aybe he was the best friend Carlos Gardel had in Uruguay and he accommodated the singer in his apartment on Soriano Street in Montevideo all the times he visited that city.

That friendship, a well-understood friendship, made that most of his tangos were committed to wax by the singer: "Como la Mosca" with music by Alberto Alonso; “As de cartón” and “Quimera” with music by Viapiana and González; “Juventud” with music by Juan Baüer; “El quinielero” with music by Cluzeau Mortet and “Incurable” with music by Guillermo Barbieri. He did not publish many songs.

A sample of the esteem for him and other Uruguayan friends Gardel had and the high regard he had of our song, is evidenced in the letter he sent to the Uruguayan author Luis Alberto Zeballos from New York and which is transcribed below:

New York, November 2, 1934

Mr. Luis Alberto Zeballos
2306 8 de octubre St.
MONTEVIDEO

Dear friend,

I received your kind letter last month and I thank your warm congratulations. The fact that the friends of the old gang of Aubriot, Bonapelch and other guys had attended the premiere of my latest movie, makes me very happy. Don’t you think that I exaggerate if I tell you that when I sing at these places, I always do it with the unforgettable friends of the River Plate banks on my mind. So I am quite satisfied when I know that my songs still touch my old audiences.

Your lyrics on the tango “Boliche” are truly beautiful and we will see if on the first occasion we make of it a good popular composition. For the movies, it will be difficult, because the songs are related to the script, but perhaps I can include it in my songbook. I’ll be glad to inform you about it in due time.

In Montevideo you will soon watch the movie El Tango en Broadway. I think it will be a true hit. In January we’ll start the race with the reels of two other motion pictures which will surpass the previous ones and, meanwhile, the criollo song is taking the lead in the eighty-story buildings nation and won’t stop till the point of arrival.

My buddies thank your greetings. A shake of hands by your truly friend.

Carlos Gardel
148 East 48th St.
New York N.Y.

Aubriot Barboza was born in Montevideo on October 8, 1882 and there he passed away on January 11, 1942.