Atilio Stampone
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Atilio Stampone (1 July 1926 – 2 November 2022) was an Argentine pianist, composer, and arranger prominent in the
Tango Tango is a partner dance and social dance that originated in the 1880s along the Río de la Plata, the natural border between Argentina and Uruguay. The tango was born in the impoverished port areas of these countries from a combination of Arge ...
genre.


Life and work

He was born to Romana Zangone, from
Calabria Calabria is a Regions of Italy, region in Southern Italy. It is a peninsula bordered by the region Basilicata to the north, the Ionian Sea to the east, the Strait of Messina to the southwest, which separates it from Sicily, and the Tyrrhenian S ...
, and Antonio Stampone, a
pasta Pasta (, ; ) is a type of food typically made from an Leavening agent, unleavened dough of wheat flour mixed with water or Eggs as food, eggs, and formed into sheets or other shapes, then cooked by boiling or baking. Pasta was originally on ...
maker from
Napoli Naples ( ; ; ) is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its province-level municipality is the thir ...
, in the middle-class San Cristóbal section of
Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...
.''La Nación'': Atilio Stampone, el gran amigo del tango
His older brother, Giuseppe, was by then, at age 14, a
bandoneón The bandoneon () or bandonion is a type of concertina particularly popular in Argentina and Uruguay. It is a typical instrument in most tango ensembles. As with other members of the concertina family, it is held between the hands, and playe ...
ist in an
orquesta típica Orquesta típica, or simply a típica, is a Latin American term for a band which plays popular music. The details vary from country to country. The term tends to be used for groups of medium size (about 8 to 12 musicians) in some well-defined in ...
, and when the young Atilio underwent surgery for an acute
appendicitis Appendicitis is inflammation of the Appendix (anatomy), appendix. Symptoms commonly include right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever and anorexia (symptom), decreased appetite. However, approximately 40% of people do not have these t ...
at age 10, Giuseppe bought his convalescing younger brother a
piano A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...
. Shortly afterwards, Atilio Stampone joined his elder brother's tango ensemble.Todo Tango: Atilio Stampone
Stampone joined bandleader Roberto Dimas in his Café Marzotto orchestra, a popular
Corrientes Avenue Avenida Corrientes () is one of the principal thoroughfares of the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires. Over a central stretch it is popularly known as "The Street that Never Sleeps" (''"La calle que nunca duerme"'') widely considered Buenos Aires ...
act, in 1941, and
Pedro Maffia Pedro Mario Maffia (August 28, 1899 – October 16, 1967) was an Argentine tango bandoneonist, bandleader, composer and teacher, as well as starring in several tango films. Early years He was born in the Balvanera neighborhood of Buenos Aires, ...
's Tibidabo
cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, casino, hotel, restaurant, or nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or drinking, ...
orchestra in 1942; impressed with his ability, Maffia personally sought permission for the young pianist's appearance in the risqué setting from his father, who agreed on condition that ''"you, Pedrito, personally see him to the
tram A tram (also known as a streetcar or trolley in Canada and the United States) is an urban rail transit in which Rolling stock, vehicles, whether individual railcars or multiple-unit trains, run on tramway tracks on urban public streets; some ...
for home as soon the show is over. Atilio is a good kid, and I don't want him living in a cabaret;"'' ''Los grandes del tango'': Nélida Rochetto, n.º 54, November 1991. with that agreement, he divided his time between the orchestra and his studies at the
Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires (''National School of Buenos Aires'') is a public high school in Buenos Aires, Argentina, affiliated to the University of Buenos Aires. In the tradition of the European ''gymnasium'' it provides a free educatio ...
, a prestigious public
college preparatory school A college-preparatory school (often shortened to prep school, preparatory school, college prep school or college prep academy) is a type of secondary school. The term refers to public, private independent or parochial schools primarily design ...
. He later worked with Roberto Rufino and Alberto Cámara, and in 1945, met bandoneónist and avant-garde composer
Ástor Piazzolla Astor Pantaleón Piazzolla (, ; March 11, 1921 – July 4, 1992) was an Argentine tango composer, bandoneon player, and arranger. His works revolutionized the traditional tango into a new style termed '' nuevo tango'', incorporating elements fr ...
. He joined Piazzolla in 1946, and following the group's dissolution in 1948, Stampone became a pupil of
Vincenzo Scaramuzza Vincenzo Scaramuzza (also known as Vicente Scaramuzza; 1885–1968) was an Italian pianist and music teacher. Biography Scaramuzza was born in Crotone, Italy, on June 19, 1885. Introduced to the piano by his father, Francesco, a renowned piano te ...
