a href="https://www.todotango.com/english/artists/info/7/Manuel-Buzon">Manuel Buzón was born on December 18, 1904, in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Flores —1831 Méndez de Andes Street—, his parents were Manuel and Dolores Moreno, both Spanish immigrants. He attended a grammar school belonging to the Nuestra Señora de Buenos Aires parish, where he showed his inclination towards music and singing, he took part of the Schola Cantorum of the church.

In 1915, the Club Social América organized a show at the Cine Teatro Excelsior, where the child Manuel Buzón with a female partner interpreted with ease and nice vocal abilities El Dúo de los Paraguas. On the same show the young boy Elvino Vardaro played on violin the Ballet fantasies.

In subsequent years he re-edits public performances as the one held at the parish celebrating May 25th in 1917, when he presented the comic-musical play La Risa (the laughter) with great success. In 1922, as pianist, he was part of a trio which dug classical music.

In 1924, the year when he graduated as piano and solfège teacher, he saw from his house how the antennas for LOY Radio Nacional Flores station were being installed on Boyacá street, a few meters from Avellaneda avenue. This spellbound him and so he went to the broadcasting station to offer his artistic collaboration to Mr. Penella, its owner.

All through 1925, he performed on that station as pianist and singer. By that time the Orquesta Típica Ziccaro was working successfully on that station. That year he also participated in an important festival at the Cine Varela, a cinema on 1136 Varela street where all the LOY´s artists were featured, among them there was the Quiroga-Páez Aranda-Palacios trio who played guitar pieces and national songs, the national actor Federico Mansilla who recited the best of his repertory and miss Herminia Velich who sang the latest tangos accompanied on piano by the maestro Rovelli.

In October that year, the Buzón's orchestra accompanied miss Rosita Quiroga on Victor's recording No. 79571, on the tango “El último cariño” by Alfredo Marengo and the tango “Calla corazón” by Buzón himself.

In early 1926, the magazine Reflejos highlighted the quality of Manuel Buzón's compositons, nonwithstanding his merits as chansonnier, by spotlighting his tangos “Calla corazón”, “La maestrita” with lyric by A. Martinelli Massa, “Acacia” and the shimmy “Gentil marquesita”.

In July 1926, on LOY station's second anniversary, Manuel Buzón held the office of secretary of Artistic Direction in that broadcasting, what was no obstacle for his performances there, either as singer or as conductor of the Orquesta Típica formed by the maestros Antonio Sureda, Francisco Gomara and Aurelio Ruiz. Announced by the speaker born in the province of Corrientes, Lorenzo Vico Torrá, the bandoneon champion Ricardo Brignolo and the tango singer Elena Piana, accompanied on piano by his brother Sebastián, also performed on that radio station.

In February 1927, when Buzón was LOY Artistic Director, Jaime Yankelevich bought the station which later would be Radio Belgrano. In that year Buzón premiered his beautiful tango “Cancionero” which was firstly sung by Azucena Maizani and with which Agustín Magaldi later achieved a memorable interpretation.

At the beginning of 1928, he made known his tango “Mediodía” with lyric by Celedonio Flores. This tango was recorded for Victor records by Alberto Vila, a notable imitator of Gardel in the shows by the Troupe Ateniense of Montevideo.

In May 1928, Buzón had his début at the Villa Crespo cinema leading his orchesta where he was conductor, pianist and chansonnier. The orchestra was formed by the violinist Ventura Villar, the bandoneon players Guillermo Lértora and Héctor Baldi and Agustín Furchi on double bass.

In early 1929, he made his tango “Ufa qué secante” be known, in which he expressed a certain amount of humor. On May 29, 1929 Buzón embarked on the Conte Verde towards Spain in the company of an enlarged orchestra integrated by: V. Villar and J. R. Rodríguez on violins; R. Gargiulo, H. Baldi and V. R. Fumagalli on bandoneons and F. Dal Molin on double bass. He was also accompanied by the singer Oscar Carranza (of the Mendía-Carranza duo).

