Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

March 27, 1901 in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Death

:

December 23, 1951

 

Enrique Santos Discépolo was a prominent Argentine composer, playwright, and actor who is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of Argentine tango. Born on March 27, 1901, in Buenos Aires, Discépolo grew up in a family of musicians and artists. His father, Santos Discépolo, was a well-known theater actor, and his mother, Luisa, was a pianist and composer. From a young age, Discépolo showed a keen interest in music and began studying piano and violin. He also developed a passion for literature and theater, and by the age of 18, he had already written several plays and short stories. In 1919, he joined a theater company and began performing in various plays and musicals. In the early 1920s, Discépolo became involved in the burgeoning tango scene in Buenos Aires. He began writing lyrics for tango songs and soon became one of the most sought-after lyricists in the city. His lyrics were known for their poetic and introspective nature, and they often dealt with themes of love, loss, and social injustice. In 1927, Discépolo wrote his first major hit, a tango called "Esta Noche Me Emborracho" ("Tonight I'll Get Drunk"). The song was an instant success and established Discépolo as a major figure in the tango world. Over the next few years, he wrote several more hit songs, including "Yira, Yira" ("Go, Go"), "Cambalache" ("Exchange"), and "Uno" ("One"). In addition to his work as a lyricist, Discépolo also began composing his own music. His first major composition was a tango called "Malevaje" ("Rogue"), which he wrote in 1928. The song was an instant success and became one of the most popular tangos of the era. Throughout the 1930s, Discépolo continued to write and compose music, and he became increasingly involved in the political and social issues of the day. He was a vocal critic of the government and the economic system, and many of his songs dealt with themes of poverty, inequality, and social injustice. In 1934, Discépolo wrote his most famous song, "Cambalache" ("Exchange"). The song was a scathing critique of the moral decay and corruption of Argentine society, and it became an anthem for the working class and the dispossessed. The song's opening lines, "Que el mundo fue y será una porquería, ya lo sé" ("That the world was and will be a piece of crap, I already know"), became one of the most famous lines in Argentine popular culture. In addition to his work as a composer and lyricist, Discépolo was also a talented actor and playwright. He wrote several plays and acted in numerous films and television shows. His most famous play, "Mateo" (1934), was a dark comedy that dealt with themes of poverty and social inequality. The play was a critical and commercial success and is still performed today. Discépolo continued to work as a composer and performer throughout the 1940s and 1950s. He wrote several more hit songs, including "Cafetín de Buenos Aires" ("Café of Buenos Aires") and "Adiós Muchachos" ("Goodbye Boys"), and he continued to be a vocal critic of the government and the economic system. In 1951, Discépolo suffered a heart attack and was forced to retire from performing. He continued to write and compose music, however, and he remained an influential figure in the tango world until his death in 1951.

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