, who helped perfect his technical skill as a pianist. Bandleader Mariano Mores hired Stampone as a soloist in two, 1949
musical comedy Musical theatre is a form of theatre, theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, ...
productions, ''El otro yo de Marcela'' and ''Bésame Petronita'', and following these shows, he joined bandleader
Juan Carlos Cobián Juan Carlos Cobián (1888–1953) was an Argentine bandleader and tango Tango is a partner dance and social dance that originated in the 1880s along the Río de la Plata, the natural border between Argentina and Uruguay. The tango was born in ...
. Stampone earned a presidential scholarship from
Juan Perón Juan Domingo Perón (, , ; 8 October 1895 – 1 July 1974) was an Argentine military officer and Statesman (politician), statesman who served as the History of Argentina (1946-1955), 29th president of Argentina from 1946 to Revolución Libertad ...
in 1950, by which he studied under maestro Carlos Zecchi at the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia, in
Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
. Touring France, Italy, and the
Middle East The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...
, Stampone returned to Buenos Aires in 1952 and formed an orchestra with bandoneónist
Leopoldo Federico Leopoldo Federico (12 January 1927 – 28 December 2014) was an Argentine bandoneon player, arranger, director and composer. Life Born in the district of Once in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Federico was one of the most prolific bandoneo ...
. The Stampone-Federico Orchestra recorded for the TK label, notably on compositions such as ''Criolla linda'' ("Pretty Country Girl") and ''Tierrita'' ("Small Land"). Federico's contract with ratings leader Radio Belgrano in 1955 left Stampone with sole control of the orchestra, which popularized ''El Marne'' ( Eduardo Arolas), ''Nueve puntos'' (
Francisco Canaro Francisco Canaro, also known by the nickname Pirincho, (November 26, 1888 – December 14, 1964) was a Uruguayan violinist and tango orchestra leader. Canaro was born in San José de Mayo, Uruguay, in 1888. His parents were Italian immigrants, ...
), ''Confesión'' (
Enrique Santos Discépolo Enrique Santos Discépolo (''Discepolín'') (11 March 1901 – 27 December 1951) was an Argentine tango (music), tango and Milonga (music), milonga musician and composer, author of famous tangos like ''Cambalache'' and many others performed by s ...
and
Luis César Amadori Luis César Amadori (28 May 1902 – 5 June 1977) was an Italian-Argentine film director and screenwriter and one of the most influential directors in the cinema of Argentina of the classic era. He directed over 60 films between 1936 and 1967, wri ...
), Stampone's own ''Afiches'' ("Posters," lyrics by Homero Expósito), and numerous other standards; ''Afiches'' helped popularize one of the premier tango vocalists,
Roberto Goyeneche Roberto Goyeneche (January 29, 1926 in Saavedra, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires – August 27, 1994 in Buenos Aires) was an Argentine tango singer who epitomized the archetype of 1950s Buenos Aires' bohemian life, and became a living legend in ...
. He continued to collaborate with other groups, including Piazzolla's Octeto Buenos Aires. Their 1957 album, ''Tango progresivo'', became notorious for its poor sound editing, however, and was pulled from store shelves (making copies of the record a collectible, later on). Stampone recorded ''Tango Argentino'' for
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
label
Audio Fidelity Records Audio Fidelity Records was a record company based in New York City, most active during the 1950s and 1960s. They are best known for having produced the first mass-produced American stereophonic long-playing record in November 1957 (although this ...
in 1958, an album known for ''El
once Once may refer to: Film, television and theatre * ''Once'' (film), a 2007 Irish musical film by John Carney ** ''Once'' (musical), a 2011 stage adaptation of the film * ''Once'' (TV series), a 2017–2019 Argentine telenovela * Canal Once (Mex ...
'' ( Osvaldo Fresedo), ''La rayuela'' ("Hopscotch,"
Julio de Caro Julio de Caro (December 11, 1899March 11, 1980) was an Argentine composer, musician, and conductor prominent in the Tango genre. Life and work His father opened a conservatory in the San Telmo district, in 1913, soon becoming one of the city's ...
), ''Cabulero'' ("Gambler," by
Leopoldo Federico Leopoldo Federico (12 January 1927 – 28 December 2014) was an Argentine bandoneon player, arranger, director and composer. Life Born in the district of Once in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Federico was one of the most prolific bandoneo ...
), and ''Sensiblero'' (Julián Plaza). He married the former Lucía Marcó in 1958, and they had two children. Stampone joined the Microfón label in 1959, where he recorded a double record, with two instrumentals and two with Ricardo Ruiz on vocals. He continued to work with this record company in subsequent decades, and recorded over ten albums for Microfón with his tango revivalist orchestra, some of whose notable members have been: Eduardo Walczak and Tito Besprovan (
violin The violin, sometimes referred to as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone, and is the smallest, and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in regular use in the violin family. Smaller violin-type instruments exist, including the violino picc ...
s), Abraham Selenson (
viola The viola ( , () ) is a string instrument of the violin family, and is usually bowed when played. Violas are slightly larger than violins, and have a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of the ...