Buzón's successful tour started since his appearance in the Exposición Internacional of Barcelona and continued in each of the shows in the different Spanish cities he visited, such as the presentation in the Palacio de Oriente before the Kings. Buzón's orchestra appeared in the Principal Palace of Barcelona on August 26, 1929, achieving an outstanding triumph when interpreting: “El entrerriano”, “Pájaro azul” and “Cancionero”.

Due to the success achieved and the renewal of contracts, Buzón enhanced his repertory with new pieces, among which we can number: “Malevaje”, “Alma en pena”, “Mama yo quiero un novio”, “Piedad”, “La cumparsita”, “Alma tanguera”, “Cachadora”, “Duelo criollo”, “Vayan saliendo”. The waltzes: “Cuando llegue el amor”, “Soledad”, “Ilusión”. The zambas: “Por el camino”, “Tu corazón”. The tonada: “Las margaritas” and the milonga “Idilio campero”.

They also performed in the Teatro Cómico and at the Radio of Barcelona and recorded for Victor under the label His Master's Voice, the disc Nº AE 2810, with the zamba “La tupungatina”, sung by Buzón and Carranza and the tango “Cancionero”, sung by Buzón. He also recorded the disc AE 2811 with the tonada “Las margaritas” sung by Buzón and Carranza and the instrumental tango “El entrerriano”.

In September 1929, he said goodbye to Barcelona at the Principal Palace with a great end of party.

In October 1929, he had his début in Madrid at the Maipú Pigall's nightclub, then continuing with his performances at the Real Cinema. Afterwards in 1930 he appeared at the Teatro Principal in Madrid, later at the Central Cinema in Murcia, at the Central in Alicante and at the Café Central in Cartagena. Finishing his successful tour he inaugurated the monumental Salón Moderno in the International Expo in Sevilla.

In February 1930, Manuel Buzón embarked towards Buenos Aires with some of his partners.

In spite of the success attained in England and due to the financial situation of our country when he returned, he did not find the conditions to continue with his successful artistic career. During that year he devoted to composition and made to be known his numbers “Madrugada”, “Ojos negros” and “Tarde gris”; but especially the tango “Bigotito” with lyric by Ismael Aguilar and J. Martinelli Massa, published by Perroti.

Only in August 1930, he appeared with his orchestra at the Teatro Rívoli on Triunvirato Street in Villa Crespo. In February 1931, he began his radio performances on the broadcastings LR2, LR9 and LS2 of the Radio Prieto's programming, subsequently switching to Radio El Mundo. He also appeared at the Teatro Marconi on 2230 Rivadavia Street, with the chansonnier Teófilo Ibañez, both achieving a great success with the zamba “Por el camino”. Besides his work on radio, Manuel Buzón and his sexteto típico coreado played daily at the Bar-Billares Río de la Plata, on 1114 Gaona Street at the corner of Parral Street.

On August 17, 1931, the newspaper Jornada organized an artistic programme in front of its building on Avenida de Mayo broadcasted by Radio Prieto to entertain the audience gathered there to listen to the megaphoned report of the fight between our Torito Suárez and Rossi. The event commenced with the Buzón's orchestra interpreting the tangos “Buen amigo” and “El entrerriano”; later the waltz “La serenata de ayer” sung by Teófilo Ibañez and closed his show with the tango “Bigotito” sung by Osvaldo Moreno.

In September 1931, Buzón appeared with his orchestra at the famous radio show sponsored by Vino Toro (a brand of wine) on Radio Prieto. At the same show, the following artists performed: Virginia Vera (the rancheras' queen) and her guitarists, the brothers Rodríguez, Amanda Ledesma with the guitarists Canattaro and Pedretti, Teófilo Ibáñez with the guitars of Barone, Barbieri and Lynch, Charlo with the guitars of Besada, Alonso and Arrieta and the humoristic Gedeón Trio.

In March 1932, at the show El Tango Porteño held at the Teatro Nacional and which intended to portray the history of our song showing its musical evolution, Manuel Buzón appeared with his orchestra representing the then (we are talking of 1932) today's tango. Yesterday's tango before the bandoneon appearance (so the notice advertised) was impersonated by the Guardia Vieja (old school) orchestra organized by Juan Carlos Bazán and integrated by: Ernesto Ponzio, Enrique Saborido, José Luis Padula, Juan Carlos Bazán, Vicente Pecchi, E. J. Muñecas, Alcides Palavecino, Eusebio Aspiazú, E. Arbal, D. Pizarro and F. Polonio.

