he following portrayal is the result of the many chats I had with with José Pepe D'Esposito who was the older brother of Héctor’s and a beloved friend of the one who writes.

The man at issue was born in Wilde (district of Avellaneda) and his parents were Roque D'Esposito and Concepción Nobile.

When he was a kid and while he was in grade school he wanted to study music and play an instrument. He picked up bandoneon.

As it was customary at that time he started by playing at family parties. Firstly, he joined a trio, later, a quartet and thereafter a larger aggregation until he put together his own orchestra.

He played at venues in his city and at clubs and cafés in the neighboring districts. Quilmes and Avellaneda were some of the cities where he appeared.

Encouraged by Anselmo Aieta he reached Buenos Aires downtown where he appeared at a great number of venues: the Nacional, the Marzotto, the Tango Bar, and the Confitería Ruca, among others.

He as well appeared on several radio stations: Radio Rivadavia, Belgrano, Porteña, Argentina and Del Pueblo.

He married Alicia Alonso and they had two children: Héctor Adrián, who graduated as engineer and Adriana, medical doctor.

In the late fifties and early sixties he began to tour the interior of the country fairly successfully despite the difficult times that had started to beset tango.

Precisely on one of these tours, in the province of Santa Fe, he was slightly injured on one of his legs. He thought it was not serious and paid no attention to it. Suddenly, a serious infection sprang up and he soon died.

Through the ranks of his orchestra many singers passed: Osvaldo Rico (Chicharrita), Osvaldo Rivas, Raúl Alberti, Alberto Carriego, Héctor Landó, Mabel Gamizo, Jorge Ledesma, Roberto Grosso, Raquel Mayo and Alberto Cuello.

As composer, his best known pieces are: “Mi viejo Wilde” and “Puentecito de mi barrio”, co-written with Juan Manuel Fernández and Andrés Sanguinetti, which were dedicated to Wilde, his hometown.

He recorded on several occasions and cut 36 tracks, 4 for RCA-Victor, 16 for Music Hall, 10 for Bemol, and 6 for Ambar.

The highlights in his recordings are: “Esta noche me emborracho”, with Osvaldo Rico on vocals; “Cuando rondan los recuerdos” —by Tito Ferrari and Norberto Guerra with words by Alberto Coria— and “Andate con la otra”, with Mabel Gamizo; “Fueron tres años”, with Osvaldo Rivas; “Secreto”, with Jorge Ledesma; “Quiero hablarte nuevamente” —by Roberto Giménez and Jorge Vilela—, with Roberto Grosso; “Cuando te encontré” —by José Servidio, Alberto Cardama and Alberto Palazón—, with Raúl Alberti; “Y te tengo que esperar” with Alberto Carriego; and the instrumentals “Charamusca” and “El amanecer”.

He had a promising career which was interrupted by misfortune that, so early, deprived us of his presence and his artistry. And furthermore, he was ridiculed by an unpleasant story which we shall not mention for respect for his memory.