), Enrique Lanoo and José Bragato (
cello The violoncello ( , ), commonly abbreviated as cello ( ), is a middle pitched bowed (sometimes pizzicato, plucked and occasionally col legno, hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually intonation (music), tuned i ...
), Osvaldo Montes (
bandoneón The bandoneon () or bandonion is a type of concertina particularly popular in Argentina and Uruguay. It is a typical instrument in most tango ensembles. As with other members of the concertina family, it is held between the hands, and playe ...
), Rubén Ruiz (
guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...
), Omar Murtagh (
double bass The double bass (), also known as the upright bass, the acoustic bass, the bull fiddle, or simply the bass, is the largest and lowest-pitched string instrument, chordophone in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding rare additions ...
), and Eladia Blázquez and Virginia Luque (vocals). Stampone also became known for his performances at the
Palais de Glace The Palais de Glace () is a rumeno style Belle Époque building in the Recoleta, Buenos Aires, Recoleta neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Located at 1430 Posadas street, it was modelled on the Théâtre du Rond-Point, Palais des Glaces in ...
(Buenos Aires), and for a number of film score compositions, including those for
period piece Period may refer to: Common uses * Period (punctuation) * Era, a length or span of time *Menstruation, commonly referred to as a "period" Arts, entertainment, and media * Period (music), a concept in musical composition * Periodic sentence (or r ...
director
Leopoldo Torre Nilsson Leopoldo Torre Nilsson (5 May 1924 – 8 September 1978), also known as Leo Towers and as Babsy, was an cinema of Argentina, Argentine film director, producer and screenwriter. Born as Leopoldo Torres Nilsson (he later changed his paternal s ...
's '' Un Guapo del 900'' (''A Cad out of 1900'', 1960), and ''La mano en la trampa'' ('' The Hand in the Trap'', 1961).Cine Nacional: Atilio Stampone
He joined two partners,
football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
striker
Rinaldo Martino Rinaldo Fioramonte Martino (; 6 November 1921 – 15 November 2000) was an Italian Argentine forward who played for both the Argentine and the Italy national football teams. Usually a forward, Martino was a player known for his lethal combinati ...
and actor Pedro Aleandro, in establishing "Caño 14," in 1964. The downtown Buenos Aires tango hall became among the best-known venues of its type, and helped maintain the genre's following during its pre-revival era in the 1960s and '70s, attracting the most important names in local tango at the time, including Troilo, pianist
Horacio Salgán Horacio Adolfo Salgán (June 15, 1916 – August 19, 2016) was an Argentine tango musician. He was born in Buenos Aires to an established Afro-Argentine family. Some of Salgán's most well-known compositions include ''Del 1 al 5 (Días de pago)'' ( ...
, bandoneónist
Ubaldo de Lío Ubaldo is a masculine Italian and Spanish given name, from Germanic ''hug'' "mind" and ''bald'' "bold". Notable people with the name include: *Ubald of Gubbio (Ubaldo Baldassini) (c. 1084 – 1160), Italian bishop and Catholic saint * Guido Ubaldo ...
,
dancer Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
Juan Carlos Copes, and many others; one featured performer, Enrique Mario Francini, died on its stage clutching his violin. His 1970 album, ''Concepto'', marked a radical change in Stampone's revivalist style, incorporating a
choir A choir ( ), also known as a chorale or chorus (from Latin ''chorus'', meaning 'a dance in a circle') is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform or in other words ...
and instilling the music with a more symphonic sound; among its notable pieces are ''Responso'' (
Aníbal Troilo Aníbal Carmelo Troilo (11 July 1914 – 18 May 1975), also known as Pichuco, was an Argentine tango musician. Troilo was a bandoneon player, composer, arranger, and bandleader in Argentina. His orquesta típica was among the most popular wit ...
) and ''Orgullo criollo'' ("
Criollo Criollo or criolla (Spanish for creole) may refer to: People * Criollo people, a social class in the Spanish colonial system. Animals * Criollo duck, a species of duck native to Central and South America. * Criollo cattle, a group of cattle bre ...
Pride," by
Julio de Caro Julio de Caro (December 11, 1899March 11, 1980) was an Argentine composer, musician, and conductor prominent in the Tango genre. Life and work His father opened a conservatory in the San Telmo district, in 1913, soon becoming one of the city's ...
and
Pedro Laurenz Pedro Laurenz (born Pedro Blanco Acosta) was a bandoneon player, Music director, director and composer of Argentina, Argentine Tango (music), tango music. He was born on October 10, 1902, and died on July 7, 1972. Pedro was born into a musical ...
). Some of his own compositions popularized by the orchestra were ''Con pan y cebolla'' ("Bread and Onions"), ''De Homero a Homero'' ("From
Homer Homer (; , ; possibly born ) was an Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Despite doubts about his autho ...
to
Homer Homer (; , ; possibly born ) was an Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Despite doubts about his autho ...
