By
Horacio Loriente

is most important output was during the 40s and 50s and he is another representative of the romantic school of tango.

He grew up in Montevideo, and due to a common liking, cyclism, he came to know and became friends with the pianist Lalo Etchegoncelay who introduced him to the singer and musician Romeo Gavioli. At that time Rótulo’s connection with music and show business was born. Even though as a kid he had studied piano, his true vocation was poetry and lyrics.

In the early 40s he arrived in Buenos Aires, and Romeo Gavioli, who arrived soon later to join the Edgardo Donato orchestra, introduced him and his brother to the leader. Donato recorded his milonga “Repique del corazón”, with music by his brother Osvaldo, Horacio Lagos and Lita Morales were on vocals.

Soon he wrote other four numbers with music by Romeo Gavioli: “Tu confidencia”, “Cariño mío”, “Dónde estás arrabal” and “María del Carmen” and, later with Edgardo Donato, the milonga “Cara negra”.

The piece that followed was the one which would place Rótulo in the selected list of outstanding poets of the 40s: “Parece un cuento” with music by Lalo Etchegoncelay, winner at the contest organized by the Radio Canción magazine, it was recorded by the orchestras led by Alfredo De Angelis, Mario Maurano and Roberto Cuenca.

In 1944, with the bandoneonist Ángel Domínguez he composed the tango piece “Firuletear de bandoneón”, premiered simultaneously by Laurenz and De Angelis.

With De Angelis many hits were released: “Pregonera”, “Remolino”, “Alelí”, “Pastora” and the waltz “Mi cariñito”. As for “Remolino” we can state that it is the most polished work of this creative association with De Angelis; not only due to the delicacy of its lines, but also for its beautiful melody, masterfully played by the Francini-Pontier orchestra, with Raúl Berón on vocals, in an unsurpassable rendition.

Already based in Buenos Aires, he was member of the board of the Sociedad de Autores y Compositores (SADAIC) (Authors and Composers Society), and he carried out the duties of treasurer.

His output followed in collaboration with Héctor Gentile, Carlos Cubría, Arturo Gallucci, Manuel Sucher, Carlos Dante, Aquiles Roggero, Natty Paredes and others. In 1949, Borocotó encouraged him to write three songs that were included on the movie Con los Mismos Colores: the title tune “Con los mismos colores”, “Belén” and “Como las golondrinas”, with music composed by Astor Piazzolla.

Other creations that he wrote are: “En la bruma”, “Como el hornero”, “Sirva otra copa”, “Como tú”, “Canción de lluvia”, “Con este corazón”, “Coralí”, “Farol de esquina”, “Igual que Dios”, “Igual que Judas”, “Malambo”, “Mañanita linda”, “Mi amigo bandoneón”, “Mimí Pinsón”, “Nací en Pompeya”, “Oro en el barro”, “Pimpollo roto”, “Santa mía”, “Esta noche me despido”, “Que te cuente mi violín”, “Yo también reí”, “Y no volvió”.

Rótulo, born in Rocha, República Oriental del Uruguay, died in Buenos Aires.