Luis Díaz

Luis Díaz was a singer born on 8 February 1893 ^[11]. A biographical sketch by Horacio Loriente dates his first tango recording to 10 January 1927, when he recorded *Angustia* with Francisco Canaro's orchestra. The same sketch records his death on 19 April 1978 ^[1].

Over the following twelve years Díaz sang with a range of orchestras. Calendar listings and recording lists connect him with the following ^{[2][3][4][5][6][9][10]}:

- Francisco Canaro and Edgardo Donato in 1930 ^[2] - Julio De Caro and Donato in 1931 ^[3][4] - Osvaldo Fresedo and the Típica Victor in 1932 ^[5][6] - the Orquesta Típica Los Provincianos, led by Ciriaco Ortiz, and Adolfo Carabelli in 1934 ^[9] - Julio De Caro again in 1938 ^[10]

His biography also records work outside the recording studio. He toured Europe with Julio De Caro in 1931, sang *Araca la cana* in *Los tres berretines* in 1933, and held radio engagements in the mid-1930s ^[1]. He made his final recordings on 17 March 1939 and then retired ^[1].

Early career with Francisco Canaro

According to Loriente's biographical sketch, Díaz made his first tango recording, *Angustia*, with Francisco Canaro's orchestra on 10 January 1927 ^[1]. A public recording catalogue lists a recording sung by Díaz on that date and a further recording on 24 February 1927, both with the label name Odeon ^[12]. The catalogue's summary of his recordings names *Angustia* and *Resignación* as 1927 recordings with Francisco Canaro ^[12].

His association with Canaro lasted at least into 1930. A 1930 calendar lists Díaz singing with Canaro's orchestra on 11 July and 13 September 1930 ^[2]. The recording catalogue lists an Odeon-labelled recording sung by Díaz on 13 September 1930, and it names *Victoria* as a 1930 recording with Canaro ^[12].

Brunswick, Julio De Caro and Edgardo Donato

Loriente writes that in 1929 Díaz became a leading singer for Brunswick and sang in Julio De Caro's carnival orchestra ^[1]. The recording catalogue lists a Brunswick-labelled recording sung by Díaz on 29 September 1930. It names *Arreando*, credited to the Orquesta Típica Brunswick, among his 1930 recordings ^[12].

In 1931 Díaz toured Europe with Julio De Caro, starting in March ^[1]. A list of recordings of *Canción del olvido* also connects him with De Caro's orchestra in 1931 ^[3].

Díaz also sang with Edgardo Donato's orchestra. The 1930 calendar records this collaboration in 1930 ^[2], and a list of recordings of *Amargura* places it in 1931 ^[4]. A biography of Donato by Oscar Zucchi also connects Díaz with Donato's orchestra, though the dossier gives no date for that source's account ^[8].

1932–1933: Fresedo, Típica Victor and Los tres berretines

In 1932 Díaz is documented with two further ensembles. A listing for *Volvé* connects him with Osvaldo Fresedo's orchestra on 7 April 1932 ^[6]. A listing for *Secreto* connects him with the Típica Victor on 5 October 1932 ^[5]. The recording catalogue lists two recordings sung by Díaz dated 6 May 1932 but does not give their titles ^[12].

In 1933 Díaz sang *Araca la cana* in *Los tres berretines* ^[1].

1934: Los Provincianos and Adolfo Carabelli

A 1934 calendar lists Díaz with the Orquesta Típica Los Provincianos, directed by Ciriaco Ortiz, on 30 January 1934 ^[9]. The recording catalogue lists a recording sung by Díaz on that date, and it names *A tu memoria madrecita* as a 1934 recording with Los Provincianos ^[12].

The same calendar lists Díaz with Adolfo Carabelli's orchestra on 7 May and 7 June 1934 ^[9]. The catalogue includes a recording sung by Díaz dated 7 May 1934 ^[12]. A biography of Carabelli by Héctor Ángel Benedetti also links Díaz with Carabelli's orchestra ^[7].

Radio years and return to Julio De Caro

In 1936 Díaz sang with Eugenio Nóbile's orchestra on LS3 Radio Ultra, and in December of that year Radio Splendid hired him ^[1]. In 1937 he rejoined Julio De Caro, this time on Radio El Mundo ^[1].

A 1938 calendar records Díaz singing with De Caro's orchestra on 10 March 1938 ^[10]. The recording catalogue lists two recordings sung by Díaz on that date and another on 11 May 1938. It names *Saca chispas*, *Milonga gris* and *Fuego* as 1938 recordings with Julio De Caro ^[12].

Retirement and death

Díaz made his last recordings, *Era mi vida* and *Coraje*, on 17 March 1939, and then retired ^[1]. He died on 19 April 1978 ^[1]. The recording catalogue cited here lists no recordings by him after May 1938, so the 1939 recordings are documented only in the biographical sketch ^[1][12].

Recordings

A public recording catalogue lists the following dated recordings sung by Díaz. Label names are given where the catalogue supplies them ^[12]:

- 10 January 1927 (Odeon) ^[12] - 24 February 1927 (Odeon) ^[12] - 13 September 1930 (Odeon) ^[12] - 29 September 1930 (Brunswick) ^[12] - 6 May 1932 (two recordings) ^[12] - 30 January 1934 ^[12] - 7 May 1934 ^[12] - 10 March 1938 (two recordings) ^[12] - 11 May 1938 ^[12]

Titles named in the catalogue's summary include *Angustia* and *Resignación* (Francisco Canaro, 1927), *Victoria* (Francisco Canaro, 1930), *Arreando* (Orquesta Típica Brunswick, 1930), *A tu memoria madrecita* (Los Provincianos, 1934), and *Saca chispas*, *Milonga gris* and *Fuego* (Julio De Caro, 1938) ^[12]. The biographical sketch adds *Era mi vida* and *Coraje*, recorded on 17 March 1939 ^[1].

Orchestras

The sources connect Díaz with the following orchestras and ensembles ^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]}:

- Francisco Canaro: 1927 and 1930 ^[1][2] - Julio De Caro: carnival orchestra in 1929, European tour in 1931, Radio El Mundo in 1937, and 1938 ^[1][3][10] - Edgardo Donato: 1930–1931 ^[2][4][8] - Osvaldo Fresedo: 1932 ^[6] - Típica Victor: 1932 ^[5] - Orquesta Típica Los Provincianos (Ciriaco Ortiz): 1934 ^[9] - Adolfo Carabelli: 1934 ^[7][9] - Eugenio Nóbile: on LS3 Radio Ultra in 1936 ^[1]