"), ''Desencanto'' ("Heartbreak"), ''Aguatero'' ("Water Vendor"), '' Cadícamo'', ''Ciudadano'' ("Citizen"), ''Concertango'', ''El Niño'', ''El
Tapir Tapirs ( ) are large, herbivorous mammals belonging to the family Tapiridae. They are similar in shape to a Suidae, pig, with a short, prehensile nose trunk (proboscis). Tapirs inhabit jungle and forest regions of South America, South and Centr ...
'', ''Fiesta de mi ciudad'' ("Celebrating My City"), ''Fiesta y milonga'', ''Impar'' ("Odd Number"), ''Mi amigo Cholo'', ''Mocosa'' ("Spoiled Girl"), ''Taconeando'' ("Stomping"), ''Pequeña'' ("Girl"), and ''Vida mía'' ("My Life"), among others. Stampone composed the score for the Oscar Araiz's
ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...
''Tango'' in 1981, and in 1984, composed incidental music for director
Luis Puenzo Luis Adalberto Puenzo (born 19 February 1946) is an Argentine film director, producer and screenplay writer. He works mainly in the cinema of Argentina, but has also worked in the United States. Biography Puenzo was born in Buenos Aires in 194 ...
's ''
The Official Story ''The Official Story'' () is a 1985 Argentine historical political drama film directed by Luis Puenzo and written by Puenzo and Aída Bortnik. It stars Norma Aleandro, Héctor Alterio, Chunchuna Villafañe and Hugo Arana. In the United Kingd ...
'' (winner of the 1986 Best Foreign Language Film Oscar). His 1987 production, ''Tango en concierto'', debuted at
Madrid Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...
's
Teatro Real The Teatro Real () is an opera house in Madrid, Spain. Located at the Plaza de Oriente, opposite the Royal Palace, and known colloquially as "''El Real''" (The Royal One). it is considered the top institution of the performing and musical arts ...
, and was a success in both Spain and Argentina. Other compositions from that era include the score for
Marcos Zurinaga Marcos Zurinaga is a Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican film director, screenwriter and cinematographer. Biography His late mother was UPR professor Rosa Zurinaga. He studied at the UPR Elementary School, University High School (UHS) and obtained his B. ...
's '' Tango Bar'' (1987, starring
Raúl Juliá Raúl Rafael Carlos Juliá y Arcelay (March 9, 1940 – October 24, 1994) was a Puerto Rican actor. He was known for his intense and varied roles on stage and screen. He started his career in the Public Theater before transitioning to film. He ...
) and ''Discepolín'' (1989, a theatre production honoring Tango composer
Enrique Santos Discépolo Enrique Santos Discépolo (''Discepolín'') (11 March 1901 – 27 December 1951) was an Argentine tango (music), tango and Milonga (music), milonga musician and composer, author of famous tangos like ''Cambalache'' and many others performed by s ...
). His renown, as well as his activism on behalf of
intellectual property right Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, co ...
s, earned the election by his peers as President of SADAIC, the Argentine Society of Composers, in 1985. Caño 14, the storied tango hall, closed in 1987. It reopened ten years later, however, relocating to 2134 Vicente López Street (in the Recoleta section of Buenos Aires). Stampone retired as President of SADAIC, succeeded by Ariel Ramírez, in 1993; but remained in its board of directors. He presided over
Konex Award Konex Foundation Awards, or simply Konex Awards, are cultural awards from the Konex Foundation honouring Argentine cultural personalities. History and purpose Konex Awards are granted by the Konex Foundation, created in 1980 in Argentina. The p ...
juries in 1985 and 2005, and in 2000, was named Music Director of the Juan de Dios Filiberto National Orchestra of Argentine Music. He was later named director of the City Orchestra of Buenos Aires, while continuing his duties at the Filiberto Orchestra, and was featured in his role as conductor in Miguel Kohan and
Gustavo Santaolalla Gustavo Alfredo Santaolalla (; born 19 August 1951) is an Argentine composer, record producer and musician. He is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Gustavo Santaolalla, numerous accolades for List of works by Gustavo S ...
's 2008 ode to aging Tango greats, '' Café de los maestros''. Stampone died on 2 November 2022, at the age of 96.


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Stampone, Atilio 1926 births 2022 deaths Argentine people of Italian descent Illustrious Citizens of Buenos Aires Musicians from Buenos Aires Argentine male pianists Argentine composers Argentine music arrangers Argentine male conductors (music) 21st-century Argentine conductors (music) 21st-century Argentine pianists 21st-century Argentine male musicians 20th-century Argentine conductors (music) 20th-century Argentine composers 20th-century Argentine pianists 20th-century Argentine male musicians