Argentino Ledesma

Argentino Ledesma was a tango singer born on 24 June 1929 ^[4]. By 1947 he was singing on weekdays on Radio Aconcagua in Tucumán, accompanied by the guitars of Menéndez, Navarro and Bernal, and at club dances on weekends ^[1].

In 1952 he arrived in Buenos Aires, signed with Radio Belgrano and joined Héctor Varela's orchestra, where he replaced Armando Laborde and sang alongside Rodolfo Lesica ^[1]. His first record with Varela, 'Novia provinciana', was made for the Pampa label that year ^[1].

In 1956 Ledesma spent about three months with Carlos Di Sarli before returning to Varela, with whom he recorded 'Fueron tres años' and 'Qué tarde has venido' ^[1]. In 1957 he began a solo career recording for Odeon with pianist Jorge Dragone ^[1]. He later acted in the film 'El asalto', toured Europe, recorded with Francisco Canaro and Osvaldo Fresedo, and recorded again with Varela in 1974 ^[1][2]. He died at the Sanatorio Güemes in Buenos Aires on 6 August 2004 and was buried at Chacarita ^[3].

Early career in Tucumán

The earliest dated activity in the sources is from 1947, when Ledesma sang on weekdays on Radio Aconcagua in Tucumán ^[1]. On these broadcasts he was accompanied by the guitars of Menéndez, Navarro and Bernal ^[1]. On weekends he sang at club dances ^[1].

With Héctor Varela (1952–1956)

Ledesma arrived in Buenos Aires in 1952 and signed with Radio Belgrano ^[1]. That year he joined Héctor Varela's orchestra, taking the place of singer Armando Laborde and singing alongside Rodolfo Lesica ^[1].

He made his debut with Varela at the Chantecler cabaret ^[1]. The orchestra also performed at the Marabú, at Maipú 365 ^[1].

His first record with Varela was 'Novia provinciana', issued on the Pampa label in 1952 ^[1].

Carlos Di Sarli and return to Varela (1956)

In 1956 Ledesma joined Carlos Di Sarli's orchestra for about three months ^[1]. With Di Sarli he sang on Radio El Mundo, at the Marabú and at the carnival dances of Club San Lorenzo ^[1].

The same year he returned to Varela and recorded songs that became hits, including 'Fueron tres años' and 'Qué tarde has venido' ^[1]. He also sang on Radio El Mundo's programme 'Glostora Tango Club' ^[1].

Solo career

In 1957 Ledesma began a solo career, recording for the Odeon label with pianist Jorge Dragone as his accompanist ^[1].

In 1960 he played a tango singer in the film 'El asalto' ^[1]. That year he also toured Europe, with appearances that included the Olympia theatre in Paris ^[2].

Later collaborations

In 1964 Ledesma recorded six Gardel songs with Francisco Canaro ^[1]. The album was completed in 1973 with Carlos García ^[1].

In 1974 he recorded two sides with Héctor Varela again for the LP 'La historia de Héctor Varela' ^[2]. In 1980 he recorded as a guest with Osvaldo Fresedo ^[1].

Death

Ledesma died on 6 August 2004 at the Sanatorio Güemes in Buenos Aires ^[3]. He was buried at the Chacarita cemetery ^[3].

Recordings

A public recording catalogue credits Ledesma as the singer on recordings with the following dates ^[5]: - 21 August 1952 ^[5] - 19 December 1952 ^[5] - 16 June 1953 ^[5] - 23 February 1956, an entry titled 'RCA Victor' ^[5] - 18 May 1956 ^[5] - 18 November 1969, an entry titled 'Odeon' ^[5]

The catalogue entries give no song titles or accompanying orchestras, and the sources do not link them to the recordings named in the biography ^[5].