Norberto Aníbal Napolitano (March 10, 1950 – February 25, 2005), popularly known as Pappo, was an Argentine rock musician, guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was and is one of the most influential figures in Argentine music, and in addition to being one of the forerunners of Argentine rock. Besides, he was one of the first to venture into heavy metal in his country and blues of the same.
He is considered by various musicians in his country, by the public and by the specialized press as the best guitarist in the entire history of argentine rock, while
B. B. King
Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shimm ...
considered him one of the best guitarists of all time.
He was a member of important Argentine rock bands such as
Los Abuelos de la Nada
Los Abuelos de la Nada ( en, link=no, The Grandparents of Nothingness) was an Argentinian new wave/Argentine rock band. The group underwent several incarnations throughout its history, with all of them led by its founder and frontman, singer-son ...
, Engranaje, Los Gatos and Billy Bond y La Pesada del Rock and Roll. He also founded the legendary
blues rock
Blues rock is a fusion music genre that combines elements of blues and rock music. It is mostly an electric ensemble-style music with instrumentation similar to electric blues and rock (electric guitar, electric bass guitar, and drums, sometimes w ...
Riff
A riff is a repeated chord progression or refrain in music (also known as an ostinato figure in classical music); it is a pattern, or melody, often played by the rhythm section instruments or solo instrument, that forms the basis or acc ...
band in the 1980s. He also founded a band in
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
called The Widowmakers.
His pseudonym arose from a deformation of an abbreviation of his surname (Napo), which was mutating until it reached the stylized Pappo. Another nickname with which he was popularly known was '' Carpo '', alluding to the dominance he possessed when moving the carpus of his hand to execute Guitar. Likewise, the popular guitarist
B. B. King
Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shimm ...
nicknamed him "The Cheeseman", due to a gift made by Pappo to the American guitarist, consisting of an Argentine cheese and a red wine.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
. Since his youth he showed interest in
blues
Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the ...
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically dr ...
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...
,
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1913 April 30, 1983), known professionally as Muddy Waters, was an American blues singer and musician who was an important figure in the post- war blues scene, and is often cited as the "father of modern Chicag ...
,
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton (born 1945) is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is often regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music. Clapton ranked second in ''Rolling Stone''s list o ...
, and
Manal
Manal was an Argentine rock group. Together with Almendra and Los Gatos, they are considered founders of Argentine rock.Argentine rock scene. Pappo started playing as an occasional guitarist for Manal but soon joined
Los Abuelos de la Nada
Los Abuelos de la Nada ( en, link=no, The Grandparents of Nothingness) was an Argentinian new wave/Argentine rock band. The group underwent several incarnations throughout its history, with all of them led by its founder and frontman, singer-son ...
and later Los Gatos, with whom he recorded two albums in 1969 and 1970. He formed his own band Pappo's Blues in 1970, releasing a first album in 1971 The band was also part of the 1973 rock documentary "
Hasta que se ponga el sol
''Hasta que se ponga el sol'' ( Spanish for "Until the sun sets") is 1973 Argentine documentary film of the foundational stage of the '' rock nacional'' (Spanish for "national rock") movement. It was filmed in the third edition of the historic B.A ...
", filmed during the third edition of the historic ''B.A. Rock'' festival. During the first era of Pappo's Blues in the 1970s, there were constant line-up changes with Pappo being the only permanent member of the band and main songwriter.
Between 1975 and 1980, Pappo lived alternately in England and Argentina. In the United Kingdom he made contact with new genres such as punk rock and the new wave of British heavy metal. He formed the
power trio
A power trio is a rock and roll band format having a lineup of electric guitar, bass guitar and drum kit (drums and cymbals), leaving out a second rhythm guitar or keyboard instrument that are often used in other rock music bands that are quart ...
Aeroblus in 1977 with ex-Manal bassist Alejandro Medina and Brazilian drummer Castello Jr. Pappo relocated to Argentina permanently in 1980 and formed the band
Riff
A riff is a repeated chord progression or refrain in music (also known as an ostinato figure in classical music); it is a pattern, or melody, often played by the rhythm section instruments or solo instrument, that forms the basis or acc ...
. In 1990, he appeared as a guest guitarist in Sandra Mihanovich and Celeste Carballo's album '' Mujer contra mujer''. The musician returned with Pappo's Blues in the 1990s, alternating the activity of this group with eventual reunions of Riff. Pappo released a solo album with a classic blues and hard rock sound, ''Buscando un amor'' in 2003, which turned out to be his last record.
Pappo died in February 2005 in a motorcycle accident. The Autonomous City of Buenos Aires dedicated a monument in his honour.
Discography
Pappo's discography encompasses almost four decades, from the late 60s with Los Gatos and Los Abuelos de la Nada until his death in 2005.
Los Abuelos de la Nada
Los Abuelos de la Nada ( en, link=no, The Grandparents of Nothingness) was an Argentinian new wave/Argentine rock band. The group underwent several incarnations throughout its history, with all of them led by its founder and frontman, singer-son ...
