct 26, 1939[5]

Cantando se van las penas · Rodolfo Biagi · 1940 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiJun 28, 1940[7]

Pura clase · Rodolfo Biagi · 1939 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiJul 13, 1939[6]

Todo te nombra · Rodolfo Biagi · 1940 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiJun 19, 1940[7]

Viejo portón · Rodolfo Biagi · 1938 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiOct 16, 1938, Oct 17, 1938[10][11]

Lejos de ti · Rodolfo Biagi · 1938 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiDec 2, 1938[10]

No me digas que no · Rodolfo Biagi · 1954 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiDec 29, 1954[20]

Te burlas tristeza · Rodolfo Biagi · 1960 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiJul 28, 1960[23]

Amor mio · Rodolfo Biagi · 1958 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiNov 12, 1958[26]

Recorded in 71 piezas con D'ArienzoDec 31, 1935–Jun 22, 1938[3]

Released on Odeon1940[8]

Released on Columbia1956–1961[29]

Performed at MarabúSep 1, 1938, Sep 16, 1938[12][3][11]

tango.info · RodolBiagi[31]

Oscar de la Fuente — arranged for Rodolfo Biagi[3]

Alfredo Attadia — played in Rodolfo Biagi[39]

Ricardo Pedevilla — played in Rodolfo Biagi[40]

Juan Carlos Caviello — played in Rodolfo Biagi[41]

Open from 1938Sep 16, 1938[2]

Open until 1969Aug 2, 1969[2]