In April 1932 he performed on the broadcasts LS4 Radio Porteña and LS9 La Voz del Aire. In May that year he played during the first important raffle of coupons provided by Caranchos cigarettes which took place at the Teatro Onrubia on Victoria Street at the corner of San José Street. In June he played on LR4 Radio Prieto at shows sponsored by Vino Toro on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays sharing the radio show with the Gómez-Vila duo. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays the show was shared with Adhelma Falcón and the Corrao Triay duo.

In October 1932, the radio and theater Programming is started from the Monumental, where the artists are: Buzón's orchestra (Alfredo Gobbi on violin was added ) and the singers Osvaldo Moreno and Félix Gutiérrez; the orquesta típica Caló with the singer Carlos Dante; Nelly Omar with guitarists Canattaro and Pedretti; the típica infantil Favero, with four precocious musicians and the child singer Enrique Santillán; the Trío Gedeón with comic parodies; Adhelma Falcón with the guitarists Aguilar, Barbieri and Riverol; Mario Pardo and his guitar unit and the dancing partners Domínguez-Espeche; the Cobián quartet with Juan Carlos Cobián on piano; Ignacio Corsini and the guitars of Pagés, Pesoa and Maciel, and the orchestra led by Julio de Caro with the singer Rodríguez Lesende.

The Buzón's oechestra played in November 1932 on LR9 Radio Fénix and had his début in December at the Cine familiar Villa Crespo on 835 Triunvirato Street.
In early 1933 at the Luna Park stadium is held a contest to establish the best tangos of the year. The newspaper Crítica was in charge of the scrutiny in March 1933 and the voting threw the following result: first prize (3.000 pesos) “El mareo” by Julio de Caro; second prize (1.000 pesos) “Octavio” by Octavio Portela Cantilo; third prize (consolation price) “Después hablamos” by Manuel Buzón; fourth prize (consolation prize) “El tábano” by Baliotti and Ginzo. The party intended to award the winners was held at the Teatro Onrubia, where the first semifinal for dancers was also held in the First National Tango Championship with the participation of the Nueva Pompeya, Vélez Sársfield, Parque Patricios, Boca and Barracas champions.

In March 1934, Buzón played on Radio París and in December he included the singer Roberto Zheman. In 1935 he played on LS9 La Voz del Aire radio station with a big orchesta composed by the following musicians: J. C. Horiasol, M. Fernández, D. Loria, A. Vázquez, J. Ferreyra, F. Mancini, A. Ruiz, A. Marraccini, J. Corleto and the singer Roberto Delmar.

The orchestra premiered his tango Viejo penar and later in October performed on LS1 Radio Municipal, now with the singer Oscar Carranza.

In 1936, he played on LS10 Radio Callao and Radio Municipal. In June he required the inclusion of the singer Amadeo Mandarino who had been singing in the cuarteto Melodía. In 1937, always with Mandarino he appeared on LR4 Radio Splendid and on Radio Rivadavia.

In 1938. the orquesta Buzón played at the carnival balls for a banking institution in Bahía Blanca.

Manuel Buzón continued his artistic work across the country until he reappeared in 1942 on Radio El Mundo. In this year he made known the milonga “Mano brava” with lyrics by Enrique Cadícamo and the tango “Al cerrar los ojos” with lyrics by César Vedani.

In 1943 he carried on his activity on Radio El Mundo, and irregularly appearing in subsequent years at places such as the Club Haedo Juniors for the carnival balls in 1947.

Between 1942 and 1943, he recorded numerous renditions for Odeon records.
Manuel Buzón died on July 14, 1954, leaving an invaluable page in the history of our popular music.He made a cult of tango and he fought here and abroad to spread the pure essence of Argentine tango. An inspired composer of great evocative quality, he will be remembered as one of the links who bridged two unequaled periods of our urban music.

Published in: Músicos de Tango en los Barrios, six.
Interjuntas, 1997.