*''Diana divaga / Tema en flu sobre el planeta'' (1967, single)
*''La estación'' (Song recorded in 1968, only released on compilations)
Litto Nebbia
Félix Francisco "Litto" Nebbia Corbacho (born 21 July 1948) is an Argentine singer-songwriter, musician and producer prominent in the development of Argentine rock.
Life and work
Félix Francisco Nebbia Corbacho was born in Rosario, Santa Fe t ...
#"Sueña y corre"
#"Hogar"
#"Dónde está, cómo fue"
#"El otro yo del Señor Negocios"
#"Flores y cartas"
#"Lágrimas de María"
#"Soy de cualquier lugar"
#"Escúchame, alúmbrame"
#"Fuera de la ley"
;''Rock de la mujer perdida'', 1970
*All songs written by
Litto Nebbia
Félix Francisco "Litto" Nebbia Corbacho (born 21 July 1948) is an Argentine singer-songwriter, musician and producer prominent in the development of Argentine rock.
Life and work
Félix Francisco Nebbia Corbacho was born in Rosario, Santa Fe t ...
, except where noted.
#"Rock de la mujer perdida"
#"Requiem para un hombre feliz"
#"Los días de Actemio"
#"Invasión" (Ciro, Pappo, Alfredo y
Oscar Moro
Óscar Moro (January 24, 1948 – July 11, 2006) was an Argentine rock drummer.
Óscar Moro was born and raised in Rosario. Moro joined a childhood friend, Litto Nebbia, and three others in forming the pioneer Argentine rock and roll band Los Ga ...
).
#"Mujer de carbón"
#"No fui hecho para esta tierra"
#"Por qué bajamos a la ciudad"
#"Blues de la calle 23"
Pappo's Blues
;''Pappo's Blues'', 1971
#"Algo ha cambiado"
#"El viejo"
#"Hansen"
#"Gris y amarillo"
#"Adiós Willy"
#"El hombre suburbano"
#"Especies"
#"Adónde está la libertad"
;''Pappo's Blues Volumen 2'', 1972
#"Tren de las 16"
#"Llegará la paz"
#"Insoluble"
#"Tema 1"
#"Desconfío de la vida"
#"Pobre Juan"
#"Blues para Santa Fe"
#"Tumba"
;''Pappo's Blues Volumen 3'', 1972
# Stratocaster Boogie
# Pájaro metálico
# Sucio y desprolijo
# El sur de la ciudad
# Sandwiches de miga
# El brujo y el tiempo
# Trabajando en el ferrocarril
# Caras en el parque
# Siempre es lo mismo nena
;''Pappo's Blues Volumen 4'', 1973
# Fiesta cervezal
# Gato de la calle negra
# Abelardo el pollo
# Semilla de sésamo
# Con Elvira es otra cosa
# Sol de armónica
# El palacio de la montaña de invierno
;''Triángulo'', 1974
# Malas compañías
# Nervioso visitante
# Mirese adentro
# Hubo distancias en un curioso baile matinal (parte I)
# Hubo distancias en un curioso baile matinal (parte II)
# El buzo
;''Pappo's Blues Volumen 6'', 1975
# Slide blues
# Abordo
# Nervioso visitante (parte II)
# El escarabajo
# Los libres pecan por ser libres
;''Pappo's Blues Volumen 7'', 1978
# El hombre suburbano
# El viejo
# El jugador
# Tema 1
# Abordo
# Gris y amarillo
# Detras de la iglesia
;''Vol. 8 - Caso cerrado'', 1995
# Tren azul
#Ruta 66
#Solo en este mundo
#Yo me quedo con Lucy
#Blues para mi guitarra
#Castillos mágicos españoles
#Algunos deslices
#People Don't Care
#Paramount Souffle
#Penetieso Blues
#P.B.A Boogie
#Duendes
#Perro en la Vereda
#Tomé demasiado
;''El auto rojo'', 1999
# Cruzando América en un taxi
# No sé inglés
# El auto rojo
# Dos caras
# Cuando dos trenes chocan
# El viento llora a Mary
# Cissy Strut
# Pueblo del norte
# Whisky malo
# Es algo de amor
# La isola
# Todavía sigo en pie
# La sombra maldita
# El reglamento
* ''Nunca lo sabrán'' (Song recorded in 1969, only released on compilations)
;''Pappo En Concierto'', 1984 (Live)
#"Completamente nervioso"
#"Buen tiempo"
#"El brujo y el tiempo"
#"Triple seis"
#"Esto no conduce a ningún lugar"
#"La adivina"
#"Berkeley"
#"Siempre es lo mismo nena"
#"Tema solísimo"
#"Todo el día me pregunto"
#"Duro invierno"
#"A varios kilómetros de aquí"
;''Plan diabólico'', 1987 (As "Pappo y Hoy No Es Hoy")
#"Diabólico plan"
