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Singer
(March 10, 1913 March 13, 1970) True Name: Enrique Inocencio Troncone |
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His popularity grew and his successful hits followed
one another. He is starred on the national movie "Radio Candelario"
together with Eduardo Depauli, Miguel Angel Manzi and the extraordinary
duet formed by Carmen and Magdalena Méndez, it was premiered
at the "Radio City" cinema on August 21, 1939.
In January 1940 he embarked on a tour of the south
of Brazil with the guitar players Fontela, Pizzo and Falco reappearing
in Montevideo on CX 46 Radio América some months later.
The following year he performed during a season as
singer of the outfit that worked under the name of Pintín Castellanos orchestra, headlined by Alfredo Gobbi and
Armando Blasco. This outfit, of great musical quality, had outstanding
performances at the Palacio de la Cerveza on Yatay Street, at the cabaret
"Tabarís" and on the "Monumental" radio station.
At his next stage he joined the well-remembered Laurenz-Casella
outfit, appearing on numerous balls and radio shows, besides his presentations
at the famous café "Ateneo" stage. This orchestra was lined up
by prestigious musicians. Julio Tobías and Sebastián Garreta
alternated on piano, the double bass player was Mainardi and among bandoneons
and violins, the leaders Félix Láurenz and Pedro Casella,
Donato Raciatti, López, Ramón Panedas, were among others.
From there was made the "jump" to the conquest of Buenos Aires as orchestra
singer. In the beginning, Eduardo Ruiz" had no idea about his destiny.
He thought it would be with the great violinist Antonio
Rodio's outfit, but a quick decision by Ricardo
Tanturi, who knew his abilities, made possible his inclusion into
the orquesta típica "Los Indios" led by Tanturi. He
was "the different voice" to replace Alberto
Castillo. At the start the director persuaded him to change his
artistic name by telling him that Ricardo Ruiz and a melodic singer
Enrique Ruiz were also in the music business and that it was convenient
to avoid confusion. Tanturi opened a phone directory by chance and said:
"here it is, you´ll be named Enrique Campos".
Enrique Campos debuted on Radio "El Mundo" as Tanturi´s
orchestra singer and immediately he began to record discs. The first
two numbers, cut on August 4, 1943, were the tango by Luis Porcell and
Leopoldo Díaz Vélez "Muchachos
comienza la ronda" and the waltz by Raúl Iglesias and
Juan Gatti, "Al pasar".
In March 1946 he married, raising an exemplary family.
The following month, after working at a dancing at the Club "Unión"
de Caseros (neighborhood of the gran Buenos Aires), he sang for the
last time with Tanturi, withdrawing to appear
as soloist with guitar accompaniment.
Francisco Rotundo hired him as singer of his orchestra
in March 1947 where he shared his labor with the singer Mario Corrales,
in presentations on Radio "Splendid", teatro "Empire" and café
"Nacional" on Corrientes Street. Subsequently he put together an orchestra
he headlined together with the bandoneonist Alfredo Calabró.
The journalist Raúl
Hormaza was the master of ceremonies. Of the Campos-Calabró
orchestra was sold only one record based on Argentine cuts and is released
by "Sondor" in Montevideo and was lined up by Sebastián Garreta,
piano: Alfredo Calabró, Roberto Pansera, Caruso and López
bandoneons, Raúl Domínguez, Lijó and Mosca violins
and Samonta, string bass.
Ended the season, already in 1950 he fronted another
orchestra where he shared his work with his great friend Juan Carlos
Miranda. It was short lived, because Enrique was required by Francisco
Rotundo, after Carlitos Roldán's withdrawal.
He then had Floreal Ruiz as singing partner.
He made his debut on disc on August 10, 1951 with Juan
Fulginitti's tango "Llorando la carta" and in December
of that year he cut his anthological rendition of the famous waltz by
Charlo and José
González Castillo "El
viejo vals" with Rotundo s orchestra singing in duet with Floreal
Ruiz.
In October 1952 he split and soon later was hired to
sing in the Roberto Caló orchestra which was lined up by important
figures such as Osvaldo Tarantino on piano, Leo Lípesker on violin
and Ernesto Franco on bandoneon. His labor is prolonged for two years,
until that, for a third time he accepted Francisco Rotundo s call, agreeing
to sing in his orchestra then arranged by the first bandoneon Luis Stazo.
There was another singer in the orchestra: Ricardo Argentino, later
replaced by Alfredo Del Río.
In 1957 he put together again an outfit, a quintet
led by the pianist Dante De Simone and later he was associated with
the female singer Elena Maida in an outfit arranged by Dante Smurra.
His presentations were sporadical since he was absorbed by his commercial
activities. In 1962 he appeared on a special program on Channel 4 in
Montevideo, accompanied by Toto D'Amario's group and on his comeback
to Buenos Aires he sang with the orchestra of Graciano Gómez
appearing before the microphones of "Splendid" radio station.
We found him in 1965 on radio "El Mundo" accompanied
by the orchestra of Dante Smurra and in 1969 he began to record as soloist
for the "Magenta" label. He went to Montevideo to sing on TV Héctor
Marcó's waltz "A
mi padre" and José
Canet's tango "La
abandoné y no sabía" on the program lead by Miguel
Angel Manzi. Back in Buenos Aires he performed at "El farolito" of Villa
Crespo and he is appointed jury for the Tango Contest of La Falda (Córdoba).
He wrote some works. The tangos "Esclavas y reinas"
and "Dale Artime" with Jorge Moreira, the candombe "Dale
negra", with the same lyricist, and the waltz "Por qué
no estás tú" with Julio
Jorge Nelson. With Jorge Moreira with whom he had a fraternal friendship
he besides put music to "Aunque me llame papá",
"Buenos Aires del 40", "Para el final",
"Del potrero", "Pero quisiera encontrarte"
and the waltz "Te estoy agradecido". Finally with Juan
Bautista Fulginitti, "Conformate con ser buena".
Out of chronological order, we must say that the tango
helped him as introduction in Buenos Aires was "Percal",
accompanied then by Manuel Sucher's piano.
Prematurely, in Buenos Aires, for the general mourning
and of those who were his friends, Enrique Campos passed away on March
13, 1970, but his memory and his presence shall be with us forever.
The testimony of his records are here to confirm his
great capacities and to evidence that he was one of the major Uruguayan
singers of tango.
Originally published in "Ochenta notas de Tango".
Perfiles Biográficos, Ediciones de La Plaza, Montevideo 1998.
Under the auspices of the Academia de Tango from Uruguay.
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