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Pedro Vargas
Born
Pedro Vargas Mata

(1906-04-29)29 April 1906
Died30 October 1989(1989-10-30) (aged 83)
Occupation(s)Singer, actor
Years active1928–1989
Musical career
Instrument(s)Vocals
LabelsRCA Victor

Pedro Vargas Mata (San Miguel de Allende, 29 April 1906[1] – Mexico City, 30 October 1989) was a Mexican tenor and actor, from the golden age of Mexican cinema, participating in more than 70 films. He was known as the "Nightingale of the Americas", "Song Samurai" or "Continental Tenor".[2]

Despite his training in opera, he dedicated his career to popular song, reaching international recognition and becoming one of the main interpreters of Agustín Lara.

Biography

Early life

Vargas was born in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato on 29 April 1906[1] and died on 30 October 1989, in Mexico City. He was the second of twelve children that José Cruz Vargas and Rita Mata had.[3]

Born into a family of modest means, Pedro Vargas sang in the church choir in his hometown from the age of seven. In 1920, when he was only 14 years old, he came to Mexico City and immediately began singing in the choirs of several churches and giving serenades. It was in Colegio Francés de La Salle where he was given a scholarship to study piano and solfeggio and where he met the composer and tenor Mario Talavera –his guide and mentor– who recommended him to Professor José Pierson [es].[1] While he was there he met Jorge Negrete, Alfonso Ortiz Tirado and Juan Arvizu. José Mojica also recommended him to Alejandro Cuevas, who offered him free lessons.

Career

He received the opportunity to participate in the opera "Cavalleria Rusticana" on 22 January 1928, at the Teatro Esperanza, as he had been recommended by Jose Pierson. He traveled to the United States with the Orquesta Tipica (Orquesta Tipica de la Ciudad de México) de Miguel Lerdo de Tejada.

On his first visit to Buenos Aires he recorded two of his own compositions for the RCA Victor label: "Porteñita mía" and "Me fui", with musical backing from pianist Agüero Pepe and the legendary violinist Elvino Vardaro.

On 12 September 1931, he married María Teresa Camo Jáuregui, who came originally from a Querétaro family and with whom he had four children, Pedro, Mario, Marcelo and Alejandro.

He found great success as one of the best interpreters of the composer Agustín Lara, as well as many other composers from Latin America, and enabled their music to traverse the most diverse countries in the continent, mainly Argentina, Colombia, and Venezuela. With a very extensive repertoire that included lyrical songs such as "Jinetes en el Cielo", ranchera songs like "Allá en el Rancho Grande", boleros such as "Obsesión" (sung as a duet with Beny Moré) and nostalgic songs like "Alfonsina y el mar", Pedro Vargas received the well-deserved title of "The Nightingale of the Americas" from the public.

Death

Pedro Vargas died due to complications with his diabetes while sleeping and suffered from a heart attack, 30 October 1989, in Mexico City, at the age of 83.[citation needed]

Discography

Long (vinyl)

Tracks

  1. – Te Solté la Rienda
  2. – Se Me Olvidó Otra Vez
  3. – A Donde Va Nuestro Amor?
  4. – Mi Paloma Triste #- Volver, Volver
  5. – El Rey #- Cruz de Olvido
  6. – 16 Años
  7. – Eres Tú
  8. – Amor de Mi Vida
  9. – Que Te Vaya Bonito


Tracks

  1. – Así es mi Tierra
  2. – Soy Puro Mexicano
  3. – Allá en el Rancho Grande
  4. – La Feria de las Flores
  5. – Dos Arbolitos
  6. – Cielito Lindo
  7. – La del Rebozo Blanco
  8. – Fallaste Corazón
  9. – La Barca de Guaymas
  10. – La Huella de Mis Besos
  11. – ¿Sabes De Que Tengo Ganas?
  12. – Viva México

Tracks

  1. - Mujer
  2. – Te amaré toda la vida
  3. – Noches de Mazatlán
  4. – Esto es felicidad
  5. – Te traigo serenata
  6. – Aquel amor
  7. – Piel canela
  8. – Luna azul
  9. – Te quiero
  10. – Adiós
  11. – La negra noche
  12. – Obsesión


Tracks

  1. - Quizás, quizás, quizás
  2. - Santa # - Que bonito amor
  3. - Jinetes en el cielo
  4. - Canción mixteca
  5. - Por Que ya no me quieres
  6. - Por que negar
  7. - Acércate más
  8. - La flor de la canela
  9. – Pecado
  10. – Granada
  11. – Rosa

Tracks

  1. – Quien será
  2. – Lamento borincano
  3. – Suerte loca
  4. – Cuando vivas conmigo
  5. – Despierta
  6. – Perdón
  7. – Pequeña
  8. – Flores negras
  9. – Corazón, corazón
  10. – La última noche
  11. – Amanecí en tus brazos
  12. – Adiós Mariquita linda

Filmography

References

  1. ^ a b c Grant Wood, Andrew (2014). Agustin Lara, A Cultural Biography. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199976744.
  2. ^ "PEDRO VARGAS". Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Pedro Vargas, a Mexican Singer And Film Performer, Is Dead at 85 (Published 1989)". 31 October 1989. Retrieved 30 July 2023.

External links

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