#"Egipto"
#"Mensajero nocturno"
#"El hombre de la valija"
#"El poder es mejor a peor"
#"Tren Azul"
#"Gas Oil"
#"Corcel de acero"
;''Pappo & Widowmaker'', 1989
*"Hammerhead" (Cabeza de martillo) (Song only released as bonus track on "El Riff")
*"Capt. Modulator" (Song only released as bonus track on "El Riff")
;''El Riff'', 1990 (Reissue of "Patrulha 85" with bonus tracks)
#El Riff
#Ojo animal
#Dios devorador
#Robot
#Mujer fácil
#Cabeza de martillo (Pappo & Widowmaker, bonus track)
#Captain Modulator (Pappo & Widowmaker, Chilean release bonus track)
;''Blues Local'', 1992
# Longchamps Boogie
# Mi vieja
# Buscando el tesoro de Borneo
# Saco italiano
# La almeja
# Blues local
# Pequeña ala
# Una casa con diez pinos
# El tropezón
# El hombre oculto
# Dr. Tazo
# Blues del perro
# Dos bajistas
# Nacido bajo un signo malo
;''Pappo & Deacon Jones'', 1993 (Live)
#Fiesta cervezal
#El tropezón
#Pequeña ala
#Siempre es lo mismo, nena
#Sube a mi voiture
#Blues de Santa Fe
#Desconfío
#Tren de las 16
;''Pappo sigue vivo'', 1994 (Live)
# Llegará la paz
# El hombre suburbano
# El hombre de la valija
# El gato de la calle negra
# Triple seis
# Malas compañías
# Tomé demasiado
# Desconfío
# Una casa con diez pinos
# Pájaro metálico
# El viejo
# T-Bone steak
# Blues Got Soul
# Duelo Pappo-Edgar Winter
;''Pappo y Amigos'', 2000
CD 1
# Fiesta cervezal (Pappo & La Renga)
# Vamos a buscar la luz (Pappo & Alejandro Medina)
# El gato de la calle negra (Pappo's Blues)
# El brujo y el tiempo (Pappo & Almafuerte)
# Siempre es lo mismo, nena (Pappo's Blues)
# El sur de la ciudad (Pappo's Blues & Vicentico)
# Pájaro metálico (Pappo's Blues & Omar Mollo)
# Con Elvira es otra cosa (Pappo & Adrián Otero)
# Solitario Juan (Pappo & Andrés Ciro)
# Triple seis (Pappo & A.N.I.M.A.L.)
# Insoluble (Pappo & Sr. Flavio)
# Blues de Santa Fe (Pappo's Blues & Juanse)
# Mirese adentro (Pappo's Blues & La Mississippi)
# Abelardo el pollo (Pappo's Blues)
# Tema solísimo (Pappo & Alejandro Medina)
# Sandwiches de miga (Pappo's Blues)
# Detrás de la iglesia (Pappo's Blues & Alambre Gonzalez)
# Trabajando en el ferrocarril (Pappo & Antonio Birabent)
# Mi vieja (Pappo & Andrés Calamaro)
# Blues local (Pappo & Viejas Locas)
# El tren de las 16 (Pappo's Blues & Luciano Napolitano)
CD 2
# Sucio y desprolijo (Divididos)
# El viejo (Pappo & La Renga)
# Ruta 66 (Pappo's Blues)
# El hombre suburbano (Pappo & Viejas Locas)
# La adivina (Pappo & Omar Mollo)
# Algo ha cambiado (Pappo & Andrés Ciro)
# Desconfío (Pappo & Vicentico)
# Llegará la paz (Pappo & Almafuerte)
# Malas compañías (Pappo's Blues)
# Slide blues (Pappo & Adrián Otero)
# Completamente nervioso (Pappo's Blues & Ricardo Iorio)
# Caras en el parque (Pappo & Alfredo Toth)
# Gris y amarillo (Pappo's Blues y La Mississippi)
# Tomé demásiado (Pappo's Blues y Juanse)
# Tren azul (Pappo's Blues, Vitico & Juan Haymes)
# Adónde está la libertad (Pappo's Blues & Moris)
# Hay tiempo para elegir (Pappo & Sr. Flavio)
# Cabeza de martillo (Pappo & A.N.I.M.A.L.)
# Vine cruzando el mar (Pappo's Blues)
# Nunca lo sabrán (Andrés Calamaro)
;''Buscando un amor'', 2003
# Ella es un ángel
# Buscando un amor
# Rock and roll y fiebre
# Juntos a la par
# Mejor que vos
# Yo te amo más
# Banquero blues
# Aquel gato
# La barca
# En los bares
# Descortés
# Botas sucias
# Trabajo forzado
# Katmandú
# Tributo a B.B. King
# Trouble No More
# Thrill Is Gone
# Little Red Rooster
# Killin' Floor
# Rock Me Baby
Aeroblus
;''Aeroblus'', 1977
# Vamos a buscar la luz
# Completamente nervioso
# Tema solísimo
# Arboles difusores
# Vendríamos a buscar
# Aire en movimiento
# Vine cruzando el mar
# Nada estoy sabiendo
# Sofisticuatro
# Buen tiempo